KBrylczyk Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Yeah, that doesn't begin to convey the absolutely incredible and fun time I just had. As some of you may know, there's a bit of a winter storm passing through the northeast right now. So much so that SF Great Adventure and SF New England shut down operations for the day. The Great Escape, however, remained open. The storm passed mostly to the south of us, but we began getting snow around 6pm. Anyways, I had a normal day of working the shows at the park, but we had to cancel the final performance due to the stage being too slick from the snow to dance on. It was a blessing in disguise, though, as it allowed me to make a run to the back of the park and jump in line for The Comet. If you read my last quick TR, you'll know that The Comet blew me away last weekend. It was a lot of fun and had a ton of airtime. Tonight, though, it was a whole new monster. Not only did I get to ride it at night. Not only did I get to ride it with a completely full train of insane coaster lovers (half of which were employees). Not only did I get to ride it in the very back row. Indeed, on top of all these great things, I got to ride this classic, excellent woodie...IN THE SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh holy wow, it was sensational. Seriously, I got EXTREMELY lucky to ride a rollercoaster in the snow and if any of you ever get the chance, TAKE IT! I know it's Halloween weekend and all, but the ride was just magical. The ride was running extremely fast (thanks, slick tracks) and delivering airtime out the yin-yang! Couple that with the visuals of snow falling past the running lights and the overall ridiculously joyous mood of every rider on the train, and you have a one of a kind, once in a lifetime event that will never be forgotten. This was, without a doubt, the best rollercoaster ride of my life. Words simply can't express the joy I felt the entire time, even after the fact. I still have an ear to ear grin on my face that won't be going away any time soon. I cannot believe that I got so lucky. I wish that everyone here has the chance to ride a great rollercoaster in the snow. It is truly spectacular. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xVicesAndVirtues Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 Reading this makes me miss my old home park so much... The Comet is such a great coaster. So, maybe it's been eclipsed by El Toro and a few others, but it has such a classic yet extremely smooth feel, I haven't been on any other wooden coaster like it (haven't been on Phoenix). I can only think of one time a few years back when me and some friends rode in flurries mid-October. I don't think it got too slick then, but riding it in the snow was indeed awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidcoaster 2 Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 When I worked the CLP Blue Streak a few years ago we did our pre-opening test runs when a freak blizzard blew in... It stopped before we opened to the public but I would have loved to hop on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterLine Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 While I'd love to ride a classic woodie in the snow... Nothing yet has beat my experience with the TPR crew on Ravine Flyer night-time ERT two years back in the insane lightning and rain... Felt like a completely fake experience. Never have I even been close to riding a coaster with that much lightning and rain and damn, was it fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
154bmag Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 The best experience I've ever had was during ERT on Medusa at Bay Area Weekend 2011. It was the Medusa Water Challenge, take a cup of water on board and try to spill as little as possible. Also, on the last ride of the night, we got fireworks because there was the fair on across the street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal1br3tto Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 Wow, what an experience! I don't think too many people can boast that, especially in seasonal parks, and it seems it's generally a matter of pure luck. And how perfect that not only were the visuals and atmosphere amazing, but the ride experience was greatly improved as well. I will certainly look out for rare opportunities like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David H Posted October 31, 2011 Share Posted October 31, 2011 I got hailed on during a freak patch of hail (in the middle of the summer!) while riding a small coaster in Skegness, UK quite a few years ago. It was far from the best coaster experience of my life, but it was bizarre. If Robb, Elissa, Jeff and company had been a bit earlier, they could have gotten hailed on on a coaster too, but they showed up an hour or two later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBrylczyk Posted November 5, 2011 Author Share Posted November 5, 2011 I got hailed on during a freak patch of hail (in the middle of the summer!) while riding a small coaster in Skegness, UK quite a few years ago. It was far from the best coaster experience of my life, but it was bizarre. If Robb, Elissa, Jeff and company had been a bit earlier, they could have gotten hailed on on a coaster too, but they showed up an hour or two later. DUDE! That happened to me this past April! I was at King's Dominion for opening day. The weather was great (a bit cold, but sunny) all morning and early afternoon. By the time I got to Hurler a storm was brewing. I got into the back row, clicked the seatbelt, lowered the lap bar, and we were dispatched. As soon as the train began going around the turn leading towards the lift hill it began to hail. I grabbed what I could of my jacket to shield my face and went, "Aw, hell." The two people in front of me started laughing, as did I. The entire ride went by with my shielding my face with my jacket while staring at the empty seat next to me, laughing my ass off along with my ridemates in front. It was painful, but I'd be damned if I didn't have a grand ol' time on that ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kafka Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 That is such a cool story, Id love to ride coasters in the snow I think the closest story ive had personally was earlier in the season we went to Holiday World on a day that it was excessively rainy. Due to this, no one was in the park and we more or less had the park to ourselves. I remember one of the times i got to ride the Legend from the front seat by myself in the rain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmerleeberry Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Wow , I bet that was one BIG experience. I never got to ride a coaster in the snow, but I did ride the Griffon at Busch Gardens Europe at night when they were running the fireworks show on the other side of the park. I don't think I've ever seen a firework show while riding 200 feet up in the air. That was awesome! "I'll tell you something else that's awesome: you and me in bed sleeping together. I want you to lay your head upon me." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Thriller Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 This reminds me when I rode Expedition Ge Force up front during a hail storm. It was raining all day so the tracks were wet. The hail started when the train was already up the lift as the park does run the coaster in light rain but nothing really more. It was indeed very painful, but it was a sensation and a great memory. --James "And yes, I bought the onride photo" Flint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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