Best First Drop on a Wooden Coaster? Which one do you think?

[Randomman295]

I hate to bring this thread up awkwardly, but it needs to be said.

Apocalypse: The Ride at SFMM.

Back seat.

At night.

Hoo boy.

[Brassinthegrass]

El Toro or the Coney Island Cyclone.. That post lift hill bump down gets me everytime! such an amazing ride!

[eltororider]

El Toro. This is seriously not even a debate for me. End of discussion

[boardwalkbullet91507]

Has someone mentioned Boardwalk Bullet? I love that drop, it dives straight into the support structure and goes right through the lift hill thanks to the quick turnaround right after the lift. It's great, it twists, and seems much steeper than it actually is.

[bludowise68]

American Eagle at SFGA first drop is the best ever.

[GayCoasterGuy]

^I was just going there, then I saw your post. Everyone moans about the American Eagle; it's had a very tired and jaded history and is not consistent. But when it's running brake free and smooth, watch out! The first drop is very *epic* feeling (I think that is the only time I have ever used the word 'epic' ... srsly). Coaster nerds complain that the lift slows and nearly stops at the top. To me, that adds to the drop tremendously. There are plenty of coasters that go over fast and get steep fast, but only one like the Eagle. People rave about how steep drops are, but what counts is how long they take to get that steep and the shape of the profile in doing so; the Eagle takes a long while to get steep, so everything isn't over in an instant. It's perfection! Of course, if there were 50 other drops like it, wouldn't be so special. And if you are lucky, u get just a nice floating air time right as the drop reaches it's steepest point (55 degrees).

 

 

Bill Cobb's coasters also were great (although *very* different than American Eagle - which ironically he worked on in 1982 to remove some -G's on the return bunny hops). I'm thinking mainly of Texas and Riverside Cyclones. He put a little *snap* (decrease of profile radius) right at the steepest part of those drops, so you really got your butt kicked out.

[DCA_Chris]

I believe GhostRider has the best drop out of the 11 or 12 wooden coasters I've been on. The shed actually is kinda cool and adds some headchopper + noise effects, and the laterals on pullout at the bottom are juicy. Plus it's the only wooden coaster that could get me to go this crazy..

 

Losing my S. My sincerest apologies to my friend behind me.

[brockboehm]

^That is THE greatest on-ride photo, ever.

 

From the wooden coasters I've been on I would have to say Thunderhead. It has an awesome first drop!

[SingleRiderCam]

^^ Completely agreed. Especially in the back car at night it is the best experience I have ever had on a wooden coaster

[JonnyRCT3]

Outlaw Run's first drop looks to be more intense in the back.

[GayCoasterGuy]

It seems like a lot of people only like Cyclops for THE drop, but I thought the first drop was pretty intense as well.

 

HECK yeah, thank you. That first drop (I estimate at slightly over 40 feet) is a killer moment!

 

 

[Koasterking48]

The Legend at HW and that's not a home park biased opinion. It is pretty intense and the airtime on that drop is, in my opinion, better than the Voyage's. Cyclops also has a great first drop as well. EDIT: I have ridden El Toro and find that drop amazing as well, just throwing out another name.

Edited February 13, 2013 by Koasterking48

[GayCoasterGuy]

^I think it's better than Voyage, as well. It's "different," a pause at the top, time to look around... the "don't look back" and the howling is great too!

[stashua123]

Even if its rough you can never beat the now Defunct Son of Beast, 214 feet wow!

[coasterbill]

You can always tell who's ridden El Toro and who hasn't

[alpengeistfan1]

You can always tell who's ridden El Toro and who hasn't

 

Quoted for truth!

[cmullin]

You can always tell who's ridden El Toro and who hasn't

 

Quoted for truth!

 

Agreed! The first drop on El Toro in the back makes me feel like I'm falling out of the seat, it is awesome! I think it might be one of the best on the world.

[jray21]

I totally agree with the vast majority, EL TORO! It really is absolutely amazing.

Edited February 16, 2013 by jray21

[Moose]

I love El Toro, but I also love how Boulder Dash comes down the mountain and is below the tree line the entire time.

[gforce1994]

The best drop is probably the Beast at KI, due to the small tunnel illusion.

[yay101]

1.) Grizzly at King's Dominion - boring in the front, completely insane if you sit in the back

2.) Thunderbolt at Kennywood - the drop right out of the station yanks you right out of your seat if you sit in the back

3.) Cornball Express at Indiana Beach - once again, sit in the back

4.) Renegade at Valleyfair! - amazing drop plus it just looks cool

5.) Viper at Six Flags Great America - the drop alone is just OK but the pause before it at the top makes it so much better

[musicmand]

I'll have to say that front seat on Outlaw's Run is ridiculous. Hanging on the edge of the drop and you STILL can't see the track on the way down due to the angle? Amazing. On top of that, they use the terrain to add an extra 50+ feet to the first drop and then kick it up to a speed that would make most steel coasters nervous. Get there if you can, and ride this sucker!

[DanM64]

El Toro! /thread.

 

The drop on the late SOB was really good, too!

[GrapesLie]

I know, I know this isn't the best, but I still love the first drop on The Legend at Holiday World. However the rest of the ride has grown painful unfortunately.

[Condor]

El Toro. Even after riding Outlaw Run for the last two days. Both are beyond incredible, but I thought El Toro's drop had slightly more of that "ejector" sensation than Outlaw Run's did.