• What is a Hyper Coaster?

  Written by The Coaster Critic 14 Comments
  Last Updated: November 15, 2006

  Back in 1989, Cedar Point opened Magnum XL-200. It was the tallest coaster in the world at 205′. More important than setting a new height record, it started a whole new trend in coaster design. Up to that point steel coasters were solely looping coasters. The oneupmanship between parks was to build the coaster with the most loops. Magnum had no loops, just enormous hills and drops that offered surprising pops of airtime at the crests.

  The popularity of Magnum XL-200 kicked off a revolution in the theme park industry. What was known as the ‘Coaster Arms Race’ began as parks aimed to build the tallest coaster in the world in this similar style to Magnum’s. The term hyper coaster was coined to refer to roller coasters 200 feet or taller. Last month, I listed my Top 3 Hyper Coasters.
  
  Giga Coasters and Strata Coasters
  Later, the term giga coaster was used to describe coasters 300 feet or taller, though these are rare. Millennium Force at Cedar Point is an example of a giga coaster. And in the past couple years, the term strata coaster has been applied to roller coasters 400 feet or taller. Currently, Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point and Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure are the only strata coasters. They’re both built by Intamin.

  For a sample of the ups and downs offered by hyper coasters, check out this onride roller coaster video of Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia.
  
  Got a suggestion for Coasterology 101? Leave a comment below.

  

  Related Posts:

  1. Top 3 Hyper Coasters
  2. Mustang Hyper Coaster Rumored for Kings Island
  3. Contenders for The Coaster Critic’s 100th

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14 Comments

1. #1 Anonymous says:
   July 2nd, 2009 at 2:13 pm

   If you want to get technical, Sky Streak at Bob-lo Island is the first non-looping adult steel coaster.

   Coaster Trivia- It is also the only coaster that was built by Sansei in North America.

   Reply
2. #2 Matthew says:
   July 2nd, 2009 at 2:43 pm

   yep exactly. What if the roller coaster is less than 200 ft. and has flips, but is not inverted. What is that called

   Reply
3. #3 Anonymous says:
   July 2nd, 2009 at 3:01 pm

   A coaster with loops, if understand you.

   Reply
4. #4 Matthew says:
   July 2nd, 2009 at 3:51 pm

   Well i didnt know if it had a certain name thats all im saying

   Reply
5. #5 JaMeS says:
   July 2nd, 2009 at 7:58 pm

   well, here’s a name for it. ” The awesome, looping, non floorless or inverted steel coaster 199 feet 11 inches or less coaster”

   Reply
6. #6 The Coaster Critic says:
   July 2nd, 2009 at 11:43 pm

   Matthew, B&M calls coasters like Kumba @ Busch Gardens Tampa and Wildfire at Silver Dollar City ‘Sitting Coasters’. I’ve also heard the term seated looping coasters. I just refer to them as looping coasters, but probably won’t give them a Coasterology post because I think most people get what they are. It’s a fair question.

   Reply
7. #7 Matthew says:
   July 3rd, 2009 at 7:27 am

   Thanks coaster critic, well all these coasters had a name and i didnt know what the looping ones under 199 ft were. Thanks for the response!

   Reply
8. #8 Austin says:
   September 1st, 2009 at 2:23 pm

   I’ve been trying to get this question answered for quite some time, and I hope someone can help me out with it: How do the lap bars on B&M hypers (such as Nitro or SFOG’s Goliath)function to keep people safe without needing a secondary restraint like a seatbelt? Like, wouldn’t you need some extra protection just in case it malfunctioned?

   Reply
9. #9 The Coaster Critic says:
   September 2nd, 2009 at 1:42 am

   Excellent question Austin. And you asked it at the perfect time. I’ll be going to Busch Gardens this Friday and I’m going on their new Coaster Tour. I’ll be sure to ask about the restraint systems especially the lap bar on Apollo’s Chariot. I don’t think it’s a part of the tour, but I would imagine the engineering team there will know. I’ll report back when I return.

   Reply
10. #10 Schwarz says:
    September 2nd, 2009 at 7:02 am

    Make sure you take some pictures of the tour to post!

    Reply
11. #11 Quil says:
    November 23rd, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    the best hyper is definitley Bizzaro.

    Reply
12. #12 JaMeS says:
    November 24th, 2009 at 7:58 am

    no way! its deffinitley Apollo Chariot! and ive been on both

    Reply
13. #13 Quil says:
    November 25th, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    Nothing will EVER beat Bizzaro.

    Reply
    • #14 Quil says:
      February 21st, 2010 at 8:40 am

      anyways JaMeS, you said it was better on the bizzaro post.

      Reply