Pawkins
TS Member
I have a genuine crippling FEAR of rollercoasters, so I'll post my pathetic list so far for all to enjoy.
1: Wickerman - Just slaps, rode it more than any other ride, it took my coaster virginity in 2019 after being tricked into the queue line. Holds a special place in my heart because of this.
2: Icon - Cannot describe the anxiety I felt queueing for this, but what a great ride. Haven't tried Enso yet, maybe next time! First traditional inversion I would say.
3: Rita - I don't get all the hate, that launch made me feel like I was going to crap out my own spine, and the first hill launched me into those dodgy shoulder restraints, great times.
4: Thirteen - I had spoiled the surprise for myself, but still great fun.
5: GalacticAir - Meant to be chill and easy, scared the life out of me, kind of fun. Like all of the ride except that corner you take on your back. Technically my first inversion I guess? Not sure a flyer counts.
6: Vampire - What a legend! As old as I am, and nearly as fun.
7: Avalanche - Not sure what I like about it, it's just cool!
8: Grand National - Loved this in 2021, had high hopes for the re-track but it did nothing as far as I can tell.
9: Big Dipper - That first and second drop are great, rest is a bit boring and uncomfortable however.
10: The Walking Dead - Fun little coaster, I don't know what I was thinking coming to Thorpe... Not my cup of tea!
Had to really think about this, barely had enough credits to populate the list! Not sure what I should try next. I'm due to go to Orlando this year, God help me.
Time for an update, what a journey this season has been, I had never ridden a coaster with an inversion until earlier this year.
1: Velocicoaster - Perfection, I love a themed ride and this one nailed it. Very smooth, fast launches that don't pull your soul out, possibly my favourite inversion in the final section, the heartline roll is trying to kill you. I've never felt like a coaster is trying to eject me out of the seat quite like this.
2: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure - What a blast of nostalgia, and a fun coaster. Barely loses out to Velocicoaster being a more family based attraction. It's simply fun, and you can't beat a bit of fun.
3: Nemesis - Sit back! it's fright time! Simply the beast. Will be missed next season.
4: Wickerman - It pains me that this no longer sits in my top three, I do love this ride. World class theming and good fun, never rough. I couldn't bring myself to put it any lower.
5: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind - I was surprised how fun this is, an interesting backwards launch, great visuals, smooth and not too much spinning. You don't need to be an MCU fan to enjoy this one.
6: The Incredible Hulk Coaster - Island of Adventure really has a class line up of coasters. This one is intense, more so than Nemesis in my opinion.
7: Kraken - This is a great coaster, I went into it expecting to dislike it. it's oddly smooth and a little forceless when compared to other B&M. I can do back to back rides comfortably unlike some other B&M offerings. Likely why it was a VR coaster briefly. Great ride.
8: Icon - A great coaster, gets some hate for being boring but I love it. I would have liked to see an inversion in the second half, feels like it just starts to snake back and forth for no reason. Some great airtime on the front row.
9: Kumba - Another great B&M, vertical loop around the lift hill is brilliant, transitions in to the corkscrews are a little rough. Sounds great too. Lacks Hulk's intensity.
10: White Lightning - I was disappointed this isn't themed to cheap cider, but what a great ride. Second GCI delivered, it has a better first drop and is somehow a little smoother than Wickerman, but it's not a competitor to my precious spicy boi.
I have my eyes on Phantasialand next, seems like the next logical step in this journey. The bank account needs time to recovery from Walt's onslaught first.