Large Kid on Slingshot

[GrapesLie]

[youtu_be]

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I'm sure this has been talked about at least in passing since this is a very famous video. I looked for the topic with no luck. If it is on here I apologize.

 

I was wondering though if anyone knows more about this video? Honestly was he in any real danger? I believe there is a belt between his legs too. Is that correct? Just in general his mom is kind of a jerk. But I was mainly wondering exactly how the restraints work on this thing? I can't seem to get a good idea from the video.

[robbalvey]

^ It's been a long time since I've been on one of the ones with the 5-point harness, but if my memory serves correctly there was no way the kid could have fallen out, and probably was just making a much bigger deal out of it than it was.

 

The reality here is this is just an example of why parents shouldn't force kids on to rides they don't want to go on. I've seen it way too many times where a kid FREAKS THE HELL OUT on a ride and can potentially do way more damage to themselves just because of them freaking out. That's what I feel happened here. The kid was never in any danger, nor was he ever really "stuck" (that's just the restraint doing it's job), and he probably slipped a bit because he probably didn't have his feet on the platform or just wasn't prepared for the forces. You can see in the video that when he freaks out, he fails his arms and what looks like his legs, too, and that's when he started slipping. The other rider held on the whole time and didn't have any issues.

 

In short, the kid should have been riding the kiddie boat ride instead.

Edited May 27, 2014 by robbalvey

[supertrooper]

I love Janice.

[fraroc]

I love the "Janice it ain't funny!" line XD

[DoinItForTheFame]

I agree with Robb on this one. The restraint was doing its job. There was no way he could have actually fallen out, he simply slipped a little. Again agreeing with Robb... This is why parents should never force kids to ride rides they do not want to ride.

 

Still a funny video though!

[KevinM]

I operated Cedar Point's Skyscraper for a summer which uses a very similar restraint. These restraints are fastened in three or four places (four on newer models). The first two are very similar to the shoulder/lap belt you'll find in your car, one overlapping the other. These two straps are tightened in such a way that a rider cannot slide out upwards. (The manual actually suggests that riders with "sloped shoulders" wearing a "slick jacket" should remove their jacket. This kid is definitely "sloped" but not tall enough to where the shoulder straps would slide down to his arms.) The only possible way out at this point would be sliding downward, which should be stopped by the seat. As a redundant measure, one or two "crotch straps" (actual name!) are connected from beneath the seat to the rider's, well... crotch. On a one-strap model, the strap is connected where the shoulder straps cross (I think, our's was a two-strap). On a two-strap, each strap connects at one hip, where the lap/shoulder belt is also fastened.

 

In summary, unless the rider is extremely round and large, there is no risk of sliding out. This kid is fine, in my season I never encountered anyone that would be remotely at risk. (Such a rider should be filtered out via the weight limit.) I hope you find this enlightening!

[robbalvey]

^ Thanks for that insight!

[GigaG]

If his head had slipped under, the lap belt and belts under the arms probably would have stopped him from falling.