Advice, please?

[GMAN962]

Hello, i'm new to these forums, one of the reasons i made this account, but not the main reason, was that i would like to have some advice on roller coasters, mainly fear of them.

 

If you are going to call me a wimp, noob, or say any comments that are not useful, please do NOT Post on this topic.

 

Here is my story:

 

I am currently fourteen. WHen i was younger, i had almost NO fear of roller coasters, except for being upside down. My brother (who is also on the forums, but i wont say who he is) was afriad of ALL roller coasters. One of the the only things he would go on was Jaguar at Knott's. I had gone on the Desparado, at the state line near Las Vegas, and I went on Ghostrider. When I went on those, I wasnt afraid on the lift, basically, i was barley nervous throughout the whole ride. The only time I would be scared, was the airtime on the Desparado. It was, i think only a seat belt. I felt like I was going to fall out. On Ghostrider, I had the time of my life. (The last time i was at Knott's was during the construction of XLR8R.)

 

Just recently, I was at Six Flags Magic Mountain. I went on my first looping coaster ever, and the first actually big roller coaster my brother went on. He loved it. He went on Tatsu, Viper, Riddler's Revenge, and Batman. I went on Viper. I loved Viper, but when I went on Viper, I was EXTREMELY scared on the way up the lift. When we got to the top of the lift, and started going, it all went away. . Then, we went to Riddler's Revenge. When I saw it, how big it was, and the fact that you were standing up on such a big coaster, I decided that I was too scared to go on it, and chickened out. I ended up doing the same thing with all of the others, waiting while everyone else went on the rides. My brother is always saying how fun they are, and how i should give them a second chance. The thing is, that for some reason, after Viper, I developed a big fear of roller coasters. I went to Six Flags, anticipating going on all the rides I could, saying that X would be the best, for some reason Viper just destroyed my liking of roller coasters. I want to have fun, I know that they're fun, but I need help getting over my fear of them. I dont want to have to wait all day and get nothing accomplised again. All actaul help will be greatly appericiated.

 

 

There's my story. Once again, please do not reply if you are going to call me a wimp, noob, or say anything that is not useful.

 

 

THANKS!

 

-GMAN962

[darklight_tr]

Hey, I understand. The best advice I can give to you is to take your time.

 

After riding Giant Drop at SFGAm right when it opened in 1997, it scared me so bad that I swore I would never ride another drop ride again. I bypassed them at every park I went to until I worked up the courage to try Power Tower at Valleyfair! in 2003. I was terrified on the way up, but once it was over I realized that I really liked it! I have ridden drop rides at every park I have been to since. They still scare me every time, but I love them now!

 

Don't be in a rush to conquer your fear, it will just make it worse.

[vjgx]

I do believe that one reason for your development of roller-coaster fear may have been the roughness of Viper... I have been on Viper too ( ) and I was somewhat left with a bad impression of coasters by it's roughness, seeing as it was my first big coaster. Just ride a B&M or something smoother... You'll learn to love them in no time!

[GMAN962]

I'm probably going to try giving them another chance, i might go on silver bullet soon.

[vjgx]

^^ Ah yes, that's a good idea. Take your time, and it'll be much easier to take in the higher intensity levels. Just work your way up (although I didn't and I ended up fine) through the levels of coaster intensity, and I do believe it will be much easier to adjust. On the contrary though, I did anything but that... I went from Jaguar! to Viper, and then ended up on Tatsu 2 coasters later... huge intensity jump for me, but in a way it helped me lose my fears faster. Just do whatever you're comfortable with, and you'll get used to the whole ride experience over time.

[Rollerholden]

I'm probably going to try giving them another chance, i might go on silver bullet soon.

 

That's a good idea because it's not very intense or fast, still pretty fun though. You should like it.

[SLUSHIE]

Coasters are in no way dangerous. I hate it when people say they wont ride something because it looks dangerous and your ganna fall out becuase there is only some little bar keeping you in. You say you felt like you were going to fall out, but did you?

 

I don't mean to sound like I'm attacking you, but don't be afraid of a roller coaster because you think your going to die or get seriously injured or something.

 

I've introduced a few friends to roller coasters, and I've always made sure that their first one is a B&M. B&Ms are smooth, unlike Viper, and are easy on the rider.

 

IDK what park your goin to be at next, but if it's SFMM again, I would say try Scream, and after that (if you liked Scream) try Batman.

[Freefallbestrideever]

From what i've heard, it makes sense to be fearing for your life on Desperado

[darklight_tr]

^Trust me, you're right about that!

[eli]

Just say to yourself, " Look, this roller coaster can't be as bad as being riding in a car driven by an asian woman." I usually say that to myself when I get the shivers. Either that, or you can starting doing a monologue of your favorite scene in a movie. For example, when I rode Goliath for the first time at Six Flags Magic Mountain, I started to say this out loud:

 

"I'm telling you, this lady has really crawled into Ron's head. .. HAHA, that's a good one!"

 

No one understand what I was saying but it helped ease the tension, especially since that was my first 200ft roller coaster. Good luck.

[thomas2]

I'd say just go for it!!! Once you've done it you think 'man that was fun, let's do it again'. When I went on Dalton Terror (drop ride) I swore to never do it again. 3 min later, I was standing again in the line...

[GMAN962]

Just say to yourself, " Look, this roller coaster can't be as bad as being riding in a car driven by an asian woman." I usually say that to myself when I get the shivers. Either that, or you can starting doing a monologue of your favorite scene in a movie. For example, when I rode Goliath for the first time at Six Flags Magic Mountain, I started to say this out loud:

 

"I'm telling you, this lady has really crawled into Ron's head. .. HAHA, that's a good one!"

 

No one understand what I was saying but it helped ease the tension, especially since that was my first 200ft roller coaster. Good luck.

 

 

Haha, that's good, i'll have to keep it in mind.

 

Another thing is that when i went on the Desperado, I was, I think 8. After it my back was actually in pain. So...i'll probably give thema second chance.

[vjgx]

^ Good thinking.

 

Desperado = PAIN!!!

Viper = Painful fun!!!

Any B&M = FUN!!!!

[easytoremember]

Like everyone has said, RIDE A B&M. I have had many friends scared of coasters, and one B&M made them ready for anything. Example, ride Scream, Batman, or silver bullet. Smooth, flowing and not painful like viper.

 

B&M:

 

Viper:

 

Desparado: i have not ridden, but i have heard it is filled with

[matteocrepaldi]

I think for me it's the same but only the first time I ride something BIG.

On Silver Star I was really scared and extremely nervous during the lift but after the ride my only thought was to run in line again to ride that coaster again.

[vjgx]

^^ Yes, that's true. After my first B&M, I was no longer scared either... They really do leave a good impression on you!