The Official Mitch Hawker 2012 Wood Coaster Poll Thread!

[David H]

Robb, I think you and I may be among very few on the China trip who ranked both Fireball and the Dauling Dragons above Wood Coaster. In fact, we ranked all four coasters pretty similarly. But I think the GG coasters were a bit too rough for most people to rank as highly as we did. I liked Wood Coaster a lot, but it needed just a bit more "oomph" to make my top 20. But GCII coasters are always crowd pleasers, and Wood Coasters was one of the best of them.

[robbalvey]

Robb, I think you and I may be among very few on the China trip who ranked both Fireball and the Dauling Dragons above Wood Coaster. In fact, we ranked all four coasters pretty similarly. But I think the GG coasters were a bit too rough for most people to rank as highly as we did. I liked Wood Coaster a lot, but it needed just a bit more "oomph" to make my top 20. But GCII coasters are always crowd pleasers, and Wood Coasters was one of the best of them.

Agreed. I always "like" GCI coasters, in fact, I don't think there is a single one that I don't "like", but my personal tastes are just a bit different from their designs.

 

I rank this as my #1 "sensation"

Abrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,1

 

And that's just not the kind of ride GCI designs.

[Big-M]

Hey guys,

I'm working on my ballot, and should have it done shortly, but I'm worrying about something. Last summer, I took a trip to both Tokyo, Japan and Sydney, Australia. My time was limited, and I wanted to do quite a bit of tourism that didn't involve roller coasters, so I decided to visit one park in each country (Tobu Zoo and Luna Park Sydney). The thing is, Kawasemi, Regina, and Wild Mouse are my only three international credits, and I'm not all that well traveled otherwise. I'm wondering what I need to do to make sure my ballot isn't thrown out. Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Erik Johnson]

It took me less than 5 minutes to do mine. I was not able to ride any new wooden coasters this year and very few things changed positions. I still rank rank Phoneix #1, Boulder Dash #2, and El Toro #3 in case if you were curious to know.

Edited January 8, 2013 by Erik Johnson

[cfc]

Robb, I think you and I may be among very few on the China trip who ranked both Fireball and the Dauling Dragons above Wood Coaster. In fact, we ranked all four coasters pretty similarly. But I think the GG coasters were a bit too rough for most people to rank as highly as we did. I liked Wood Coaster a lot, but it needed just a bit more "oomph" to make my top 20. But GCII coasters are always crowd pleasers, and Wood Coasters was one of the best of them.

Agreed. I always "like" GCI coasters, in fact, I don't think there is a single one that I don't "like", but my personal tastes are just a bit different from their designs.

 

I rank this as my #1 "sensation"

Abrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,1

 

And that's just not the kind of ride GCI designs.

 

I had trouble deciding where to place the Chinese wooden coasters because I liked all of them (with the exception of one side of Dualing Dragon). I think Wood Coaster won out largely because of the setting (and the fact that is was a better-than-average GCI).

[SharkTums]

Guess I should get working on my ballot!

[larrygator]

I'm wondering what I need to do to make sure my ballot isn't thrown out. Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

1 - Follow the instructions

2 - Send the ballot before you accidentally delete it.

 

Are you concerned that your ballot will be nullified because you don't have many credits? That is just not true. Where did you get that information? Everyone is encouraged to submit an honest ballot.

Edited January 8, 2013 by larrygator

[SharkTums]

KT and I worked on hers, it's quite a bizarre potpourri due to our traveling and her small stature but a ballot's a ballot!

 

Phoenix Knoebel's PA,y,y,1

Grt Am Scrm Mach SFoG GA,y,y,2

Coastersaurus Legoland Florida FL,y,y,3

My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,y,4

Comet Waldameer PA,y,y,5

Comet Hersheypark PA,y,y,6

Little Dipper SFGAm IL,y,n,7

Zipper Dipper Blackpool UK,y,n,7

Zipper Dipper Esselworld IN,y,y,7

Ghoster Coaster Canada's Wonderland ON,y,y,7

Ghoster Coaster Kings Dominion VA,y,y,7

Woodstock Express Carowinds NC,y,y,7

Twister Knoebel's PA,y,y,8

Scenic Railway Luna Park-Melbourne AU,y,n,9

Leap the Dips Lakemont PA,y,n,10

Underground Adventureland IA,y,n,11

Jack Rabbit Kennywood PA,y,n,12

[Erik Johnson]

Just curious - how many of you put this as the "worst" woodie?

 

 

I did as well.

[TheSchwitek]

Sooo, yeah. Son of Beast is still in my top 10. Bring on the hate. I normally rank the kiddie/junior woodies in the bottom because they are simply the ones that I am least excited about re-riding. The only woodie I have left to ride in the US is Coaster Thrill Ride at the Puyallup Fair. Maybe next year. Here's the condensed version:

 

TOP 25:

 

Boulder Dash Lake Compounce CT,y,n,1

El Toro SFGAd NJ,y,n,2

The Voyage Holiday World IN,y,y,3

Coaster Playland BC,y,y,4

My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,y,5

Hades Mount Olympus WI,y,n,6

Shivering Timbers Michigan's Adventure MI,y,n,7

The Beast Kings Island OH,y,n,8

Son of Beast (SBNO) Kings Island OH,y,n,9

The Boss Six Flags St Louis MO,y,y,10

Renegade Valleyfair! MN,y,n,11

American Thunder Six Flags St Louis MO,y,y,12

Prowler Worlds of Fun MO,y,y,13

Thunderhead Dollywood TN,y,y,14

Apocalypse S. F. Magic Mountain CA,y,y,15

Ravine Flyer II Waldameer PA,y,n,16

Screamin' Eagle Six Flags St Louis MO,y,y,17

Rattler Fiesta Texas TX,y,n,18

Rampage Alabama Adventure AL,y,n,19

The Legend Holiday World IN,y,y,20

GhostRider Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,y,21

HellCat Timber Falls WI,y,n,22

Dania Bch Hurr (S) Dania Beach FL,y,n,23

Roar SF Discovery Kingdom CA,y,y,24

Roar SF America MD,y,n,25

 

BOTTOM 5:

 

Woodstock Express Carowinds NC,y,n,125

Woodstock Express Kings Island OH,y,n,126

Underground Adventureland IA,y,n,127

Kiddie Coaster Playland NY,y,n,128

Lil' Dipper Camden Park WV,y,n,129

[cfc]

KT and I worked on hers, it's quite a bizarre potpourri due to our traveling and her small stature but a ballot's a ballot!

 

Phoenix Knoebel's PA,y,y,1

Grt Am Scrm Mach SFoG GA,y,y,2

Coastersaurus Legoland Florida FL,y,y,3

My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,y,4

Comet Waldameer PA,y,y,5

Comet Hersheypark PA,y,y,6

Little Dipper SFGAm IL,y,n,7

Zipper Dipper Blackpool UK,y,n,7

Zipper Dipper Esselworld IN,y,y,7

Ghoster Coaster Canada's Wonderland ON,y,y,7

Ghoster Coaster Kings Dominion VA,y,y,7

Woodstock Express Carowinds NC,y,y,7

Twister Knoebel's PA,y,y,8

Scenic Railway Luna Park-Melbourne AU,y,n,9

Leap the Dips Lakemont PA,y,n,10

Underground Adventureland IA,y,n,11

Jack Rabbit Kennywood PA,y,n,12

 

KT made a good choice for her top wooden coaster.

[SharkTums]

^She asks about once a week when we're going back to Knoebels!

[MFJorts]

This is the first year I've done one. I'm looking forward to see where Gold Striker will land next year, probably in the top 3 given my #1, both GCIs.

 

COASTER NAME PARK LOC <--Please leave this

Thunderhead Dollywood TN,y,y,1

Apocalypse S. F. Magic Mountain CA,y,y,2

Giant Dipper Santa Cruz Bch Bdwk CA,y,y,3

Blue Streak Cedar Point OH,y,n,4

Cannonball Lake Winnepesaukah GA,y,y,5

Roar SF Discovery Kingdom CA,y,y,6

Colossus S.F. Magic Mountain CA,y,y,7

GhostRider Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,n,8

Georgia Cyclone SFoG GA,y,y,9

Wolverine Wildcat Michigan's Adventure MI,y,n,10

The Beast Kings Island OH,y,n,11

Woodstock Express Carowinds NC,y,y,12

Woodstock Express Kings Island OH,y,n,13

Mean Streak Cedar Point OH,y,n,14

Thunder Road Carowinds NC,y,y,15

Hurler Carowinds NC,y,y,16

[Randomman295]

Here's mine.

 

RANK THE FOLLOWING RIDING SENSATIONS <-LEAVE THIS LINE AS IS

Floating Airtime___________________________,y,y,1

Abrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,2

Out of Control Feeling/Directional Changes_,y,y,3

Sensation of Speed_________________________,y,y,4

Lateral Forces_____________________________,y,y,5

Positive G's/Loops_________________________,y,y,6

COASTER NAME PARK LOC <--Please leave this

Apocalypse S. F. Magic Mountain CA,y,y,1

Renegade Valleyfair! MN,y,y,2

Colossus S.F. Magic Mountain CA,y,y,3

Blue Streak Cedar Point OH,y,n,4

High Roller Valleyfair! MN,y,y,5

Mean Streak Cedar Point OH,y,n,6

GhostRider Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,n,7

 

Seeing this made me realize how many wooden coasters I haven't been on.

But I want to know: Did anyone put Lateral Forces as their favorite sensation?

[Randomman295]

I know I may sound lazy by asking this here, but which one of these was ranked highest on your list: Prowler (WoF), Thunderhead (DW), Renegade (VF), or Apocalypse (SFMM)?

 

I honestly want to know which one you guys think is the best American GCI.

[vertigomkie]

KT and I worked on hers, it's quite a bizarre potpourri due to our traveling and her small stature but a ballot's a ballot!

 

Phoenix Knoebel's PA,y,y,1

Grt Am Scrm Mach SFoG GA,y,y,2

Coastersaurus Legoland Florida FL,y,y,3

My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,y,4

Comet Waldameer PA,y,y,5

Comet Hersheypark PA,y,y,6

Little Dipper SFGAm IL,y,n,7

Zipper Dipper Blackpool UK,y,n,7

Zipper Dipper Esselworld IN,y,y,7

Ghoster Coaster Canada's Wonderland ON,y,y,7

Ghoster Coaster Kings Dominion VA,y,y,7

Woodstock Express Carowinds NC,y,y,7

Twister Knoebel's PA,y,y,8

Scenic Railway Luna Park-Melbourne AU,y,n,9

Leap the Dips Lakemont PA,y,n,10

Underground Adventureland IA,y,n,11

Jack Rabbit Kennywood PA,y,n,12

 

Is Jack Rabbit that bad? Never know what to think when so many people rave about it being coaster heaven. It's ended up on the bottom of a couple of lists.

[Athletekim]

RANK THE FOLLOWING RIDING SENSATIONS <-LEAVE THIS LINE AS IS

Abrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,1

Floating Airtime___________________________,y,y,2

Positive G's/Loops_________________________,y,y,3

Sensation of Speed_________________________,y,y,4

Out of Control Feeling/Directional Changes_,y,y,5

Lateral Forces_____________________________,y,y,6

COASTER NAME PARK LOC <--Please leave this

Phoenix Knoebel's PA,y,y,1

El Toro SFGAd NJ,y,y,2

Thunderhead Dollywood TN,y,n,3

Twister Knoebel's PA,y,y,4

Lightning Racer - T Hersheypark PA,y,y,5

Great White Wild Wheels Pier NJ,y,y,6

Comet Hersheypark PA,y,n,7

Wildcat Hersheypark PA,y,y,8

Comet Great Escape NY,y,n,9

Rolling Thunder SFGAd NJ,y,n,10

[larrygator]

KT and I worked on hers, it's quite a bizarre potpourri due to our traveling and her small stature but a ballot's a ballot!

 

Phoenix Knoebel's PA,y,y,1

Grt Am Scrm Mach SFoG GA,y,y,2

Coastersaurus Legoland Florida FL,y,y,3

My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,y,4

Comet Waldameer PA,y,y,5

Comet Hersheypark PA,y,y,6

Little Dipper SFGAm IL,y,n,7

Zipper Dipper Blackpool UK,y,n,7

Zipper Dipper Esselworld IN,y,y,7

Ghoster Coaster Canada's Wonderland ON,y,y,7

Ghoster Coaster Kings Dominion VA,y,y,7

Woodstock Express Carowinds NC,y,y,7

Twister Knoebel's PA,y,y,8

Scenic Railway Luna Park-Melbourne AU,y,n,9

Leap the Dips Lakemont PA,y,n,10

Underground Adventureland IA,y,n,11

Jack Rabbit Kennywood PA,y,n,12

 

Is Jack Rabbit that bad? Never know what to think when so many people rave about it being coaster heaven. It's ended up on the bottom of a couple of lists.

 

I'm betting Kristen probably has better things to do than address this question.

[vertigomkie]

Haha, it was a generic question. Not necessarily to KT, I'm pretty sure some else could vouch for whether Jack Rabbit is that good or gad.

[cfc]

The ejector air in the backseat of Jack Rabbit is pretty insane. I ranked it 34th overall.

Edited January 9, 2013 by cfc

[larrygator]

Haha, it was a generic question. Not necessarily to KT, I'm pretty sure some else could vouch for whether Jack Rabbit is that good or gad.

 

The best answer is probably to wait for the results as everyone's opinion differs. But for reference, I have it at 72 of the 157 I have rated. I think the Jack Rabbit is a well respected coaster.

 

Are you sure you are not confusing the Jack Rabbit at Seabreeze with the one at Kennywood when looking at other rankings?

 

 

 

EDIT: I just checked the rankings of 5 random people that posted here who have ridden over 100 woodies. 4 out of 5 have it in the top 50 percentile of their woodies while the 5th person has it around the 60% percentile.

Edited January 9, 2013 by larrygator

[PhantomNick]

Nothing like waiting until the last minute!

 

Not nearly as many wooden coasters for me as some of you, which just means......I need to go ride more of them!!

 

And, remembering the ride photo that Robb & Elissa posted of KT on the Jack Rabbit, I can certainly see why she ranked it last!

 

LOCATION FOLLOWS THIS LINE (LEAVE THIS LINE AS IS)

~"Pennsylvania"

NAME FOLLOWS THIS LINE (LEAVE THIS LINE AS IS IN Ballot)

~"Nick"

RANK THE FOLLOWING RIDING SENSATIONS <-LEAVE THIS LINE AS IS

Abrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,1

Floating Airtime___________________________,y,y,2

Sensation of Speed_________________________,y,y,3

Out of Control Feeling/Directional Changes_,y,y,4

Lateral Forces_____________________________,y,y,5

Positive G's/Loops_________________________,y,y,6

COASTER NAME PARK LOC <--Please leave this

El Toro SFGAd NJ,y,n,1

My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,y,2

The Voyage Holiday World IN,y,n,3

Ravine Flyer II Waldameer PA,y,n,4

Phoenix Knoebel's PA,y,n,5

Shivering Timbers Michigan's Adventure MI,y,n,6

Thunderbolt Kennywood PA,y,y,7

Lightning Racer - L Hersheypark PA,y,y,8

Lightning Racer - T Hersheypark PA,y,y,9

Raven Holiday World IN,y,n,10

Jack Rabbit Kennywood PA,y,y,11

Viper SFGAm IL,y,n,12

Boardwalk Bullet Kemah Boardwalk TX,y,n,13

Twister Knoebel's PA,y,n,14

The Legend Holiday World IN,y,n,15

Racer Kings Island OH,y,n,16

American Eagle SFGAm IL,y,n,17

Wolverine Wildcat Michigan's Adventure MI,y,n,18

Big Dipper (SBNO) Geauga Lake OH,y,n,19

Racer Kennywood PA,y,y,20

Great White Wild Wheels Pier NJ,y,n,21

The Beast Kings Island OH,y,n,22

Blue Streak Cedar Point OH,y,y,23

Comet Hersheypark PA,y,y,24

Rebel Yell Kings Dominion VA,y,n,25

Leap the Dips Lakemont PA,y,n,26

The Grizzly Kings Dominion VA,y,n,27

Blue Streak Conneaut Lake Park PA,y,n,28

Thunderhawk Dorney Park PA,y,y,29

Skyliner Lakemont PA,y,n,30

Comet Waldameer PA,y,n,31

Rollo Coaster Idlewild PA,y,n,32

Woodstock Express Carowinds NC,y,n,33

Zach's Zoomer Michigan's Adventure MI,y,n,34

Ghoster Coaster Kings Dominion VA,y,n,35

Hurler Carowinds NC,y,n,36

Mean Streak Cedar Point OH,y,y,37

Wildcat Hersheypark PA,y,y,38

Rolling Thunder SFGAd NJ,y,n,39

Hurler Kings Dominion VA,y,n,40

Thunder Road Carowinds NC,y,n,41

Predator Darien Lake NY,y,n,42

[robbalvey]

LAST CHANCE!!!! GET YOUR BALLOT IT!

 

User the online easy helper if you need to: http://hawker.stationbrakes.com/

[CoasterGuy06]

Finally got mine done:

 

 

RANK THE FOLLOWING RIDING SENSATIONS <-LEAVE THIS LINE AS IS

Floating Airtime___________________________,y,y,1

Abrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,2

Lateral Forces_____________________________,y,y,3

Sensation of Speed_________________________,y,y,4

Out of Control Feeling/Directional Changes_,y,y,5

Positive G's/Loops_________________________,y,y,6

COASTER NAME PARK LOC <--Please leave this

The Voyage Holiday World IN,y,n,1

Thunderhead Dollywood TN,y,y,2

Rampage Alabama Adventure AL,y,n,3

My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,n,4

The Legend Holiday World IN,y,n,5

Raven Holiday World IN,y,n,6

Kentucky Rumbler Beech Bend KY,y,n,7

The Beast Kings Island OH,y,y,8

Roar SF America MD,y,n,9

The Grizzly Kings Dominion VA,y,n,10

Wild One SF America MD,y,n,11

Grt Am Scrm Mach SFoG GA,y,y,12

Blue Streak Cedar Point OH,y,y,13

Georgia Cyclone SFoG GA,y,n,14

Cannonball Lake Winnepesaukah GA,y,n,15

Cannonball Waterville USA AL,y,n,16

Thunder Road Carowinds NC,y,y,17

Racer Kings Island OH,y,y,18

Hurler Carowinds NC,y,y,19

Hurler Kings Dominion VA,y,n,20

Rebel Yell Kings Dominion VA,y,n,21

Mean Streak Cedar Point OH,y,y,22

Ghoster Coaster Kings Dominion VA,y,n,23

Woodstock Express Carowinds NC,y,n,24

Woodstock Express Kings Island OH,y,n,25

Rattler Fiesta Texas TX,y,n,26

Edited January 9, 2013 by CoasterGuy06

[ginzo]

Got my ballot in 90 minutes before the deadline. Hope it doesn't get hung up in some email server queue. My top 10 list has not changed from last year probably because I didn't ride much this year. I also only added 2 new woodies and they're the two crappy ones in the SF area. From my top 10 list, I only rode Phoenix & Raven this year. Because it's so consistently awesome, I'm highly tempted to put Phoenix at #1, but I still remember Balder being slightly better. I really need to snag that 4th Intamin woodie credit some day!

 

1) Balder - Liseberg

2) Phoenix - Knoebels

3) Expedition GeForce - Holiday Park (favorite steel)

4) Boulder Dash - Lake Compounce

5) El Toro - SFGAd

6) Colossos - Heide Park

7) Ravine Flyer II - Waldameer

8) HellCat - Timber Falls

9) Cornball Express - Indiana Beach

10) Raven - Holiday World