Coaster reviews

A bit of a one trick pony, but the airtime on Diamondback is quite strong. You haven't lived until you've put your arms out, Rose from Titanic style, in the back row. The splashdown is exhilarating wh...

A bit of a one trick pony, but the airtime on Diamondback is quite strong. You haven't lived until you've put your arms out, Rose from Titanic style, in the back row. The splashdown is exhilarating when you do.

For a ride so revered by the community, I felt that Fury didn't really *do* much. The drop was tall, fun, and gave some decent airtime, but after that, the layout was lackluster aside from the lateral...

For a ride so revered by the community, I felt that Fury didn't really *do* much. The drop was tall, fun, and gave some decent airtime, but after that, the layout was lackluster aside from the lateral air atop the treble clef. This would rank highly among hypercoasters, but I didn't feel it warranted the level above most enthusiasts seem to put it in.

A more raw ride than the IBox, this is the only inverting wooden (or "wooden", as there is no wood between the wheels - however, I found the laminated grout to feel quite similar to the laminated wood...

A more raw ride than the IBox, this is the only inverting wooden (or "wooden", as there is no wood between the wheels - however, I found the laminated grout to feel quite similar to the laminated wood of "true" woodies) coaster I've ridden. It's a strong ride, with the stall being unsurprisingly the standout element.

A raw, powerful wooden coaster, RFII packs the punch of a pre-depression John Miller creation with the smoothness that comes from modern technology and a devoted upkeep team at Waldameer. The speed an...

A raw, powerful wooden coaster, RFII packs the punch of a pre-depression John Miller creation with the smoothness that comes from modern technology and a devoted upkeep team at Waldameer. The speed and intensity are so incredibly out of place at this family-oriented park, but I can't complain about walking on a half dozen times for less than admission to most parks.

Moving efficiently from element to element, this ride turns you upside down smoothly early and often. The theming is well-placed, and the mist dispensers are welcome on a hot day. But the shining star...

Moving efficiently from element to element, this ride turns you upside down smoothly early and often. The theming is well-placed, and the mist dispensers are welcome on a hot day. But the shining star of this ride was the zero G roll - the smooth rotation taken at the perfect speed to spin you without exerting any forces; this was the best-executed zero G roll I've ever experienced.

The first ever B&M hyper is easily the best I've ridden. The smooth airtime was expected, but the forceful low turns surprised me. It packs more variety than any other "airtime machine" model I've bee...

The first ever B&M hyper is easily the best I've ridden. The smooth airtime was expected, but the forceful low turns surprised me. It packs more variety than any other "airtime machine" model I've been on.

The incredible hangtime on the JoJo roll, where I felt like I'd fall to the ground the first time I rode it, is a good indication for how the ride will go. It's far from a one trick pony, though, with...

The incredible hangtime on the JoJo roll, where I felt like I'd fall to the ground the first time I rode it, is a good indication for how the ride will go. It's far from a one trick pony, though, with a fantastic launch and a few solid moments of airtime.

When the launch and inversions are among the tamest parts of a ride, you've got a winner. The only dead spot in the intensity-packed layout is the S-curve at the former site of the ill-fated inline tw...

When the launch and inversions are among the tamest parts of a ride, you've got a winner. The only dead spot in the intensity-packed layout is the S-curve at the former site of the ill-fated inline twist.

The marquee to this ride is the sustained ejector air - the sound of upstop wheels permeates half the park - but the intense laterals into the banks of the twister section and the near misses with the...

The marquee to this ride is the sustained ejector air - the sound of upstop wheels permeates half the park - but the intense laterals into the banks of the twister section and the near misses with the structure that forced me to physically duck pushed this firmly into my top 5.

A relentless layout makes the wait for the metal detectors well worth it. A fun drop kicks this one off, but it's the laterals on the wave turn (which has no right to feel as enormous as it does) and ...

A relentless layout makes the wait for the metal detectors well worth it. A fun drop kicks this one off, but it's the laterals on the wave turn (which has no right to feel as enormous as it does) and the out-of-control airtime of the trick track double up that make this a world class ride.