Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (SCBB) Discussion Thread

Ah, that makes much more sense.

^That's pretty poor planning on their part then. I've worked on my fair share of ride openings in California, and there really isn't a lot of surprises---everything is scheduled in advance, which gives plenty of time for the park to do its training to get everyone ready.

 

The whole reason that the ride has not gotten approval is not because of the state. It really has nothing to do with the scheduling or anything like that. The schedule got screwed up because the track was poorly manufactured by Maurer Sohne, and they had to actually get local contractors to literally alter the track in order to make the pieces to fit together. This is straight from the mouth of Wolfgang of Maurer Sohne. So, the entire project was screwed from the beginning since it was a manufacturing problem.

That makes a little more sense. Depending on what modifications they did, diagrams/SOP's would need to be updated for the state to approve it.

Jiminy Christmas. Still no Undertow, eh? My goodness.

Has the park said anything about why an off-the-shelf model spinning coaster has taken so long to install?

Has the park said anything about why an off-the-shelf model spinning coaster has taken so long to install?

I believe that a few posts back it was said that the track was manufactured poorly and did not fit together, so they had to spend time fixing the damaged track.

So, now for the writeup on our SCBB visit on 9/21/13! Rain was threatening but did not stop us (or anyone else) from enjoying a day at the 'Walk. We all still had an awesome visit despite UT/Deck Ornament not running. Here's some highlights of our visit.

- TPR member Blue Fire Guy and I had a little competition on Ghost Blasters. Naturally we both aren't very good at this ride so both of our scores were low. This was the first time I had actually "won" on this ride though.

(It's not easy to film and shoot ghosts simultaneously)

- Wipeout fun! We found that doubling up actually gave this ride more momentum and with both of us leaning in sync at the right times, we were able to get this ride to pretty much whip us around upon command. I love this thing!

- We attempted a Clench 'n Squish on Rock-o-Plane. Tight squeeze, more momentum on getting flips going. We primarily concentrated on mimicking a top spin and just balancing our cage upside down by locking/unlocking our cage at the right times.

- After the rain cleared, though still not the nicest of days, we decided to hit up Logger's Revenge. Were there always misters mid drop? That got us pretty wet.

- Shorter S&S towers rock! Still not as good as the puny Larson/ARM tower we did at the fair but still really fun!

- Crazy Surf...'nuff said!

- Fun in Fright Walk. We had 2 Fright Walk virgins in tow so visiting was a must. Video uploading and will be available here:

- Tilt-a-Whirl (which gave me an awesome ride last year) left much to be desired this visit...no real whips or spins.

- After all of my praise of Fireball, we got 2 'dud' rides as we got all the low swings on the ride's finale. Still better than the Zamperla Nitro I did at the fair this summer.

- Single train op on Giant Dipper left lines spilling out of the building. It moved fast however.

-Lastly, I still have yet to land any rings in the clown's mouth. My rings came within inches of the mouth however.

With threatening weather according to Wunder, it doesn't look too bad!

Or so I thought...

... A well-lubed Highway 17 ...

Arrival in Santa Cruz. I think I'm making it tradition to eat at the Santa Cruz Diner on future SCBB visits...great food and great price!

And we've arrived at the 'Walk! And I don't see any rain either!

The gang...ready to blast some ghosts!

...

Ready to roll! (Not our scores)

...

Double fisted ghost blaster!

Many people I've ran into are completely unaware of this ride. It lives hidden tucked in a corner in the "Pit" section of the Boardwalk. More pix later!

Time to ride what I'm calling "Tsunami Soaker." Not to be confused with SFDK. It had actually started to drizzle while riding Tsunami.

After being crushed at Knott's (riding their Wipeout) it was my turn to get revenge

She's smart for riding solo

Jeff is freezing his butt off

And it has arrived...good old wetness!

Quickly we take cover. That will be $5 if you want to stay dry!

Taking cover...

The rain is just pouring here! Thankfully it was only just a quick passing shower. But it would have literally been a shower, just needed the soap and we're good to go!

Meet Deck Ornament.

Classic carousel time!

Ready for rings!

Also ready for rings!

Rings: The Clown

After lunch we decided to hit up Haunted Castle...another great dark ride, one of the only 3 dark rides in Northern CA.

Control panel nerd shot...

Now for some Undertow porn!

Translation: It will open when it opens and not any time sooner.

:o

No Angry Gumball, these aren't gumballs!

And the rain's back again!

Top Speed 55mph....nope!

Honestly, it felt like it was actually running about this speed today.

Despite the lack of airtime the ride was giving, it sent me flying around! Laterals are insane on Dipper, which is why it lives as my #2 woodie!

Wipeout! Reminiscent of a Jackson Pollock painting!

The entire ride cycle captured in a still image!

I wish this were my bedroom window

More Haunted Castle!

Nope, not Summer anymore!

Fireball with it's lighting package...looked pretty neat!

...

Time to get heading out and take on what will be an amazing meal at the Santa Cruz Diner!

'Nighty night SCBB!

Despite the wetness, that was a great day at the 'walk! I now prefer Giant Dipper in the front, as I found the airtime more potent there than in the back (especially the crest of the station turn). It was running almost perfectly smooth (sluggish in the morning, but later the rain mixing with the grease really made it roll) with the exception of a pothole at the bottom of the first drop and the abrupt "rib-cracker" that is the third turnaround.

And yes, I still suck miserably at Ghost Blasters and have lost my skill at throwing the rings in the carousel. I do remember getting one in the clown's mouth, in 2008 or 2009 I think.

When is the 2013 operating season considered over? Is it at the end of the year or was it when they switched to weekend operation?

Took my first trip to SCBB this weekend. Thankfully had some amazing weather while there, and an overall fun experience. Giant Dipper lived up to expectations, as it's definitely a fun woody. Crazy Surf exceeded all that I expected for it based upon just looking at it. I had no idea how much fun that thing would be. My only real complaint is about Double Shot. Being honest, I'm a larger than average guy. 6 ft, 250 lbs or so. Not HUGE, but definitely bigger than average. That said, I have NEVER not fit into a ride before, but somehow this ride couldn't accommodate me. Has anyone else had this experience? Very disappointed that I wasn't able to experience this, as I've never had a chance to ride anything similar.

Even with that bad experience, I had a great day at the park. Looking forward to going back next year when (hopefully) Undertow is open. The only other spinning coaster that I've been on was Tony Hawk at SFDK, and Undertow looks to have much steeper banks and turns on it, so it should be a good time.

^ I've seen the same situation happen in my past visits as I watched other guests not being able to get on, and I've noticed it has to do with the OSTR just not coming down all the way or locking into place. Better safe than sorry. Sucks that you didn't have the opportunity to rise it as it really is a fun ride.

Some rides are just odd like that. I fit easily into almost everything, but Delirium at CGA is a tight fit for me for some reason and the Intamin Impulse coasters (V2/SFDK, Wicked Twister/Cedar Point) are a very tight fit because of how the OTSRs come down. Being "fat" isnt a problem, but having thick thighs/legs causes the OTSR not to come down all the way. I saw many people much smaller than me looking very confused walking away from Wicked Twister without getting to ride. I lucked out that the combined strength of myself and the ride op got the restraint down, that was a very fun ride.

that was exactly the issue. The restraints came almost all the way down, but the seatbelt thing at the bottom simply wouldn't connect. It wasn't tight on my gut at all, but rather on my chest. I PROBABLY could've made it fit, but the ride op didn't seem to want to help at all, and I didn't want to push it. Like I said, I was more in shock because that has been the only ride ever that I haven't fit into.

At the Boardwalk, I don't fit in Double Shot or Fireball. The problem is that I have wide shoulders. It was pretty embarrassing to have to walk off the ride and everyone stare at me, so after those experiences, I avoid those two rides, which sucks because they're really fun rides.

Took my first trip to SCBB this weekend. Thankfully had some amazing weather while there, and an overall fun experience. Giant Dipper lived up to expectations, as it's definitely a fun woody. Crazy Surf exceeded all that I expected for it based upon just looking at it. I had no idea how much fun that thing would be. My only real complaint is about Double Shot. Being honest, I'm a larger than average guy. 6 ft, 250 lbs or so. Not HUGE, but definitely bigger than average. That said, I have NEVER not fit into a ride before, but somehow this ride couldn't accommodate me. Has anyone else had this experience? Very disappointed that I wasn't able to experience this, as I've never had a chance to ride anything similar.

I may be wrong, but to me Double Shot's restraints seemed more restrictive than any other S&S tower I've been on. When I rode this past summer, I was barely able to get the belt buckled while on every other S&S tower I've ridden there is always at least a couple inches of slack. Perhaps it is due to the strong airtime at the top, but I've been on other Double Shots with more intense airtime that were less restrictive.

I'll throw in my .02 on Double Shot. I've had the restraints click multiple times, more than what should be enough to keep me locked in. Those seatbelts however are extremely short, and I have to almost literally staple myself to get the belt to fit easily. I do need to lose some weight, which I'm working on but I actually had difficulties a year ago, when I weighted 20 pounds more. A ride op helped me get buckled...

I didn't have that much of a problem on my visit 3 weeks ago but still notice that the belts are quite short and unforgiving.

So now that Flying Turns is finally open, Undertow is on the clock...

^Yes, Knoebels long nightmare haa ended, but SCBB's has just begun!

Now, the question will be: What will open first: Undertow or Orphan Rocker?

I'll throw in my .02 on Double Shot. I've had the restraints click multiple times, more than what should be enough to keep me locked in. Those seatbelts however are extremely short, and I have to almost literally staple myself to get the belt to fit easily.

Every few years (or sometimes sooner), maintenance replaces Double Shot's belts, and they always come out a different size. Sometimes, some belts are longer than others. At one point a few years ago, they all became uniformly shorter, which is about how they are today.

I think they are getting better about cutting the belts consistent with each other, but unfortunately they are shorter now than other S&S towers.

Is this a CA permit related issue again. Seemed that was what delayed SFMM, CGA, and I heard they also got in the way of Superman at SFDK... if so then CA is the worst place to build a coaster.

^ It was stated a few pages back that Maurer Soehne poorly manufactured Undertow's track, which led to the pieces not fitting together, which forced SCBB to have a local company literally bend the track so it would fit. Maurer Soehne has been making spinning coasters for over a decade now, yet they somehow messed up on this project. Undertow is also not that tall (the important part is it isn't taller than Double Shot), so size issues can't be the source of the delay.

As for what you said about California being the worst place (at least one of the worst places) to build a new coaster, I agree 100%. EVERY NorCal park (CGA, SFDK, SCBB, excluding GG) has a height limit. SFDK has a 150' limit imposed by the city of Vallejo (reason why V2 got shortened), CGA can't build over 200' in some spots due to its proximity to SJC airport, and SCBB has its height limit enforced by the California Coastal Commission on behalf of Santa Cruz's citizens. CGA also has additional limitations created by it being on top of the water table (no underground tunnels), and don't forget those lovely "prudes".

SCBB was actually going to build an S&S Space Shot (180' I believe), and because of Santa Cruz citizens complaining that it would be too tall (and the fact that the CCC had enforced a height limit), the park had S&S build a 125' tower with a Double Shot ride program in order to comply with the height limit enforced by the California Coastal Commission.

As for SoCal, the most infamous example of limitations on building coasters would have to be SWSD. SWSD has the same situation as SCBB, except with a much more anal 30' height limit enforced by the CCC on behalf of even whinier citizens, which is the reason why Manta is so low to the ground most of the time and has a trench drop. As for Journey to Atlantis, after a long and bitter legal battle a proposition was just barely passed that would raise the height limit of a small portion of the park to 160' (the opposition was understandably vehement), allowing for the ride to be built.

^ It was stated a few pages back that Maurer Soehne poorly manufactured Undertow's track, which led to the pieces not fitting together, which forced SCBB to have a local company literally bend the track so it would fit. Maurer Soehne has been making spinning coasters for over a decade now, yet they somehow messed up on this project. Undertow is also not that tall (the important part is it isn't taller than Double Shot), so size issues can't be the source of the delay.

 

As for what you said about California being the worst place (at least one of the worst places) to build a new coaster, I agree 100%. EVERY NorCal park (CGA, SFDK, SCBB, excluding GG) has a height limit. SFDK has a 150' limit imposed by the city of Vallejo (reason why V2 got shortened), CGA can't build over 200' in some spots due to its proximity to SJC airport, and SCBB has its height limit enforced by the California Coastal Commission on behalf of Santa Cruz's citizens. CGA also has additional limitations created by it being on top of the water table (no underground tunnels), and don't forget those lovely "prudes".

 

SCBB was actually going to build an S&S Space Shot (180' I believe), and because of Santa Cruz citizens complaining that it would be too tall (and the fact that the CCC had enforced a height limit), the park had S&S build a 125' tower with a Double Shot ride program in order to comply with the height limit enforced by the California Coastal Commission.

 

As for SoCal, the most infamous example of limitations on building coasters would have to be SWSD. SWSD has the same situation as SCBB, except with a much more anal 30' height limit enforced by the CCC on behalf of even whinier citizens, which is the reason why Manta is so low to the ground most of the time and has a trench drop. As for Journey to Atlantis, after a long and bitter legal battle a proposition was just barely passed that would raise the height limit of a small portion of the park to 160' (the opposition was understandably vehement), allowing for the ride to be built.

On the flip side, great things come in small packages

But yea...neighbors, prudes, whatever you wanna call them... I can live without the lovely neighbors who like to throw a wrench in the works when things were going smoothly.

California is the worst place to build anything. Try to put a pool in your backyard in Los Angeles, it'll bankrupt you and drive you insane. Look at KBF's Windseeker, Cedar Fair chose to send it to another park than deal with California and I don't blame them. Any time you're dealing with hills or coastline it gets exponentially worse.

As for what you said about California being the worst place (at least one of the worst places) to build a new coaster, I agree 100%. EVERY NorCal park (CGA, SFDK, SCBB, excluding GG) has a height limit. SFDK has a 150' limit imposed by the city of Vallejo (reason why V2 got shortened), CGA can't build over 200' in some spots due to its proximity to SJC airport, and SCBB has its height limit enforced by the California Coastal Commission on behalf of Santa Cruz's citizens. CGA also has additional limitations created by it being on top of the water table (no underground tunnels), and don't forget those lovely "prudes".

And yet, California still leads the nation in the amount of coasters.

None of those restrictions you mentioned are really unreasonable. Noise complaints when you chose to live next to a theme park is one thing, but height limits around airports and/or to not completely destroy the skyline of a neighborhood are standard issues throughout the country. Same with water table issues.

Rumor is that Undertow will open tomorrow (Saturday). Obviously no guarantees, but I trust this rumor enough that I will show up tomorrow!