Weird Coasters of the World
Hello all my fellow coaster addicts! By this time every single person has heard about Cedar Point's new record breaker called Top Thrill Dragster (or TTD for short). This coaster will defiantly go down in history as one of the most influential coasters ever... But. what about the coasters that set new standards for the ways we experience a coaster. Rides that are far from the traditional track and car and "weee, this is fun". I mean don't get me wrong; I'm a lover of all coasters big and small. But, you still have to admit that no matter how rough and old Flashback is at the Mountain, you still hold it dear to you in the fact that its unlike anything else in the universe! That makes a roller coaster more than a ride, it makes it a legend!

X, Six Flags Magic Mountain

Take for example a coaster that is nothing short of an engineer's nightmare and an enthusiast's dream. That's right, I'm talking about the one and only X! I know that it old news now and many of you have rode it, but we still take it for granted. Can you remember seeing the computer-generated video for the first time? When I saw that I thought to myself "...." well nothing actually, I couldn't get my jaw off the floor. But anyways, that is what is most talked about when it comes to coasters! "Did you hear about that new coaster that does this?" or "have you seen pix of this new coaster's construction?" People are so hung up on how smooth a coaster is or how fast it goes to even bother thinking about coasters that are very unique and have changed the industry forever.

We all know what TOGO is. Words like "painful" and "pointless" or "piece of crap", but many never really think about how they changed the world. In 1984, TOGO built a coaster that was something that is taken for granted today. They build "King Cobra" at PKI. The world's first Stand-Up coaster! We wouldn't have "Riddler's Revenge" or "Mantis" if it wasn't for TOGO. Sure the harnesses hurt, and still do. But the feeling of standing overtop the track is something that has its own value and place in coaster history. They also designed the world's first heartline spiral coaster called "Ultra Twister". This coaster does REAL 360 degree barrel rolls in forward and reverse while in the middle of the track rails.

But you know we can't just focus on unique coasters in just America! There are 6 more continents and thousands of countries out there that have many other examples of odd and one-of-a-kind coasters. If we look to our northern neighbors of Canada, we come across a coaster that is very different! The coaster itself isn't what is odd, because it's just a regular Arrow steel corkscrew coaster. The odd thing about this coaster is that it is situated on, in, and around the side of a mountain! That's right, I'm talking about "Dragon Mountain" at Marineland. This coaster reminds me of a worm eating its way through an apple. The station is inside the mountain. The lift comes out and drops into a few inversions and back into and out of the mountain several times, with a few more inversions, and back inside the mountain to return the riders.

Montaña Suiza, Monte Igueldo

We now move to Europe. Here we will find some of the most amazing coasters around. Not just coasters that are really fast or really neat, but coasters that change the definition of what a roller coaster is. In Spain, there is a coaster that would probably never be allowed in the U.S. This coaster is called "Montaña Suiza" which means "Swiss Mountain" in Spanish. This coaster has track that is very similar to train track. It circles around the edge of a mountain on one side of the park and is only controlled by gravity, a brakeman, and skill. There is nothing, and I mean NOTHING to hold this coaster on the track! It has wheels just like a train and can only be safely operated by a trained brake person to make sure it doesn't leave the rails! If we now move to England, we come across a park that is very different in the fact that none of its rides can exceed the height of the trees. So to compensate for this, the park digs trenches and tunnels for its larger rides. One coaster that really sticks out as being odd is the world's first "Dive Machine" coaster. It is called "Oblivion", and is one intense and unique coaster experience. This coaster not only has an 89.9-degree drop, but it also holds the train at the top of the drop for a few seconds, then releases it into a hole under the park!

As I wrap things up we now return home to the good old U.S. of A. We finish our look into the world of odd coasters with a few that really stand out as something special. One coaster that really breaks all the rules is found at PKI. Yes, I'm talking about the world's tallest, fastest, and only looping wooden roller coaster. The main feature of this coaster is not the speed or height, anyone can break that record. But this coaster is different. This coaster is a wooden coaster that actually has a wooden vertical loop! (Even though the spine is steel, the track attached to it is indeed wood) This is something that designers haven't dared to attempt since the old Flip-Flap or Loop-the-Loop coasters of the early 1900's and that is what makes the coaster special.

The very last coaster we will look at is something that to this day is still not quite understood by even the hardcore enthusiast. Stan Checkettes is owner and operator of S&S Amusements, which is very well known for their air powered drop towers and air powered roller coasters. This past year, Stan announced something that sent jaws flying to the floor in amazement. His newest creation, called "The Screamin' Squirrel" is now known as the most insane and weirdest coaster in the world. He took a normal wild mouse coaster, gave it a hit of crack, and pulled it apart. The result is a wild mouse that has a series of 180-degree drops! That's right, the drop curves in on itself into the inverted position, but it doesn't stop there. The car remains inverted until the track rights itself again!! WOW!. okay, breath, scream, clean yourself up. whatever.. But remember that it does this over and over again until the ride is finished.

So what happens from here? We have not even come close to see the ending of bizarre and unique coasters. But please remember this: when you get of Flashback or a TOGO coaster, remember that even though it was rough or short or anything else.. just think that there is no coaster like this in the entire world. That this coaster is the only type of its kind and it might not be around forever so it deserves the respect it doesn't get. I hope you enjoyed this article and that it brought about some new ways of thinking about coasters. Remember that coasters aren't just fun.. You eat, sleep, dream, ride, and fiend for coasters.. they are all that matters in life!