When I think of elite, I think of a superior level of beings or things. When I think of elite coasters, I think of rare breeds, the dying species of our culture that does not seem popular with general public. They may at one time have been the most glorious object on mother earth, or may have never shed their beautiful light past a small, opening day.

Elite (n.)-The best or most skilled members of a group.

You probably have a personal favorite, most intense favorite, a most unique favorite, and every other type of favorite coaster, but out of all those, is there any coaster that makes people wonder why you choose it? Every coaster deserves some recognition, but we often choose favorites and ignore the rest. The bottom line is simple: the preceding coasters have all been called up from the farm ranks and into the spotlight. I present some of the top wooden and steel coasters in existence that you probably don't think about on a daily basis.

So, is this an editorial or top coaster list? It's whatever you make of it...

Giant Dipper, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
The Giant Dipper, at Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, encompasses the ideal of the traditional American rollercoaster. Giant Dipper was the last rollercoaster built during the Roaring 20's by the small manufacturer, Arthur Looff. It features a few things not found in today's wooden coasters.

Freshly coated white paint, a lack of banked turns, and sudden, steep drops. This coaster cannot be summed up into one word, or a few short sentences of this editorial, but rather, one of the most rare coasters we have today.


Mr. Freeze, Six Flags Parks
Operating out of Six Flags St. Louis and Six Flags Over Texas, Mr. Freeze is a hidden treasure. Using a transfer track allows double trains on a shuttle coaster, increasing capacity. Harnessed by nothing more than a simple lap bar, you are catapulted into an inside top-hat element. The extraordinary feeling you get from this element is short-lived when you aim skyward at over 215ft to weightlessness. Then, you do it all over again. backwards!


Top Gun: The Jet Coaster, Paramount's Carowinds
Driving North on I-77, you see a slight shadow due west as you approach Charlotte, NC. Hidden in the smog of Charlotte, and nestled in the Smoky Mountains, lays Top Gun: The Jet Coaster. Top Gun's layout is a modified layout of Montu, featuring the second only Batwing on an inverted rollercoaster. One of the most noteworthy features of this coaster is the lack of trims. The layout is extremely compact for the amount of elements it contains, pushing the limit on forceful coasters. What does perhaps the world's most intense Invert feel like? Top Gun: The Jet Coaster!


The Great American Scream Machine, Six Flags Over Georgia
Just South of Top Gun lays the Great American Scream Machine, GASM. Built in the early 1970's as Six Flags solute to world-class, first generation classic wooden coasters; this Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters manufactured ride exemplifies a classic out-and-back layout with a blistering pace. There are many great spots for airtime throughout the entire ride, but more notable towards the end on the bunny hops. This is one hidden secret in Georgia.


Boss, Six Flags St. Louis
Boss is the type of coaster you walk up to the entrance and say, "...uh...wow!" It leaves you breathless with its enormous size and its shear pacing. When you're riding in the Gerstlauer built trains, you don't feel like you're on a wooden coaster. Instead you feel like you're on a steel hyper coaster. Boss isn't a "one drop wonder," but instead provides many opportunities for a weightless sensation. Boss is, the boss of you.

Boulder Dash, Lake Compounce
If you find yourself at Lake Compounce, you'll probably be flying by boulders and dashing threw trees at speeds of 60MPH onboard Boulder Dash. Boulder Dash can be considered the best terrain woodie, maybe even the best coaster period.

As weird as it may sound, many people have stated Boulder Dash is the best flowing roller coaster simply because it follows earth's natural terrain so well. Whispering by trees almost makes you feel like you're on a hyper coaster, let alone a wooden coaster. Boulder Dash will leave you breathless.


Medusa, Six Flags Great Adventure
When the firm Bolliger & Mabillard was asked to come up with a new design, a floorless roller coaster to be named Medusa, what did they do? Build their first floorless roller coaster near duplicate of the layout of their first major roller coaster, Kumba. With Kumba setting the industry standard, Medusa was sure to follow as becoming one of the best floorless coasters. Medusa's layout is one of the most overlooked when people begin talking about excellent floorless coasters. Medusa has a smooth, lengthy layout with the perfect variation of elements.


Raven, Holiday World
Flowing along the terrain you immerge from the woods and instantly drop out over the water. Next, you'll find yourself flying threw the trees at relentless pacing. What is it? The Raven: A short flight that will leave you bittersweet.


Flashback, Six Flags Magic Mountain
Yes, this is that SBNO, Standing But Not Operating, rollercoaster that everyone talks about. It seems that almost nobody wants Flashback seeing how it has had three different relocations; with it's final home, Six Flags Magic Mountain neglecting it. Flashback is one of the best rollercoaster's you may ever encounter. With brisk, unexpected turns, the track just drops out from under you. Flashback is a unique, a one-of-a-kind coaster. If you get the chance to ride it, it is one of life's finer tastes. However, there still remains hope in 2005. With no major projects planned in 2005, and the removal of Metro, Six Flags Magic Mountain has the budget to reopen Flashback. That is, if they believe in Fallen Heroes...