Matt N
CF Legend
I don't dislike it as much as many of you do, but after riding yesterday in row 2 and giving it a bit of thought, I'm afraid I'm also going to have to say The Smiler from what I've ridden. I think the layout itself is quite good, and I certainly wouldn't say it's terrible, but I'm just unsure whether I actually enjoy it as much as some other rides I've done that were built in the 2010s. I wouldn't say it's as relentlessly rough as some of the older Gerstlauer coasters I've done (aka Speed and Saw), but it definitely has some pronounced jolts in places and has a noticeable tremble to it throughout (for lack of a better term); however, there's definitely some noticeable headbanging during the final 3 inversions, in my opinion.
I don't know whether it's only me that finds this, but I've also started to find the Gerstlauer OTSRs less comfortable as I've grown taller; I find they come down in a very strange position in comparison to the ones from a company like B&M, for example.
I find my opinion of The Smiler so sad, as it is actually quite an important coaster to me; it was the very coaster that brought me into the theme park enthusiast community, and I did formerly rate it much higher (it was once my 2nd favourite at Towers!). I also think that the layout is quite good, although I don't think I enjoy the type of forces provided on it as much as the type of forces provided on Nemesis, for example. Unfortunately, it just doesn't do it for me as much as it used to. Don't get me wrong, I still find it a good coaster, but I don't find it a great one like I used to. I'm not sure whether it's down to the ride itself deteriorating or down to my tastes changing, but that's how it is, unfortunately.
Despite what I said above, however, I still find The Smiler to be a good coaster, and on my overall spectrum, I'd still be willing to give it a 6/10. Unfortunately, my opinion of The Smiler seems to satisfy no one; you guys are probably mystified as to why I've given it that high of a score, whereas my family always try and convince me that it should be in my top 3!
I don't know whether it's only me that finds this, but I've also started to find the Gerstlauer OTSRs less comfortable as I've grown taller; I find they come down in a very strange position in comparison to the ones from a company like B&M, for example.
I find my opinion of The Smiler so sad, as it is actually quite an important coaster to me; it was the very coaster that brought me into the theme park enthusiast community, and I did formerly rate it much higher (it was once my 2nd favourite at Towers!). I also think that the layout is quite good, although I don't think I enjoy the type of forces provided on it as much as the type of forces provided on Nemesis, for example. Unfortunately, it just doesn't do it for me as much as it used to. Don't get me wrong, I still find it a good coaster, but I don't find it a great one like I used to. I'm not sure whether it's down to the ride itself deteriorating or down to my tastes changing, but that's how it is, unfortunately.
Despite what I said above, however, I still find The Smiler to be a good coaster, and on my overall spectrum, I'd still be willing to give it a 6/10. Unfortunately, my opinion of The Smiler seems to satisfy no one; you guys are probably mystified as to why I've given it that high of a score, whereas my family always try and convince me that it should be in my top 3!
