arrowfanman

Lol...yup. Well, I can't see the launch being that big of a deal if your just going to have a block break right after it, but still, it looked really fun, and really well paced. I wonder how much this thing costs compared to something of this size, with a lift. -Jahan

Are you trying to tell me you would pick Batman over Riddler's? ...you cut me deep Mike...real deep. It's cool. I went in today for 5 minutes to get my schedule and only about one and a half rows of the parking lot were filled up! Looks like they lost out today! -Jahan

I normally dont care for standups, but there is that one--The Riddler's Revenge. ...My God that must be the best damn ride in the world! And a sexy crew, no doubt! -Jahan "up on three!" Makanvand ...."I mean, down on three!"

Honestly! Why would you want it to reopen?! Although, if it did, I would ride it again...for old times sake. -Jahan

Ariel.

^ That's strange--that was my exact dream too. ...just kidding. ...I dont like bbq sauce. Who are (or were) "the Fantanas?" Curious bear here. I think they mean Fantasmic. -Jahan

After a day of taking picture of hot sweaty men erecting steel beams, this is just what I needed! -Jahan "Now if only I can get that, poster-size" Makanvand

I just got a new favorite! I love it! -Jahan

*sigh* Yup....Everything's bigger in Floridia. -Jahan "I gotta get out there" Makanvand

Lol....wow, you're really going all out there! Looks freakin sweet! I have always wanted to do something like this, but I dont think its gonna happen. But I'm glad that your having success so far! -Jahan

The US, UK, France, Russia, and China are the leading amunition sellers to the African war-fronts. ....in case you didn't know, those happen to be the five permanent leaders in the U.N. Security Council. -Jahan

An eye for an eye makes the world go blind.

The bogie. -Jahan "I got a boogie on my finger and I cant shake it off" Makanvand

That Spongebob hat is awesome! Well...thanks for the trip report! I've been on the Santa Cruz clone of that blue and white steeling, called the Hurricane. Its was smooth and fun, but a bit slow. Although, I amit that the hairpin-helix thingy is really fun. -Jahan

You know, I thought it would be, but it isn't that boring. Sure, the operation itself is repetitive, but its the people. The fact that you constantly deal with different people, situations, attitudes, etc. It keeps you on your toes--it makes the job fresh. You dont even think about the operation itself--it becomes second nature. Its the ever-changing sea of faces that you think about....or at least I do. As for the rides I've operated... I know your looking for more intricate functions, but there really isn't much to operating rides. I certainly was surprised by how easy it was.... I know as a ride operator, my number one priority should be saftey--however, MY number one priority is working towards my dream of becoming at least half as good of a ride operator as Joey was. I work at SFMM. To become an attendant (check restraints and give an all-clear), you have to pass a like, 20 question quiz on the standard operation and safety procedures, and then get a crash-course training on the actual functions. To become a ride operator, you have to pass a significantly larger test, also depending on the ride. As a ride operator, you have to know how to handle various situations which may arise, which often requires a thourough knowledge of the ride. I'm currently getting trained at Riddler's, and they just taught me all the parts of the train.....which I already knew. (I dont know if thats anything to be proud of or not). As you asked for the procedures, here you go... No matter what the ride, you must check before turning them on, if they have been signed-off by a maintence worker, verifying they have been serviced. The Scrambler, which is just a spinny flat-ride, its as easy as putting in a key, putting you foot on a petal, and pushing a button. This is after checking all restraints, of course. The particualar ride that I worked on was rather old, so you would actually feel the the ride like, upshifting, to get to speed. When the cycling was over, it would go into neutral, and you'd bring it to a stop, manually, by pulling on a brake lever. Testing in the morning was as easy as cycling once with nobody in it, and then cycling it once more, with a certified passenger. Sandblasters, the bumper cars, were even easier. Simply hold your foot on the petal, turn the key, and pull on the button, and a five-minute cycle would begin. This was after checking restraints (very important on the bumper cars!). There wasn't really a testing procedure. We just un-parked the cars in the morning, and reparked them at night. Tidal Wave, a splash-boat ride, was easy too. The morning begins with a block-check, where we essentially ensure that the ride can be safely stopped by every ride and e-stop button. We then cycle the boats a few times, and then do a safety-ride, with a certified rider. As far as operation, the ride operator would open the gates, guests would board, the attendant would lock restraints, and then check them. The attendant then pulls up on the dispatch in conjunction with the ride operator, and bye-bye-boaty. Finally is Riddler's Revenge, a B&M Standup, obviously. The day starts with a block-check, similar to that on Tidal Wave (I wouldn't know exactly what though--I'm never there in the morning when they do it). As far as operation, a point-operator opens the gates, and the guests board. I wait for the restraits to lock (visible and audible), check the restraints by pushing down and pulling up (so if you piss me off, I'll staple you). Then the seats will lock, and three people (the point-operator, the dispatch-operator, and the ride-operator hit the dispatch button simeltanieously, and the computer takes over. Taa-daa. The ride operator has the ability to lock and unlock any seat or restraint when the train is in the station, which is good, as people can easily get uncomfortable, and ask to be fixed. And Goldrusher, and old Arrow mine-train, was pretty much the same as Riddler's just super-low tech. Gates open, you step on a petal to raise and lower the restraints, check restraints, give an all clear, and taa-daa. I was there at night, and we had to actually crawl out onto the track (once the power was shut-off, and the trains had been removed), and put these brake covers onto all of the brakes...which was fun for me, crawling through the tracks and all. Welp, that's pretty much it. Oh, and Joey--I love you. -Jahan

Hey...I dont know about you, but I would watch it!

That update was ginormic! Thanks for the pictures! -Jahan ......Oh...I totally approve of Hurricane Harbor's attention to detail.

^ Lol...nice seeing you stop by Riddler's! Yes...it was a day of new expirences for me. Not only did I meet a ton of awesome people, I had my very first puke incident and brake down on Riddler's! Lol...thank you. I actually had my camcorder with me, but it just never left my backpack. Its still hard for me to get around to doing a Video-TR of SFMM! I should be going to Disneyland in a few weeks, and I am looking too pulling off a trip report then! Thank you all for your responses! -Jahan

Alright...finally....part 3!: Next up...a ride on good ol' Goldrusher! Oh no! They're stealing my soul! "I'll save this one for later." Elissa, capturing a shot of TJ traditional Goldrush Strip Tease. Come on....give me a wack! Alright...the Xtreme Team has now parted with me, TJ, and Julian, so we stayed in the park for an extra hour. Stopped by for a ride on Log Jammer...despite the fact that it's really getting colder! (If I didn't tell you that this was my flume, what would you think it was?) :'> Ahhh man! What a dissapointment!..... .....For a second there, we were really enjoying ourselves! Well folks, that was pretty much it, before I had to go to work...I leave you with one final pic of Superman: You see, as I finished my lunch, I walked out to discover the Superman car sitting on the track, right here. I had two options, and it was starting to rain, so I had to decide quickly. Either hurry back as fast as I could to Riddler's, throw on my sweatshirt and get my camera, only to hurry back here and snap the picture for some cheesy caption. Or I could stroll back to Riddler's, bundle up in a coat, resting in my breakroom...perhaps even take a nap. Well....I op'ted to hurry up and take the picture in the rain....and with my luck, the car was gone by the time I got back! So I'm damn right gonna put the picture in my update, anyway! Welp...thanks for readin'. -Jahan

Part dos... Ok...now that the park has opened, we immediatly hopped into the back, and caught a ride on Batman. BTW...check out my sexy new work shoes. "You know what the difference between you and me is? ..... I make this look good." This picture almost came out cool! It didn't, but it almost did! I promised myself I wouldn't tell a sideboob joke. After Batman, it was onward to Riddler's...but not before a stop on the bumper cars! We discovered who was driving the phantom bumper car! The gruesome twosome. Ok...now onto Riddler's, the best ride in the world. Woooooooaaaaaahhhh! I'm totally feeling that xtreme airtime! There's my coworker, wondering why I'm setting a bad example by taking camera's on to the ride. After Riddler's, it was time for a ride on.... Superman!!!! Who's, not so coincidentally, T-Bar restraint isn't the best for your Superman, if you know what I mean! Looks like TJ's enjoying the ride a little. Looks like Mike's enjoying the ride a lot! Once more folks.....To Be Continued.....

Hola folks! Well, as you guys might know, SFMM is my home park, so it isn't regular for me to do an actual trip report of my visits there. Buuuutt....this weekend is "special". Just like every other coaster enthusiast on the western hemisphere, I got off my butt early on Sunday morning, and treked out to the former "Xtreme Park" (we are technically no longer the Xtreme Park anymore) for the West Coaster Bash--the one shred of recognition that SFMM has for coaster enthusiasts. I had to go to work at 12, but that gave me a good 4 hours to ride rides, hang out with fellow coaster enthusiasts, and try my best to avoid getting molested by Robb and Elissa! So, enjoy the pics! The day starts....I really like this picture! First off, Goliath, where I took this cookie-cutter picture! TJ and I seem to really be enjoying...the lift hill. After Goliath, it was time for Viper. This would be a cool picture if you blocked out the left side. Dan's smart with his super-cool glasses on. My eyes were watering like hell after a ride on the front row! "You dare take a picture of me, I'll take a picture of you!" I cant tell if he he's enjoying it or taking an arrow up the butt, if you know what I mean. "Oooohhh my.....boy do I like what I see!" Then completely unbeknownst to us, we walked straight into a total death trap......... The gang from Theme Park Review! To Be Continued....

Thanks for the photos Guy! It was awesome meeting you, and everyone else this weekend. Too bad you didn't have a pic of the bumper cars...those really kicked ass! -Jahan

You look sorta like Earl from My name is Earl in that pic. Looks like a great day! See you Sunday! -Jahan

^ I admit, that annoys me. I was locking somebody into Riddler's and they asked me "do you go upside down?", out of all sincerety! Did you not freakin see the six inversions on your way in?! Was the flatspin over the queue not close enough?! But then again, perhaps I'm not annoyed by the GP....just stupid people! -Jahan

I picked the Riddler's Revenge to be my ride, because, well....its my ride. But honestly, Riddler's has a sweeping layout, is aesthetically pleasing, and has that super-xtreme mind numbing, stomach-out-your-nose airtime hill. -Jahan "dont forget the techno!" Makanvand ...