HandsUpPantsDown
Roller Poster
I’ll start off by saying my CC is only 88 and planning some trips to the best parks in Europe this year so this list definitely going to be hugely different in 12 months.
I have a massive bias for the engineering story behind a coaster, as a practising Civil Engineer I geek out on the construction documentaries and love to understand the challenges behind the projects. I also favour high intensity coasters with lots of jerk, changes in direction, forces etc
#1 Der Schwur des Kärnan, Hansa Park
Such a silly coaster, dramatic lifthill sequence, insane first drop up into the non-inverting element sets up for the rest of the twisting layout that doesn’t slow down, pure adrenaline. The way the tower was built and then the coaster was craned inside from above is also pretty nuts.
#2 Nemesis, Alton Towers
Was my favourite since childhood, amazing positive Gs, another great engineering story. Classic.
#3 Taron, Phantasialand
I was determined not to be a ‘Taron Shagger’ as me and the missus label Taron fans, but I couldn’t help loving it after multiple misty night rides in -5’C temperature in December 2022, it’s very fun but without the near misses it wouldn’t be so good.
#4 Oblivion, Alton Towers
So much nostalgia. A ****-off massive hole in the ground, wicked engineering. The drop feels alot stonger than other dive-coasters. Underrated theming, I’m a massive old-school Jungle head combined with the grainy psychological videos in the queueline, it has an awesome 90s vibe, love love love.
#5 Smiler, Alton Towers
Aside from a massive whack on the side of the head during the 2nd-to-last inversion it’s a great coaster, couldn’t stop ‘Smile’-ing throughout, and unusually long for a British ride.
#6 Colossos – Kampf der Giganten, Heide Park
Airtime. Smooth as a baby’s backside. Shame about the helix halfway through.
#7 Black Mamba, Phantasialand
Feels like being ragged around by a massive ‘Black Mamba’ snake, great positive forces and near misses.
#8 Flucht von Novgorod, Hansa Park
Awesome launch, sweet first airtime hill, unfortunate middle section, brilliant dark section.
#9 Stealth, Thorpe Park
Launch.
#10 Kumba, Busch Gardens Tampa
Pure fun, still smooth at it’s great age
I have a massive bias for the engineering story behind a coaster, as a practising Civil Engineer I geek out on the construction documentaries and love to understand the challenges behind the projects. I also favour high intensity coasters with lots of jerk, changes in direction, forces etc
#1 Der Schwur des Kärnan, Hansa Park
Such a silly coaster, dramatic lifthill sequence, insane first drop up into the non-inverting element sets up for the rest of the twisting layout that doesn’t slow down, pure adrenaline. The way the tower was built and then the coaster was craned inside from above is also pretty nuts.
#2 Nemesis, Alton Towers
Was my favourite since childhood, amazing positive Gs, another great engineering story. Classic.
#3 Taron, Phantasialand
I was determined not to be a ‘Taron Shagger’ as me and the missus label Taron fans, but I couldn’t help loving it after multiple misty night rides in -5’C temperature in December 2022, it’s very fun but without the near misses it wouldn’t be so good.
#4 Oblivion, Alton Towers
So much nostalgia. A ****-off massive hole in the ground, wicked engineering. The drop feels alot stonger than other dive-coasters. Underrated theming, I’m a massive old-school Jungle head combined with the grainy psychological videos in the queueline, it has an awesome 90s vibe, love love love.
#5 Smiler, Alton Towers
Aside from a massive whack on the side of the head during the 2nd-to-last inversion it’s a great coaster, couldn’t stop ‘Smile’-ing throughout, and unusually long for a British ride.
#6 Colossos – Kampf der Giganten, Heide Park
Airtime. Smooth as a baby’s backside. Shame about the helix halfway through.
#7 Black Mamba, Phantasialand
Feels like being ragged around by a massive ‘Black Mamba’ snake, great positive forces and near misses.
#8 Flucht von Novgorod, Hansa Park
Awesome launch, sweet first airtime hill, unfortunate middle section, brilliant dark section.
#9 Stealth, Thorpe Park
Launch.
#10 Kumba, Busch Gardens Tampa
Pure fun, still smooth at it’s great age
] 
]
