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» For Coaster Geeks
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Coaster Stock 2010 Recap Pt. 4: Trivia, Videos, & Night ERT
This is the final part of my coverage of Coaster Stock 2010 at Carowinds. After the Intimidator Tour, there was another break. Again, attendants dispersed throughout the park. I headed for the above average Arrow looper, Carolina Cyclone only to get caught by a thunder storm. All rides were halted for fear of lightning strikes. I waited in the station hoping that the storm would pass quickly, but ...
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Coaster Stock 2010 Recap Pt. 2: Q&A with Bob Mampe of B&M
This is the continuation of my coverage of Coaster Stock 2010 at Carowinds. During lunch, we were treated to a Q&A session with Bob Mampe from Bolliger & Mabillard. I’ve paraphrased the questions and responses below. In hindsight, I should have video taped the session, but I think that I’ve been able to summarize the bulk of the Q&A session. The picnic area where the sessio...
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Coaster Stock 2010 Recap Pt. 1: Morning ERT & My Intro to Flyers
Coaster Stock Part 1: Morning ERT Carowinds’ roller coaster enthusiast event Coaster Stock kicked off with morning ERT (exclusive ride time). Hours before the park was open to the public, we had Afterburn, Woodstock Gliders, Lucy’s Crabby Cabbie & Flying Ace Aerial Chase all to ourselves. Are you wondering why three of the four rides are located in Planet Snoopy (the park’s chil...
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Carowinds Coaster Stock to Feature B&M Engineer
Aspiring roller coaster designers should take note. Not only will Carowinds’ roller coaster enthusiast event, Coaster Stock, feature plenty of ERT (Exclusive Ride Time), but the event will also feature a rare opportunity to talk with a roller coaster designer. Recently, the park announced that Bob Mampe from Bolliger & Mabillard will be on-hand to take questions. Here’s the full i...
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Roller Coaster Tycoon Movie On the Way
This news is just big enough for me to briefly pause my hiatus. Sony Pictures has acquired the rights to make a Roller Coaster Tycoon movie. More from Reuters: Sony Pictures Animation has pre-emptively picked up rights to the Atari video game “Rollercoaster Tycoon,” and is developing the project as a live-action/CGI hybrid. The “Tycoon” franchise, created by Chris Sawyer, i...
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Stuff Coaster Enthusiasts Like | Theme Park Website Spotlight
Normally I wouldn’t showcase a defunct website, but the eight posts on this short-lived blog are awesome. Stuff Coaster Enthusiasts Like is based on the popular blog Stuff White People Like that has inspired other sites and even books like Stuff Christians Like. They’re often written from a standpoint akin to a sociologist or someone studying the behavior of a group of people or a spe...
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A Coaster Enthusiast’s Resolutions
As represented by the sudden increase in attendance at my gym, January is the month to start New Year’s resolutions. It’s the chosen time to turn over a new leaf, start better habits, and end bad habits. I thought of a few ways that I could be a better roller coaster enthusiast in 2010. Learn About Coasters & Theme Parks of the World Of course many of us know and love our local par...
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The Coaster Critic on The Season Pass Podcast
Last week, I was invited to join The Season Pass Podcast to discuss my background, the blog, Coaster Portal, and my new site Theme Park Syndicate. Aside, from talking about the sites with host Doug Barnes and Rick West of Theme Park Adventure, we spent much of the show just geeking out over our favorite and least favorite roller coasters. It was a lot of fun. The coaster geek part of the conver... -
Theme Parks with the Most Roller Coasters
Theme Parks with the Most Roller Coasters RollerCoasterDude asked for a list of the theme parks with the most roller coasters. I figured this would pretty easy to do and interesting so I threw together my first stab at a list based on RCDB’s numbers. This includes roller coasters that are set to open in 2010, like in the case of Intimidator at Carowinds. If I’m missing any parks, pleas... -
Time to Vote in the Internet Coaster Poll
A Non-biased Coaster Poll, Not for the Faint-Hearted Fan BoyTime to vote in Mitch Hawker’s renowned Internet Coaster Poll again. During the off-season every year, die hard coaster fans fill out Mitch Hawker’s Roller Coaster Polls. The polls are lengthy and complicated enough that Robb Alvey from ThemeParkReview.com created an Idiot’s Guide. Hopefully, the amount of time and effor... -
Vote Mark Shapiro For President?
Cheezonastick Supports Six Flags CEO Mark Shapiro for President?The guys over at Cheezonastick are asking you to vote today, for Mark Shapiro. To be honest I’m not really sure if the guys are spoofing Mark Shapiro’s reign as Six Flags CEO or are in support of it. Check out the Shapiro-Snyder ‘08 campaign site and decide for yourself. Either way, the ballot is pretty funny. You ca... -
Announcing Coaster Portal
Coaster Portal – Your Guide to the Theme Park WebiverseSo my announcement was delayed about a week, but today I unveil Coaster Portal. It has been a long-standing side project I’ve had on the back burner for years. The blog had taken up the majority of my time, until finally, I pushed myself to complete the site. I wanted to create a different type of theme park web site. One that link... -
California Theme Park Trip Report – Part 2
California Theme Park Trip Report – Part 2 The Conclusion of the SoCal Theme Park Blitz featuring A Night at Knott’s BerryIt was getting late and I figured if I was going to squeeze in Knott’s it was time to head to X2 (4:40) and face my long wait fate. Luckily, the wait was drastically reduced. Instead of over 2 hours it was only about 50 minutes. Halfway through my wait in the... -
California Theme Park Trip Report – Part 1
My Insane 11 Hour Blitz of the Los Angeles Theme ParksPart 1 – Pacific Park at the Santa Monica Pier & Six Flags Magic MountainThanks to all of the readers and those on the various message boards out there for the tips. I landed at LAX at around 10:30 in the morning on Thursday, August the 14th. After finding out how close the airport was to the beach and Pacific Park I figured I’d... -
Happy Roller Coaster Day
August 16th is National Roller Coaster DayOn this day 110 years ago, the first roller coaster patent was submitted. I hope you celebrated the day at a theme park riding your favorite roller coaster. I’m still recuperating from my tiring, but fun trip to California. I’ll be spending the day relaxing with family and celebrating my birthday. I found out a few years ago that I was born on ... -
Coaster Enthusiasts Unite to Lose Weight
Biggest Loser for Coaster Enthusiasts, So They Can Ride AgainIt goes without saying that safety’s important when riding roller coasters. If restraints like lap bars and over the shoulder harnesses do not fit correctly, riders would be in danger. Add the U.S.’s growing obesity rate and you have more and more theme park guests getting turned away just as their about to enjoy a great coas... -
Storm Runner’s Flying Snake Dive
Storm Runner’s Flying Snake Dive | Memorable Coaster MomentsHersheypark’s Intamin launch coaster Storm Runner opened in 2004. It features an exhilarating launch 0 to 72 mph in 2 seconds, a 150′ tall top hat hill at 90 degrees, and a unique inversion. Storm Runner’s coup de grace is the flying snake dive. After performing a zero-g roll about 50′ in the air, the train s...
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Steel Coasters vs Wooden Coasters | Weekly Topic
Steel vs. Wood | Theme Park Round TableFor this week’s Weekly Topic I thought I’d invoke the eternal battle in the coaster enthusiast community. Like PC vs. Mac, conservative vs. liberal, Pepsi vs. Coke. Most fall into one or the other. It’s a simple question that’s been asked and discussed countless times. Which do you prefer wooden or steel roller coasters? I would like t...
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Eagles Roller Coaster Test Video
Midnight Rider Renamed Eagles Life in the Fast LaneHard Rock Park’s marquee coaster, Led Zeppelin – The Ride, has been well covered, but it’s good to get a peak at one of the other coasters. Last week, the roller coaster formerly known as Midnight Rider was renamed after the 70’s rock band the Eagles. Most won’t notice the name change as Hard Rock Park, located in Myr... -
Eagle Fortress at Everland
Does Eagle Fortress Deserve Third Best in the World?The interesting part of this year’s Mitch Hawker Internet Poll is Eagle Fortress coming in at the third best roller coaster in the world. Eagle Fortress is an unlikely coaster to rank so high. It’s a sixteen year old suspended coaster built on a hillside at Everland in South Korea. It’s a controversial ranking as only six of the...
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