With the 2020 coaster season just a little over two weeks from beginning for me, It's time to reveal my personal top ten coasters! I will warn you that I have some rather interesting opinions and that making my top ten requires a truly special coaster. So let's get started!
First, some honorable mentions.
Ghostride, Knott's Berry Farm:
One of the biggest hits of my summer was Ghostrider at Knott's Berry Farm. It's quick transitions, and more old school layout, all with the smoothness of a brand new woodie made me fall in love with it immediately. Its theme of the old west made it all the more enjoyable for me because of my love for westerns. Overall, a fantastic ride just shy of making my top 10.
Twisted Colossus, Six Flags Magic Mountain:
The number of hours I spent trying to get pictures of this ride dueling. Twisted Colossus more than lived up to my expectations as a ride, especially when dueling, enough so to earn the rank of my second favorite RMC, sorry Steel Vengeance Fanboys. The fun and long ride made for an amazing experience that provided everything I want in a dueling coaster! Plus the color scheme is epic and long live the Screemy Meemy!
Now on to the top ten!
10. Copperhead Strike, Carowinds:
New in 2019 to Carowinds was Copperhead Strike, and when they said it would have twice the bite, they weren't kidding. The amazing airtime, hangtime, and mix of elements made me fall in love with the ride instantly. It also just happens to be my favorite coaster in the world to take pictures of making it all the more enjoyable. Copperhead Strike is a fantastic coaster and a worthy start to my top ten!
9. Kumba, Busch Gardens Tampa
KUMBA! People don't lie, this ride is intense, and from what my best friend tells, I didn't even ride it on a good day. The nonstop action from the drop to the brake run is insane, and a true testament to how well B&M's are built. This ride runs smoother than coasters built 20 years after it. That's just crazy. It has earned its spot as being one of the most photographed coasters in history. Overall, Kumba is a fantastic coaster and I can't wait to get more rides on it later this year.
8. Skyrush, Hersheypark
This ride immediately earned a spot in my top ten after riding it in 2017 and has stayed there ever since. The insane speed, airtime, and intensity make this coaster something truly special and leaves you very little time to breathe until you hit the brake run. I can not wait to get back to Hershy to ride this and Candymonium soon!
7. Maverick, Cedar Point
I used to not care for Maverick, that was until last summer when I got 3 back row rides. I never knew that this ride could pack so much into so little. The speed, airtime, intensity, and just general feeling of being out of control made this ride a shoo-in for a top ten spot. I can not wait to ride it some more this summer!
6. Millennium Force, Cedar Point
Probably my most controversial ranking, Millennium Force is a personal favorite just because. I can't really explain what I love about it so much, but I do. The first drop maybe my favorite ever, and the ride itself is just a legend. All I know is that I always come off this ride with a grin on my face.
5. The Voyage, Holiday World
After my first ride this summer, I knew why everyone loves this coaster. I really don't need to explain what it does and why I love it because it is the same reason as everyone else. Needless to say, I can not wait to get back to Holiday World to ride this gem of a wooden coaster again, hopefully at night, because trimless Voyage is insane!
4. Mako, Sea World Orlando
When your best friend hyped up a ride for months, and it still ends up in your top five, you know its a good ride. After several years of trying to get the credit, I finally got to ride Mako, last October, and man did it deliver on everything I want in a B&M Hyper. The airtime, pacing, and intensity where all there! I can not wait to get back to Florida soon to get some more rides in on this coaster!
3. Fury 325, Carowinds
This one doesn't need much of an explanation. Since opening in 2015, this coaster has sat atop many people's top tens, and for good reason. The amazing pacing, forces, and length make this coaster one of the best on earth. I also have several great memories with this coaster which makes it all the more special to me.
2. X2, Six Flags Magic Mountain
Since becoming a coaster enthusiast in 2015, I haven't felt scared on a coaster, except for this one. We started our first ever visit to Magic Mountain on this behemoth of a coaster, and as we were climbing up that slow lift hill, for the first time in 4 years, I had butterflies in my stomach. It didn't take long for those butterflies to be turned into fits of laughter and I immediately had a new number 2. This coaster just messes with your mind, in a good way, and for that reason, I love this coaster. I would gladly fly across the country right now to ride it, and believe me, I would if I had the time and the money!
1. Lightning Rod, Dollywood
If you're surprised by this one, you obviously don't know me very well. Wild Eagle may be the coaster that got me over my fears and into coasters, but this is the ride that kept me interested. I was fortunate enough to ride it on May 25th, 2016, the third day of technical rehearsals, and since then have ridden it 220 times and taken over 10,000 pictures of it. I often make the joke that coasters don't compete for my number 1 spot, they go for number 2 because nothing will every dethrone my beloved ride. The intense airtime, great pacing, and reliable (Okay maybe not that reliable) experience keep bringing me back, and you can be sure that this will be my first stop of the 2020 season.
So, that's my weird top ten. I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts and looking at the pictures. Be sure to let me know your top tens in the comments below and on twitter! Heres to an amazing 2020 season!
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