Canada’s Wonderland has combined ice and fire to usher forth their 18th coaster, AlpenFury, an adrenaline-fueled Sky Rocket from Premier Rides. AlpenFury has a place in my heart as my 675th coaster, and it is a smooth addition for thrillseekers of all ages. Swipe through to expernce the twists and turns of this alpine adventure. Have you ridden it yet? Drop your thoughts in a comment.
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“It’s not always fun” (Space2000 @ Gyeongju World, Korea)
This list is in no particular order and is subject to change due to disagreements over what classifies as a coaster.
How many coaster credits have you scored? Please comment below!
Mayan Adventure @ Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village
As a child I knew from the moment I buckled into Darien Lake’s “Viper” that I was born to ride. I spent my childhood playing Disney’s Coaster DOS game, drawing over 300 coasters during recess, and leafing through issues of Inside Track magazine. Later in life the passion stuck as I worked the rides as an employee of Martin’s Fantasy Island, and Cedar Point in addition to diminishing my college GPA by staying up all night designing theme parks in Roller Coaster Tycoon. When I was younger I dreamt of the day I would ride my 100th roller coaster, and while I pictured myself traveling the world to accomplish this feat, I never imagined it would come to this… my 500th coaster.
Welcome to “500 Rides of Summer.” I could have knocked off a few extra credits in Japan and Taiwan, but I was holding out for that special ride, one worthy of number 500. While America offered a plethora of options to choose from, ultimately I chose a park that exudes ‘Americana,’ and represents what an amusement park should be. Consequently, Knoebel’s, in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, with probably the best long-standing reputation of operating a family-friendly park with appropriate pricing and dedication towards renewing, rescuing, and restoring classic rides and attractions, will be the site for my 500th coaster.
In 2004, I was fortunate enough to visit Knoebel’s , so I scooped up coaster credits on the late “Whirlwind” and “High Speed Thrill Coaster,” in addition to the currently operating “Phoenix” and “Twister,” which leaves me with four possible credits at Knoebel’s.
Black Diamond: indoor wooden/steel Philadelphia Toboggan Coaster creation
We’ll start with “Black Diamond” for #498, as it’s a nostalgic ride and one rescued from Dinosaur Beach, a defunct boardwalk park in New Jersey.
Impulse: 2015 Zierer’s vertical lift looper
For #499, “Impulse” fits in well as it’s a cutting edge creation at the tip of innovation.
Flying Turns: a 2013 in-house built wooden bobsled
But for the epic #500, I could think of no better choice(Dollywood’s “Lightning Rod” was a close second) than the one-of-a-kind wooden bobsled coaster “Flying Turns.” It’s also significant because it took years of planning, frustration, and investment to finally produce this ‘iconic whirlwind of fun,’ which I rather arrogantly (please excuse the pride) associate with reaching #500.
Kozmo’s Kurves: 2009 Miler family coaster
Then the new era begins as all life should with childhood innocence as I take a joyful romp on “Kozmo’s Kurves,” permitting the friendly staff allows this 6′ foot 1 dangly dude to ride.
Thank you to Knoebel’s for hosting my special moment, and I look forward sharing snapshots and perhaps video, if Mr. GoPro and I may ride together, of the #500 ride and our overall park visit.
For perspective’s sake, there are dozens of coasterers who have ridden far more than 500 coasters, and they too should be celebrated. My 500th ride is not meant to serve as a bragging right but rather a testament to the passion our coastering community has for seeking out the next best thrill. Every single new ride should be commemorated and celebrated. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get to #1,000, but I’m happy to know that I got here, and I’ll never stop riding! Special thanks to my beloved parents for always allowing me to hijack the family trip and steer us towards an amusement park, and to my soul-mate and wife Jaewon for traveling around the world and riding alongside me, and to all the fellow coasterers who I’ve met and renewed my vigor and passion for man-made slopes of fun!
Coastering in Hokkaido, Japan at Rusutsu Resort. #GoGoSneaker
“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”
― Leonardo da Vinci
We visit theme parks to get away from the humdrum of normality to escape (albeit queued up for hours) into an imaginative realm. Therefore, it’s imperative that the amusement park industry stay ahead on technology so that the experiences they offer surpass what’s available in our own backyards. Hopefully, theme park executives have witnessed the ingenuity of Canadian Michael Davis’s invention:
It’s almost as if he’s the Green Goblin or an air warrior from the clouds descending to us heathens below on his personal helicopter. Now imagine this technology in play in a stunt show in, around, and above water. Need I say… GLORIOUS! Then once the audience has had their fill of awe, they can be wooed into a high-priced up-charge attraction (complete with “we dare you to sue us” liability forms) where park goers can live out their Back to the Future 2 dreams. Well done Mr. Davis. Now it’s up to you Disney and Universal. (I’m sorry Six Flags, but we don’t need you tinkering with your low budget theatrics.)
Crave and his lovely wife Jaewon “The Queen of Coasters” visited Sea Paradise oceanarium and amusement park in Yokohama, Japan on Monday, February 16th, 2015. Lucky for them, they were able to catch a chilly ride on Surf Coater Leviathan just before the sun set. Crave previously visited the park in the fall of 2009 but was unable to score a credit since the ride was closed due to a bullying wind.
Admission to Sea Paradise is free. You can pay 3000 yen for an all-day ride pass, or simply hand over 1000 yen per ride. If you fancy animals that primarily live in liquids, you can also get a pass that includes both the amusements and oceanarium. Given the time of day, and the fact that the Blue Fall, the park’s 100 meter tall Intamin drop ride, was closed we opted to pay per ride.
We’ll let the on-ride POV video and pictures below speak for themselves.
Happy riding coasterers!
Jaewon is excited for Sea Paradise!
Crave contemplates riding his 430th coaster.
Hmmm…
Towerific.
Vending Machines = Cool Way to Pay
Two Tickets to Paradise
The “Don’t Die and/or Sue Us” Sign
Mt. Fuji says goodnight. (Thank you Jaewon)
It is with pure adrenaline that I announce that I have ridden my 400th roller coaster!
This week, 24 amazing students and a trusted friend/colleague invaded Singapore for an international academic competition. Of course, we just had to make a stop at Universal Studios Singapore. And then it happened…
On Saturday, June 28th at approximately 12:30pm (I’m totally guessing here)… a childhood dream became reality. I rode my 400th roller coaster! The Canopy Flyer, maybe not a coasterer’s first pick for such an honor, but it felt right. The Jurassic Park theme softly surged through my soul, legs dangling, and in the distance a new ride/coaster was mysteriously under construction. Just when the tears rolled out, the ride was over and I faced with a new challenge… time for 401!
Thank you Singapore for providing my 399th (Mummy), 400th (Canopy Flyer), and 401st (Enchanted Airways) coasters!
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 36,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 8 Film Festivals
“We live in a rainbow of chaos.” – Paul Cezanne
Dolly Parton said “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” Though if you happen to be at New Reoma World, that’s not the case as the park’s “rainbow” themed dark ride provides shelter from natural water bombing. While Japan is a stomping ground for coasterers, few make the trek down to Shikoku island, where New Reoma World and its four roller coasters remain hidden deep into the countryside of Kagawa prefecture.
“Rainbow Bandits” was a surprisingly funtastic attraction. The ride system was Peter Pan’s Flight meets hot air balloons set amidst a cute and corny Teddy Ruxpin and Rainbow Brite-esque universe. Granted the animatronics aren’t as “animated” as those with Disney’s signature, but the duration of the ride is filled with colorful, imaginative, and humorous scenes.
It’s no Phantom Theatre (King’s Island), but Rainbow Bandits has earned a spot in my dark ride top ten.
Special thanks to DreamUSJ for posting the on-ride video.
Photos are copyright 2012 Crave Cravak. Please do not copy, publish, or distribute without permission from CraveCoasters.com.
Lady Bug Tamer
For my three hundred sixtieth coaster I decided to pull a 360 degree turn. While I visited Marineland in Niagara Falls, Canada for the first time in late May, I purposefully skipped their kiddie coaster. It was symbolic to hold off until the 360th spot became available. If my parents had taken me as a child to Marineland, chances are the Lady Bug Coaster, then called the Tivoli Coaster, would have been my first coaster. I desired to take this special ride back to my childhood. How fitting to hop aboard the Lady Bug Coaster for the first time at #360. I guess you can say I’m a romantic rider.
Crave the Coasterer
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