cfc Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 I ambled up to Six Flags America to meet Rich (coaster05), Melanie (funkybadger), and Larry (larrygator), who were doing a bit of credit whoring before jetting off to Spain for the first big TPR tour. A good time was had by all, but one thing was on our minds--What about Skull Mountain (formerly, Typhoon Sea Coaster)? Would it be running? Well, the flume was full of water, there were boats on the lifthills, and technicians were futzing about the ride all morning. Time marched on, and so did Mel, Rich, and Larry, who were on a tight schedule and had to hit the road before 3:00. I was a bit more flexible and decided to wait it out, so that 1) my friends could live vicariously through me, and 2) I could lord it over them later, being the sick TPR puppy that I am. I had to take Skull Mountain "sad-and-pathetic" style! I got my hopes off when I spied a crew of ride ops in the loading station, and a manager to train them. (I think he may have shangaied some of them from the swinging pirate ship across the way, as it was mysteriously closed for repairs after running all day.) And my wait was rewarded, when after a few false starts, I finally boarded this most elusive of SFA rides (well, except for that Ultratwister thing that's in pieces near Batwing) at around 5:15 or so. First off, is it a coaster credit? My answer is "no." This is really a pirate-themed hybrid of a flume ride and a shoot-the-chutes. The boats initially cruise though a pirate cave. Well, a tunnel. OK, a long tin shed, which is filled with all sort of random pirate stuff, like treasure, cutlasses, and skeletons. What it isn't filled with is lighting effects, unless you count the sunlight that shines in through the cracks in the roof. And they do play a song from a well-known Disney attraction in a few spots . . . Yep, "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Pirate's Life for Me!" And this isn't some new version--this is the exact same freakin' song used on the classic Disney rides! I wonder if they bothered to get permission? Hmm . . . Your boat is cranked up one hill, rolls in a trough down and back up, then down a water filled chute, and into another "cave," before ambling around the flume for the lifthill and big drop at the end, which is a bit of a soaker. At no time does you boat go backward, which I understand was a feature of the original Typhoon Sea Coaster. And, yeah, the ride's fun, and it's as close to a dark ride as this park gets. I hope SFA can keep it running. So, here are the pics--done in scurvy pyrate style! I even caught some hot lesbo cartoon action on me way out1 Thanks fer stoppin' by, mates! Now wiegh yer anchor! We sails with the tide! It takes so little to warm the heart of a scurvy old pyrate the likes o me! Aye, disgoring these wet souls o the damned from its foul gullet, I'll wager! Aye! Thar she blows! The gapin' skull's maw be vomitin' forth boats! That were pretty much all thar were to it. Avast there wench! Tubs be fer bathin', not drivin'! And thar be superheroes paradin' about in spandex like! Have I dropped me anchor in San Francisco? Time fer a wee bit o the pageantry that says "Six Flags"! Thar be Looney Tunes! Avast! Pyrate ships be not swings! Sure, and the Wild One be eager to please an old sea dog like me! I can wait, sez I. Thar be Roar to ride agin! I see ye, scurvy ride ops! So, it be trainin' ye need, eh? An hour's worth, sez you! Aye, belay that gloomy talk! Thar be boats, sez I! Aye, and this one weren't much better. Arghh! This piece of flotsam be a discouragin' sign. Ahoy! Me mates and meself haunted the entrance to Skull Mountain, but they had to be shovin' off. So, I waited all sad-and-pathetic like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
live2tell75 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 I'm glad you were able to get the flume credit Chuck! I wish it had been open a few months earlier. Oh well, maybe sometime in the future I'll get to check it out. Glad you had a good time with the gang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekRx Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 LOL! Larry's pirate talk makes this PTR excellent in itself. Or was that Chuck's pirate talk? In any case, glad you got to ride the Typhone Sea Skull Mountain, Chuarry, I never have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennywood!007 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Great PTR, looks fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Y'arr, you ass pirates did a fine TR! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reon Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 I actually saw them test it at the end of the day when I went up there at the beggining of the month. I agree that it isnt really a coaster, but it still looks like fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meteornotes Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 I've visited SFA over 20 times, and have seen the TSC running twice and managed to get on it once. This is a pretty tough ride to get on, so congrats to you. And the pics and pirate talk rocked. dt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 OK we missed Skull Mountain, but we got: 1) - The Blue Diamond Park Galaxi credit 2) - Cheesesteaks at Pat's in Philly 3) - 2 1/2 hours at SFGAdv including 5 rides on El Toro including 4 in the last 20 minutes and the last two rides of the night. WE WIN! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted June 26, 2007 Author Share Posted June 26, 2007 ^I had wondered if you'd pulled that off, Larry--congratulations for accomplishing your insane itinerary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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