#1 Taron - Phantasialand
#2 Ride to Happiness - Plopsaland De Panne
#3 Untamed - Walibi Holland
#4 Storm - The Dragon Legend - Tusenfryd
#5 Helix - Liseberg
#6 FLY - Phantasialand
#7 Piraten - Djurs Sommerland #8 Hyperia - Thorpe Park
#9 Balder - Liseberg
#10 Juvelen - Djurs Sommerland
#11 Joris en de Draak (Water) - Efteling
#12 Joris en de Draak (Vuur) - Efteling
#13 Kondaa - Walibi Belgium
#14 Cu Chulainn - Emerald Park
#15 Megafobia - Oakwood Theme Park
#16 Smiler - Alton Towers
#17 Black Mamba - Phantasialand
#18 Nemesis Reborn - Alton Towers
#19 Goliath - Walibi Holland
#20 Lost Gravity - Walibi Holland
#21 Stealth - Thorpe Park
#22 OzIris - Parc Asterix
#23 Colorado Adventure - Phantasialand
#24 Loup-Garou - Walibi Belgium
#25 Valkyria - Liseberg
Icon (now #26): my ride in Summer 2018 was nothing short of phenomenal, but just didn't quite hit the same on future visits but to be fair I've only visited in winter ever since.
New #50: Wicker Man at Alton Towers
New #100: Luna at Liseberg
Welp have some new motion, this time in the form of finally getting a chance to ride ArieForce One down in Atlanta (slots in at #5). On reflection, this also causes Storm Chaser to tumble; Arie does what Storm Chaser does as a smaller RMC, just better.
I also totally forgot to mention; TT2 also clocks in at #20, indeed better than the original.
Welp have some new motion, this time in the form of finally getting a chance to ride ArieForce One down in Atlanta (slots in at #5). On reflection, this also causes Storm Chaser to tumble; Arie does what Storm Chaser does as a smaller RMC, just better.
I felt the exact same after my first couple of runs, it immediately replaced it in my ranking and is somewhere in my teens now.
It's a bit like when I first rode Twisted Cyclone (SFNE) but once I'd ridden a few more RMCs I realised it's quite weak in comparison.
I felt the exact same after my first couple of runs, it immediately replaced it in my ranking and is somewhere in my teens now.
It's a bit like when I first rode Twisted Cyclone (SFNE) but once I'd ridden a few more RMCs I realised it's quite weak in comparison.
Updating after a few days at Silver Dollar City, Holiday World, Kentucky Kingdom, and Kings Island.
Kind of the toughest update in a while, as the Voyage was SO good, like SO SO good. My first ride in the front was perfect, and after riding it, I was convinced I had a new #1.
So I went and did something that was pretty long coming and made a spreadsheet of all creds I can remember riding and reassessed the top 10. (+/- 215 and counting as memories come in)
Unfortunately, deciding it's time to retire Nemesis. It's been 20 years since I rode it, and while I still have great memories, it's not a fair assessment anymore, considering just how lucky we are with all of these new, next-level beasts over the past decade +.
I'm also retiring El Toro for similar reasons.
That said, here's my final, definitive, super serious list...until I change my mind again:
1. Velocicoaster
2. The Voyage
3. Iron Gwazi
4. Zadra
5. Steel Vengeance
6. Phantom's Revenge
7. Skyrush
8. Incredible Hulk
9. Maverick
10. Outlaw Run
My top 20 list shifted a bit this past month. I added 3 new coasters to my top 20
Skyrush - Hersheypark
Intimidator 305 - Kings Dominion
Phoenix - Knoebels
Fury 325 - Carowinds
Arie Force One - Fun Spot Atlanta
Twisted Timbers - Kings Dominion
The Ride to Happiness - Plopsaland de Panne - This ride is super fun. I love the second launch, the weird backflip element (hope I can snag a front flip on a future ride) and the double airtime hills at the end. IDK if it lives up to top 5 material (those coasters just do their thing a bit better) and I do kinda wish it was a tad bit longer or did a tad bit more, but its still world class and worth going the hour out of my way for it.
El Toro - Six Flags Great Adventure
Iron Gwazi - Busch Gardens Tampa
Lightning Rod - Dollywood
Phantom's Revenge - Kennywood
Superman the Ride - Six Flags New England
The Voyage - Holiday World - It sits just barely out of my top 10 because its a bit of a workout to ride this. You wonder when its gonna end lol. There were a few rough spots that could use work but you could tell HW tries their best to take care of it. I do love that its longer than the average roller coaster though and you could tell it was built with enthusiasts in mind. Once I learned to ride it, the ride experience improved for me.
Wildcat's Revenge - Hersheypark
Velocicoaster - Islands of Adventure
Hyperia - Thorpe Park - Thorpe Park finally has the one top 20 coaster it needed to elevate its collection. Unfortunately in typical Thorpe fashion, the ride is fairly short and leaves you wanting more. The elements it does have are really neat though. I especially love the hangtime over the queue and the killer unexpected first drop. Its probably one of my favorite first drops in the whole world.
Pantheon - Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Iron Rattler - Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Railblazer - California's Great America
Wonder Woman's Golden Lasso - Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Since I last posted in here I've done the run of parks between Silver Dollar City and Kennywood for the first time which had a lot of additions to the top 10%. Lovely Hyperia sneaks in there too after 4 rides last week however I feel it's going to go up or down once I ride it more, it was tricky to gauge an initial reaction.
On the back of my East Coast Road Trip, my almost exclusively European top 10 has been obliterated, with the original 10 now spread across the top 24 positions. Should start getting a trip report up quite soon!
Everything A+ rank and higher is what I consider ‘Elite’.
14 - VelociCoaster
15 - Hyperion
16 - Lech Coaster
17 - Nemesis
18 - Pantheon
19 - Expedition GeForce
20 - Twisted Timbers
21 - Taiga
22 - Helix
A Rank
23 - Fury 325
24 - The Voyage
25 - Shambhala
26 - Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
27 - Storm Runner
28 - The Legend
29 - Orion
30 - El Toro
Here's what I thought might be in the running for a placement: Nemesis Reborn, Kondaa, Toutatis, Hyperia, Railblazer, Goldstriker, X2, Twisted Colossus and Ghostrider.
Wowzers... I didn't expect a single new entry into the top 10 and I ended up with three - what a haul! Bonus comments:
- Nemesis, you are hereby banished from the land, for I am too sensitive to your new rattly ways and 'prescribed' military theme. Don't worry, she remains loitering on the outskirts of the top 30. I would willingly welcome her back, but only once the hurt has subsided.
- Hyperia - also loitering on the outskirts... perhaps it will sneak in if it avoids juddering around violently (as it did on my last ride) on my next Thorpe visit.
- This update has made me aware of the 'dynamics of appreciation'. I've ridden yet another killer RMC (Twisted Colossus) and as an wholly unexpected result, Zadra, which I rank higher than TC, has dropped slightly (?!) despite me having some amazing rides on it this year. At this point in my coaster pro career, my mind and heart are seemingly more amazed but other weird, wonderful and fresher experiences on offer and a more diverse set of rides in my upper rankings. Speaking of...
- X2 earns its place by being outrageous (you can read my review of that here).
- Toutatis exceeded expectations and is a truly outstanding, full package ride.
- Space Mountain (Disneyland) - I assumed this was an inferior clone of the Magic Kingdom original (which I have always been very fond of) and I really didn't have any expectations at all... but this version ended up being even better \o/. It was SOOOOO ****ING GOOOOOODDD YEEEEASSS!!! In addition to the themeing, the unexpected sensation of speed, forces and air (!), two aspects really heightened this ride for me, which are minor spoilers and it's best going in blind but here they are:
(1) You ascend three lift hills back to back at the start of the ride... honestly it was pretty exciting going up the second hill and seeing the entry to the 'space' part of the ride... but you get there and go up again?! Maximum hype!
(2) The retro 'ooky spooky space' soundtrack is absolutely slamming.
It doesn't matter if it is good... it only matters if it rocks!!! \m/, - and Space Mountain, you truly rocked my socks off
Time to update this after a weekend at CP. Moved in Italics
0: Bobsleds (Seabreeze)
1: Steel Vengeance
2: Lightning Rod
3: Voyage
4: Storm Chaser
5: Twisted Timbers
6: Outlaw Run
7: Goliath (Six Flags Great America)
8: Shambhala
9: Phoenix (Knoebels)
10: Iron Gwazi
11: X2
12: Leap The Dips
13: Phantom's Revenge
14: Jurassic World Velocicoaster
15: Fury 325
16: Lightning Run
17: Pantheon
18: Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
19: Thunderbird
20: Space Mountain (WDW)
21: Oscar's Wacky Taxi
22: Matterhorn Bobsleds
23: Twisted Colossus
24: Railblazer
25: Iron Rattler
26: Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster
27: Orion
28: Wonder Woman Flight of Courage
29: Maverick
30: Afterburn
31: Montu
32: Renegade
33: Mamba
34: Prowler
35: Top Thrill Dragster
This particular trip was NOT kind to Maverick. Only chose to ride it once after it gave me a massive migraine. Those Intamin OTSR's are still hard with my height and even with the soft straps they can still be quite painful. That said this trip also VERY much reaffirmed Steel Vengeance as my number one. It was riding amazing morning and night.
There's always gonna be some fear that your number one might not hold up. But having rejoiced with Steel Vengeance, just from going up the first big airtime hill, I knew it was still the best coaster in the world. Managed to get quite a few rides this past weekend, including some night rides. And it's still brilliant at daytime.
Phoenix gets better and better every time I ride it, as I discover new quirks with its airtime that keep it being the most pure fun coaster I've ever been on. It deserves to be back in the Top 10. Honestly a perfect ride.
Ravine Flyer II took a hit down a few spots (though I'm happy about that, as it gives other rides the deserving chance to be higher). After being shocked by a few night rides from my first visit 5 years ago, I managed to get several more during the day this past Monday to make sure it wasn't a fluke. Well, the first couple rides were a little concerning, running a little rougher than I remember. But I think it just needed to warm up and break in, because soon enough I kept going back for the back row. This thing is ridiculous, and the first half is honestly better than nearly anything on Voyage. The ops were liberal with restraint checks to, and combine that with a loose seatbelt, the first drop is INSANE in the back. Still knocking it down a few spots, but it put up a fight to stay high.
Phantom's Revenge was just as violent as I remember. Not much to say about it really other than it deserves the raise.
I'm keeping Maverick in the same spot. I had an incredible night ride (one of my best rides on it), but the next morning I started noticing the restraints more. The vests can be a little bothersome on the shoulders for airtime... much prefer the snappy transitions and launches. It was cool to get back on this after having done more new Intamins, and this still rips... they really don't make them like they used to.
And I had my best rides ever on Millennium Force. It always feels like such a privilege getting on a ride like this and it's incredible how well it's held up after nearly a quarter of a century. And the airtime is great! Each hill gets better than the last. Still one of the best first drops too.
My week-long Northeast extravaganza has come to a close, and with it I’m welcoming a whopping… one coaster to the top 20? Ok, so some stuff didn’t hit quite as hard as I’d hoped, but I’m still grateful to have pretty much completed New England, if only so that next time I visit I can focus solely on non-coaster outings.
1: Voyage
2: Project 305
3: Iron Gwazi
4: Steel Vengeance
5: Toutatis
6: Skyrush
7: Arie Force One
8: Velocicoaster
9: Fury 325
10: El Toro
11: Phantom’s Revenge
12: Expedition GeForce
13: Ravine Flyer II
14: Pantheon
15: Wildcat’s Revenge
16: Legend
17: Maverick 18: Boulder Dash
19: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
20: Raven
Havent been to many parks and having trouble with top 3 but here is what it stands at right now
1. Mystic Timbers
2. Iron Rattler
3. Maverick
4. Millennium Force
5. Steel Vengeance
6. Orion
7. Raging Bull
8. Magnum XL-200
9. Banshee
10. The Beast
I will be getting a ride on STEVE in 3 weeks but I for some reason have liked it but not as much as I've heard.
*New cred - Absolutely blew me away, the pacing is just outstanding. My expectations were just a very long Lost Gravity. I'm surprised that more people ain't banging on about it.
Honourable Mentions
Zadra - Brilliant RMC with an impressive layout but on a cold October day it didn't do it for me.
Taron - Excellent theme, lacks airtime IMO
Toutatis - Good elements but it didn't impress me like others on here.
I don't usually do top tens. Especially as some of the coasters on my list I havent ridden in over a decade so now idea how to compare it to coasters more recent in memory. Plus, I tend to just rank mine by how fun I remember them so don't take it too seriously.
Either way, here's my current top 10 copied over from coaster-count. No judgement please.
I don't usually do top tens. Especially as some of the coasters on my list I havent ridden in over a decade so now idea how to compare it to coasters more recent in memory.
Right!?! Plus rides change over time, weather or circumstances on the day. And there's such a wide variety with some so completely different to others. I just don't know how people do it.
Yet I can still see some rankings that just are baffling to me (like have we ridden the same thing) and others that get a big thumbs up.
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