I admit it: I close my eyes on flying coasters, too

[Samuel]

It's one of those things I've never mentioned because I don't get a peek at anyone else while riding a flying coaster, but I see from recent reports that I'm not the only one who instinctively closes his eyes during unusual flying coaster elements. Can I get an amen here? Simply stated, they're weird.

 

There's something about pretzel and vertical loops on flyers that make me go, "WOW - this is incredi...get it over with! Get it over with! Dear lord! Okay, I'm good..." Every time. These are the only coaster elements that I don't seem to get used to, and the only ones that make my body tighten in protest to let me know that what I'm doing just isn't right. Unlike "natural" elements and maneuvers, these seem to be as unnatural as it gets. If a bird or plane performs a head-first pretzel loop, that bird or plane is probably experiencing technical difficulties.

 

Personally, I think they're a bit of a Pyrrhic experience in that I appreciate the extreme wildness, but they can zap my stamina and dampen my re-riding spirit. I also think it's interesting that despite talk of trims and uninspired layouts nibbling around the edges of B&M sentiment, the company has produced some flat-out insane elements on its flyers. Robb's report showing off some of the craziness of Flying Dinosaur at USJ is another one to appreciate.

 

I really don't know whether I love or loath these elements, but they stand out so much in terms of intensity that I'm interested to see what TPR feels about them. I see them listed frequently, but without much elaboration, in both "favorite elements" and "least favorite elements" threads, and I'd love to read some fleshed-out opinions.

 

 

[Jason Maier]

I do the same on Batwing at SFA.

 

For the reason that . . . well lying on your back and rolling out of the station and into the sun . . . isn't the most pleasant thing.

[boldikus]

I can never close my eyes on any rides. Gives me vertigo.

[viking86]

While I cannot recall if I kept my eyes open or not (I think they were open), that moment when you start diving on Manta (particularly in the backseat) was one of very few moments that has given me that "OH F*CK" feeling!

[Schrecken]

The only coasters I always keep my eyes closed on (at least for part of the ride) are Vekoma boomerangs during the backwards portion of the ride. The reason is that if I don't, I get extremely dizzy (more so than I would on most spinning flat rides) and sometimes nauseous.

[Canobie Coaster]

I always ride eyes open, even on flyers. The only time I ever close my eyes on rides is:

 

1) Vertical lift into the sun

2) VR malfunctiond and you're staring at a frozen screen

[michaellynn4]

While I don't close my eyes on any rides or coasters, I will admit that flying coasters are the only rides where my irrational fear of the restraints failing kicks in. Every time I ride Superman at SFGAdv, I always get afraid my fat ass will cause the restraints to pop open as we descend down the first drop.

[RollingCoasting]

My first ever coaster inversion was Superman: Ultimate Flight @SFGAm's Pretzel Loop so I've never had a problem personally with thinking flyers are too extreme or unsafe. I'd probably close my eyes on the lift hill of a Vekoma flying dutchman though. Not out of fear, but because I wouldn't want to stare directly into the sunlight

[bill_s]

You may as well close your eyes because you sure can't see where you're going. Vekoma ended up talking as much about disorientation as anything else when describing their flyers.

[Arthur_Seaton]

No eye closing from me, but I find the ride position to be generally unpleasant. The combination of forces pushing you into the restraints and the constant neck craning required to see where you're going takes away much of the thrill for me, putting these models more into the endurance-test category that minimizes fun. While I've ridden a few flyers, Tatsu is the most notorious example of this. For me, the lift hill is by far the best and most thrilling part of the ride. Much of the rest is just a blur of trees / sky / restraint pressure. The pretzel is pretty great, but it's a spine-rattler.

[PixelRush]

I can never close my eyes on any rides. Gives me vertigo.

Close enough.

 

Edit:

I rode Superman @ SFGAdv, and that was the scariest part for me (this was many years ago). I went again a few years later and had bad memories of the pretzel loop, so I was a little unsure about riding. I went on anyway because I just have a "the worst part(s) is/are over really quick and then it's fun" mentality when I ride coasters that intimidate me (usually new ones).

 

Pretzel loops are probably one of the most unique elements you can have on a coaster, but sometimes its intensity sorts out the brave vs the meek and the strong vs the weak

Edited January 8, 2017 by PixelRush

[prozach626]

The older I get, the less I'm a fan of the "omfg my insides are going to explode! OK, that's over and now I just feel nauseous" feeling. Flyers are one and done for me.

[firewalk13]

I couldn't keep my eyes open the first time on a flyer. For some reason the hangtime roll on Banshee just makes me contract and close my eyes, i think it's the old, "i'm a fat guy and i'm going to fall out of this thing." syndrome."

Edited January 8, 2017 by firewalk13

[Geauga Dog]

I don't close my eyes on the Vekoma Flying Dutchmen except on the lift or brake run if the sun is in the right position but on the B&M's I always close my eyes at the bottom of a pretzel loop and yell due to the positive g's going through it.

[Midgetman82]

If the pretzel loop is forceful enough I close me eyes, not for any fears but because it feels like my eyes are gonna get sucked into the sockets.

[Henry M]

Wow, this really makes me want to go on a large flyer. Air (Galactica) just does not do that to you.

[Physical]

I don't close my eyes but the entry to the pretzel loops on Superman clones always makes me go "oh poop"

 

And without fail every time the pretzel loop feels more forceful than I remember.

[Password121]

I rode Manta last week for the first time and we got off the train and looked in disbelief that the pretzel loop could exist, but in the most positive way possible. I absolutely love obnoxiously intense elements and the pretzel loop is one of them for me. Same with the entrance to Montu's batwing in the back row.

 

That said, I can understand why you wouldn't enjoy them. It's a weird sense of being out of control with your body in such a position.

[The Yeti]

I may close my eyes as a reflex during pretzel loops, but not necessarily out of fear. I think the most frightening parts of B&M flying coasters are the lift hills...just staring down at the ground which is getting farther and farther away from you, with all of your weight on the restraints.

 

Pretzel loops and vertical loops on flying coasters are easily some of my favorite elements, eyes open or closed.

[The Great Zo]

I close my eyes.

 

Only for a moment, and the moment's gone.

 

(sorry)

[Henry M]

Is the head over heels and acceleration g force sensation the same to S and S rides like Slammer? They looks similar in motion but do they feel the same?

[Manic Monte]

I close my eyes right before the drops on Zac Spins and Fly Free rides, for the same reason.

[gerstlaueringvar]

I wouldn't close my eyes during pretzel loop or vertical loop on a flying coaster/Flying Dutchman, but I get the butterfly in the stomach sensation like those during airtime and launch. Those elements are not scary for me but they feel very awkward somehow.

 

Taatsu and Sky Scrapper are both insane and I definitely screamed out loud during the pretzel loop and the vertical loop.