Mark9

http://mark2262.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/the-top-moments-of-2012-in-coaster-form/ This time last year, I wrote a blog on my favourite 2011 moments from theme parks. I've done a similar thing for this year, only with my top ten moments. Highlights include trips to Florida, France and Spain as well as our very own Thorpe Park. Have a read and please let me know what you think.

The frog hopper is TEN TIMES the ride that Air and CATCF are. And Liam, seriously, Thirteen better then the Gardens?! This game....

I confess that I called Tommy a douche-bag once.

I doubt it.

Well I share a kitchen with 101 people

I'm just going to throw it out there that Nemesis is a world class ride and to really understand that, going on other B&M inverters really cements that feeling. It's hard to put into a phrase just how special Nemesis is. The Swarm is an incredibly good ride, a solid ride and an excellent addition to Thorpe Park. But it isn't in the same league as Nemesis.

You really don't take things in good humour anymore. Mark9 does not like the serious Benin

Love how this is essentially how Thorpe was run in 2004/2005 with smaller areas consisting of 4-5 rides. Just gone full circle on itself.

I'm gonna keep this in my signature until SW7's open day. That way we can either congratulate you for your confidence or mock you for your optimism

In 20 years time, people will be all like "remember when loggers leap had a tunnel" in the same way that people are shocked that the weird track next to Inferno used to be Fungle Safari. The stuff of legend.

I wonder how many members of the public walk through the Loggers tunnel. What a bizarre statement to make.

It won't collapse if you maintain the structure in the first place.

OPERATOR, GET ME THE NUMBER FOR 911 - Homer Simpson

You seem closer to Thorpe Park management then most, so what is your opinion as to why Loggers Leap tunnel is not being replaced?

Maybe you were having an off day

I don't know what amuses me more, the fact they can't afford a new roof or the fact they let it get into that condition in the first place. Merlin. PLEASE REFURBISH YOUR DAMN RIDES PLEASE.

Joining in, cause everyone loves lists. Coasters 1. Expedition Everest. Just proves to me that what I'm looking for in rides is not the highest, the fastest or the most loops. I'm looking for that themed experience, that ride with a narrative, one that pushes every boundary to be the most immersive it can be. Including disco light Yeti. 2. Superman la/ Attaccion de Acero. I'm starting to wonder if anything can ever take this down as my favourite B&M. It's about as generic as it comes in terms of layout but it's like it doesn't fall into any of the traps that the American B&M's fall into. Such a wonderful ride. 3. Katun. Starting my B&M inverter threesome is Katun, the Italian wonder. An absolute beast of a ride and even with trims is a thrilling and immense experience from beginning to end. That first drop is incredible. 4. Nemesis. The Inverter classic, it took something mighty special to beat this as my favourite inverter. 19 years on it has a bite to it that very few rides can tackle. The layout is inspired as I'm sure many of you know. 5. New for 2012 Oz'Iris. Completing the threesome, Oz'Iris is a very special ride that utilises theming to the highest degree to give a satisfying experience. I adore its first drop and its zero g roll is B&M perfection. It narrowly gets beaten by the other two by being just that little bit less intense. 6. New for 2012 Kumba. Part of me is very glad that I enjoyed this attraction so much, I had some misgivings that all the other similarly designed rides like Kraken, Superman de Acero and Dragon Khan would ruin its effect. Luckily it did nothing of the sort and I found this to be one of those top tier B&M's that I could easily ride all day. 7. Manta. Despite the shoddy operation, I really enjoy Manta. But then I am one of those rare few that adore Pretzel loops so maybe that has something to do with it. Nonetheless, if it wasn't for shoddy operation, I could ride this all day long as its ride experience is fun and its queueline is top notch. 8. Blue Fire: Megacoaster. Breaking up the B&M domination is Blue Fire, the most awesome coaster ever built by Mack. It's an absolutely inspired roller coaster. The more Intamin launchers I get on, the more I realise just what a quality product Blue Fire is and how flawed Intamins version really is. 9. New for 2012 Shambhala. I didn't honestly expect this to feature. You always hear negative things about B&M mega coasters on forums so for Shambhala to completely knock me for six was unexpected. Suffice to say, a long ride packed with air time, splashes, spectacular air time hills and drawving Dragon Khan. 10. Black Mamba. Narrowly making it into my top ten is another inverter. I really need to get back on this as I have really fond memories form six years ago. The nearly made it list - Tonnerre de Zeus, Space Mountain (WDW) Oblivion, iSpeed, Sheikra, Megafobia, Grand National, Big Dipper My least favourite. 5. Primeval Whirl. It actually insults me that this is pile of junk is considered worthy of a Disney park. 4. Tornado.Come on Intamin, even Vekoma made an effort with their inverted coaster. 3. Shamu Express. It actually insults me that this is Seaworld Orlandos best idea for a kiddy coaster. 2. Sequoia Adventure. Why oh why oh why oh why. Ouch Ouch Ouch, make it stop, no not again, ow. Not a good ride. 1. Furius Baco. Never have I ridden something so attrociously bad in rollercoaster form. Raptor and the Swarm probably didn't help matters. It's just beggars belief that Intamin designed something so bad when its launch is so good.

This is the reason I despise this game every year.

That ride looks fantastic. I am so glad that this type of ride is staring to really catch on as after Blue Fire, the ride type seemed to enter the wilderness. Anyone fancy a trip

There is no way in hell that is sad. It's just beautiful music that epitomises a trip to Disney World. Reminds me of that first day at Disney World and brings a tear of joy of all the happy memories.

Welcome to the team guys. It wasn't an easy decision to make in the slightest, all the applications (aside from one, I'm sure you know who you were ) were excellent.

I think Thorpe cock up should be changed to Alton cock up personally. Thorpe have not cocked up in as many dismal ways as Alton have this season.

Memorable enough to visit time and time again for is the main point I'm making here

And to take that further, if the short term rides that were thrown in were any good, we wouldn't have to see this yearly investment that Thorpe in particular sees as important. As it stands, the rides at Thorpe are either not very memorable or don't offer that unique experience that people will visit time and time again for.