Bearing in mind that I've still got a few parks in Orlando later this month, so this might change.
*Best new cred
Hmm, it's a toss up between Oblivion: The Black Hole and CuChu at Tayto. I think Cu Chulainn pips it because it came out of nowhere. And that gross He-Man figurehead is amazing. Arthur at Europa gets a mention because it's fab, but I feel it's more dark-ridey than coastery. Hang on a mo, I forgot about Darkmare at Cinacitta World, that was a also fab. And there there was Olympia Looping at Oktoberfest. So many good new creds this year. But, CuChu.
*Worst new cred
I did a lot of crap this year. Caterpillar Coasters, powered crap, kiddie creds, but the worst new substantial coaster for me was probably the Wild Mouse thing at Lego Germany. I hate those things.
*Most surprising new cred
Darkmare at Cinacitta. The theming, the drop, the effects and THAT switch track park were amazing. I knew nothing about the coaster before I rode it and came off smiling.
*Biggest spite
DiVertical at Mirablandia and the Togo stand-up at the other Italian park I've forgotten the name of.
*Park of the season
Tayto.
*Coolest park-related experience
Where do I start? There was Italy, Germany, Ireland, Dreamland's Screamland event, the Europa Park tour and ERT, my Guardian interview following the Smilier crash, GhosterForce, E-stopping a ride, the Blackpool Live and the spin on SkyForce, the Tayto Live, my tour of the Paulton's construction site...I could go on and on.
Although there are so many happy memories I've shared with CFers, the top experience was undoubtably doing the Guardian interview at Alton Towers. The reporter has never been on a substantial coaster and after I convinced him to go on Nemesis, he was hooked. He wanted to ride everything and still today sends me the odd question about creds. Plus I got a free Annual Pass out of it, ahahaha.
*Best experience on a coaster
Olympia Looping in Germany. We almost sacked it off as time was against us but we managed to get to Oktoberfest with enough time to do the creds. Seeing the world's most famous travelling coaster stood there before me was awesome. Even though the restraints were crushing me after every loop, I loved it. There was something quite magical about the who experience. Everybody was excited to ride, the timing was spot on, the atmosphere was great and everybody loved it.
*Worst experience on a coaster
Whenever I had to sit next to Mike in Italy and Germany.
*Best day at a park
I can't pick just one. There are all of the Lives for starters. But it has to be Screamland at Dreamland. It blew away my expectations.
*Worst day at a park
Mirabliandia during the Live. The park was fine but my back had given way so I didn't ride much and limped around the place like a 80 year after a hip replacement. Was not fun.
*Best trip as a whole
I can't decide between Italy, Germany and Ireland. Germany probably pips it JUST because my back wasn't in agony and the creds were good.
*Scariest moment
Going on radio 4 to talk about the Smilier crash. My mind went blank, my throat dried up and I bumbled through it. However, if we're talking park related, it was probably at Thorpe Park during GhosterForce. We were on Rush and everybody elses restraints had locked except mine. The op used a key to lock it but for out that entire ride I felt that something was wrong because it didn't lock with the others. When it up up behind horizontal and I was face first towards the ground, I admit I was terrified I'd fall out. But I should have known better as everything was fine.
*Best people you met
Every CFer of course
*Best moment on CF
Not gonna lie, CF did capitalise on the Smilier crash. It's not the "best" but in terms of forum traffic, active discussions and a warm wave of sympathy towards those involved, it was humbling and interesting time. In second place is ECG and Robb Alvey sharing a rider cam on Switchback!
*Best non-park experience
The Goon Quiz I hold every January for a select few CFers.
*Coolest travel moment
Playing the silly games in the car in Germany. I found out I was best at thinking up categories but crap at playing the actual game. Every minute in that car was a pleasure.
*Biggest travel nightmare
Having to use EasyJet.
*The "Look Back on this and Laugh" award; aka a the funniest bit of bants/shade thrown.
Bants/shade is something I don't really get involved with because I find it borderlines bullying. My humour is more observational and verging on the ridiculous/toilet side of things. Yeah, I'll rip the piss out of people but only to their face in person and if I know they will give it back to me.
*Funniest moment
It has to be the puns and name changing at GhosterForce. Some of them were so out of the box they still make me giggle when I think of them now.
*Single favorite memory
It has to be watching CFers cove themselves in glowsticks at GhosterForce. I know it's the same every year but there's something great about the collective focus as hundreds of glowstick are connected together and attached to clothing and part of the body. Especially when kids look on jealously.
*General
Getting the 700 cred milestone.
