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Alton Towers | Wicker Man | GCI Wood

IMO, Wicker Man is a much stronger coaster at the back.

Generally I find the airtime moderate (it isn't really the purpose of the ride's layout), but I did experience what could be classed as ejector on the drop after the flat corner, back row at the end of a rainy day when it was absolutely belting round.
 
The angle they've chosen, and camera location, makes it look slow and jolty.
That's not gonna wow any of the GP is it
 
Weird they'd have the maintenance lights on in the brake run while filming this despite everything else being in show mode.

I also dislike POVs from this angle, it's so unnatural to watch.
 
Was this an early morning run or something; it looks slower than usual in this POV. Still fast, but slower than usual.

I always find that Wicker Man looks and feels much faster in real life than it looks on video. When I rerode the coaster last Saturday, the ride was belting round the track! And I was towards the front!
 
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Matt N said:
I always find that Wicker Man looks and feels much faster in real life than it looks on video.
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I often find this with wooden coasters in general ; definitely with GCIs. Never been a huge fan of how they look on POVs, but in real-life they can be much more ferocious. It’s all part of that “woodie” feel you just can’t easily replicate with film.
 
CookieCoasters said:
I often find this with wooden coasters in general ; definitely with GCIs. Never been a huge fan of how they look on POVs, but in real-life they can be much more ferocious. It’s all part of that “woodie” feel you just can’t easily replicate with film.
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Yeah, I agree; when I visited Alton on the 18th, Wicker Man was absolutely zipping round the track! It was flying through the unbanked corner in about 2 or 3 seconds! Whereas that corner looks a bit slower on video. It absolutely belted round the rest of the ride, too! On video, Wicker Man looks to peeter out a bit in the final couple of turns, but every time I've ridden it, it's zipped through these at a glorious pace! I find the same to be true of Icon!
 
^ not to worry, its quite hard to understand what ATI means at the best of times! :)
I think Coaster Touring was filming the POV on behalf of GCI then once Alton had put it up on youtube, he felt able to release it on his own channel (in better quality).
 
Maybe just me, but I actually quite liked the fact that the camera was mounted on the front of the train in the way it was. Gives a different perspective that us as rides don't get to see, so I thought it was pretty cool. Little bit silly that they didn't have the maintenance shed in full "show mode" though...
 
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Jamesss said:
I hate POVs where the camera is placed about 3cm from the track. Put it at rider eye height!
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Ah I disagree, it makes the ride look far quicker and wilder which definitely helps on some coasters.

Helix's track level POV is crazy.
 
I appreciate the POVs that try to simulate the riders perspective, but I also like the ones mounted closer to the track. You can get a pretty good idea of how it’ll ride either way.

The POVs I don’t like however are chest mounted go pros. The perspective just looks so awkward, especially when the lap bar or riders’ arms are in the picture.


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Very late to the party, but finally got on The Dude today. Three runs middle, middle quarter and back row.

I think it's great fun. Just a jolly little lark of a ride. Over sold, inappropriate story bollocks; but at least they're trying I guess?
Matt N said:
Thanks guys! I don't know which form of airtime I'd personally define Wicker Man's as, but I personally found Wicker Man's airtime to provide a kind of brief bouncing sensation, if that makes any sense at all!
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Yeah, it's a little kind of bump and a pop of what would be ejector if the following hill was longer and steeper. Though the zero-g hill in the tunnel after the drop is "okay" floater. Almost, but not unentirely unlike airtime.

Best kiddie coaster on the park though and probably my third favourite ride on park overall - though maybe tied with Hex :)

I reckon it's a great addition to the park. Also potentially a wasted opportunity, but it's bold and popular, so a business win...

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furie said:
Very late to the party, but finally got on The Dude today. Three runs middle, middle quarter and back row.

I think it's great fun. Just a jolly little lark of a ride. Over sold, inappropriate story bollocks; but at least they're trying I guess? Yeah, it's a little kind of bump and a pop of what would be ejector if the following hill was longer and steeper. Though the zero-g hill in the tunnel after the drop is "okay" floater. Almost, but not unentirely unlike airtime.

Best kiddie coaster on the park though and probably my third favourite ride on park overall - though maybe tied with Hex :)

I reckon it's a great addition to the park. Also potentially a wasted opportunity, but it's bold and popular, so a business win...

Sent from my E6683 using Tapatalk
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Glad to see you enjoyed it @furie!
 
Well according to GCI's website, Wicker Man actually has a track length of 2,609ft, rather than the original 2,028ft of track. Now I'm kind of torn.
 
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