I have always loved roller coasters. The anticipation climbing the first hill to the exhilarating feeling on the descent to the twisting turns and loops and then the final screeching halt right before returning to the launching platform. They all get me. Even the worst roller coaster is still pretty good (just like pizza.)
However, when I ride a really good coaster, the feeling lasts a little longer and I enjoy reliving it with friends. This is exactly what happened when I was able to be one of the first 1500 people to ride the Valravn, Cedar Point’s newest coaster. I was able to attend the Inaugural Rider Event and fundraiser for the LeBron James Family Foundation. I don’t know how they were able to engineer a coaster that takes your breath away and makes you scream at the same time, but they did. In fact the first hill’s ascent was the most calm part of the ride. After that it was hold on tight and try to catch your breath. In a word: Awesome!
I had the opportunity to ride in the first row, but really I’m just a little too chicken for that. (Don’t hate me!) I took the farthest seat on the right side of the second row. The seat makes you feel like you are being enveloped in safety. The harness comes down, you buckle in and there is really very little give. Which believe me is a good thing. At one point in the ride, I swear that the only thing keeping me from flying off was the harness.
I really tried to take in everything when the coaster was making its ascent. I knew I would want to capture the feeling. Each moment a bit more eager anticipation was growing. It was a slow ascent to the top–relatively speaking. Then a smooth turn to the right. You can see everything from the top of the first hill. Then the coaster dangles you over the edge. At the time I didn’t know how long, but it is four whole seconds. In coaster time, that is an eternity! You are just hanging there, suspended and you can’t see the track at all. Then it lets you go and your stomach jumps to your throat. Your breath gets caught and then you scream. (Alright, maybe I mean I lose my breath and then scream.)
Next there is a whole lot of twists and turns. At one point the coaster slowed down and I had a brief thought that the ride was over. Boy, was I wrong. There is another suspended drop and then many more twists. By the end, my equilibrium was still rocking around in my head. My stomach remained a little up in my throat and I finally caught my breath. It was so fun! I could not stop smiling.
A couple of tips for you if you go. Do not wear shoes that come off easily (like flip flops), because you will either lose them or you will need to clench your toes the whole time. Which honestly you may be too busy trying to enjoy the ride to think about that. The second tip is to enjoy the calmness of the ascent, because for 90 or so seconds after that, you will have nothing even close to calmness.
If you like coasters, this is one you should not miss. However, until you can get to Cedar Point, check out this virtual ride.
