2012 Best Attraction Tournament: More Bolliger & Mabillard coasters

Dominator got my vote, but more for its GL installation. I had the pleasure of riding it there 1 month to the day prior to the park closing for good. (Of course, the public, including me, didn't know the park was closing.) And I pretty much had the park to myself (hmmm, wonder why it closed...) - allowing me to ride Dominator - often alone - something like 9 times that morning. It certainly had a nicer location at GL right next to the lake, rather than the parking lot view it now has. (And I have ridden it at KD too.) As to the others, I find Sheikra and Griffon overrated and was fairly disappointed when I finally got to ride The Incredible Hulk. Riddler's Revenge is certainly my favorite stand up coaster, but stand up has never had a special place in my heart.

I could not agree more.

Provided that the gentlemen, uh, take a moment to properly "adjust" when boarding, of course. (If not, this ride can be, uh, less than comfortable.)

The stand-up coaster sensation provides a unique experience, well-realized on B&M's typically excellent blend of loops, dips and turns. This is one of my favorite coasters - I don't know if it's among the top eight in the industry, but it's well worth a visit and a ride if you're in Southern California.

Of the others, I've only ridden Griffon and was underwhelmed: I thought the view of the river from the top of the first hill was the best part of the ride. The drops, despite being ninety degrees, did not compare to those on Apollo's Chariot.

So, that leaves me with 3. Dominator was good, but, to be honest, it was maybe my 3rd or 4th favorite in King's Dominion. Hulk has one of the best starts I have ever seen, but the second half of it is rather blah. Griffon is amazingly smooth and fun, but short. Griffon is not quite a one trick pony, but damn close.

With all that said, I think Hulk is better. Maybe we judge the second half harshly due to the pure excellence of the first half.

SheiKra and Griffon are definitely one-trickers, but the trick is outstanding. They are the kind of coaster you love to tell folks about when you get home. "Man, the car just HANGS there for what seems like forever, then wooosh...straight down!!!!"

The Riddler's Revenge: No one really likes stand up coasters/ball-crushers anymore... their time came and went years ago.

DA HULK: Yes, it is true: it's all about that first ten seconds. "Everything looks good..I think this time it's going to work!" Klaxons blaring, a malfunction, and Dr. Banner screams, "No! No!! Nooooo!!!" - the last "NO!" synchronized with a 0 to 40 launch up a 110 foot "Gamma Tube". Then a zero-g roll, a 105 foot drop, a cobra roll, a vertical loop, and finally a tunnel of mist. The rest of the ride is "meh", but that amazing first ten seconds gets my vote today.

Sheikra!

I Respond: Actually, I was quoting Mike Thomas -- a journalist who I can safely assume has never felt the thrill of exploring the world's rivers of adventure.

And yeah, it is the only one of the five I've ridden. Which doesn't make it not a great ride!

And I am with you on the 'jewel' issue on stand-ups. I like to be able to get on a ride and enjoy it without worrying if I will be able to walk correctly after. It's the same thing with a coaster that hurts my head (aka Mean Streak at CP), if I have to worry about a migraine after, I kinda don't like the ride.

Volcano - near perfect mix of thrills and fun
Intimidator 305 - at the time, the trims killed it
Dominator - not as good as it should be, but good
Back Lot Stunt Coaster - surprisingly good
Grizzly - still solid after all these years
Avalanche - good family fun
Anaconda - the MCBR is devastating
Rebel Yell - showing some age
Flight of Fear - very disappointing
Shockwave - ball crusher!
Hurler - all Dinn Corp woodies need a Texas Giant redo
Ricochet - why?

Regards!