Backwards better or worse

[JimPanky]

Do you think backwards makes the coaster experience better or worse? If you could only ride every coaster in the park one way for the rest of your life which would you choose?

[JimPanky]

I am not a fan of backwards. I know Im probably in the minority here but for me seeing where Im going and feeling the wind on my face is part of the experience.

I can see how this would make it better for the fear rider. I ride for thrills. I don't scream in fear I scream YEAH! in adrenaline and thrill. Some ride coasters because they do scare them and they enjoy that fear the same way people enjoy haunted houses and scary movies. This types of riders I could see enjoying not knowing where your going cause it would intensify this fear.

[Jerrykoala2112]

I think going backwards its worse. It's nice to ride once, but it is not as re-rideable as the sickening factor increases when you can't see where you are going.

[JimPanky]

right. disorientation from not seeing where your going.

[Ilovthevu']

I think it really just depends on the coasters. In my opinion, the reason why some coasters are just so great backwards is because the layouts aren't all over the place - layouts more in straight lines would be better backwards coaster in my opinion. I can look at all boomerangs, and the only rough parts are really the cobra roll. Though, I feel that a cobra roll is easier to sense the motion than a corkscrew / wing over. I would probably think out of every inversion to do backwards, the corkscrew / wing over would be the worst inversion. Another one I could think of being terrible would be the Batwing that was on Shockwave. I hated that thing forwards alone. Though, on Montu I like it. Much better designed. So, many other inversions are in straight lines that I don't think it matters that the inversion would hurt the ride a lot.

I talked about boomerangs backwards. I can look at Mr. Freeze going forwards / backwards, and that's such a great ride. The ride is great in my opinion because it's fast, has ONE inversion (that doesn't excessively turn you everywhere), and it's not transitioning from left to right, back and forth.

As for your question, if I only could choose one way or the other, I would have to choose forwards. I already rank Batman backwards #25 as compared to #5. Than I think Superman with all those curves in it would be not much fun, and Demon with the corkscrews would be a pain (in the order of Batman backwards). Raging Bull has a lot curves / transitions which probably wouldn't be fun either. American Eagle I like backwards, and I actually ride it than. For forwards it's boring to me, but backwards is good on American Eagle because the ride is predictable. It's doesn't transition that much. It's straight lines / curve / straight lines / curve. V2 wouldn't be a ride if it just went forwards or just backwards??? Little Dipper might be a tiny bit better, but it probably wouldn't matter much. I think Whizzer might be better going backwards in all those helixes! I would still choose forwards for all though.

[JimPanky]

V2 is both and that's what makes the ride of course.
Demon backwards OUCH! Demon is rough forwards, backwards you might need medical staff on hand like the early coasters that went overboard.
I actually think Raging Bull might be okay backwards since it is so smooth.
Superman backwards would be awkward. Classic you ride chest first. Superman you go head first so backwards youd be going butt first. LOL

I agree I do love Mr. Freeze and V2 that use both. Another great coaster to use both is one my favorites Expedition Everest at WDW. I like switching it up during a ride. Im just not a fan of backwards for the whole ride.

And great reply!

[Mr. D.T.]

Raging Bull backwards might be a little relaxing since there are no inversions and the ride is smooth, but interesting nonetheless.

Superman backwards: now that could be called one-of-a-kind since unique coasters like that create a different experience from the other coasters.

It's too bad we can't experience Shockwave or Iron Wolf backwards since they're into the wayside. They would've been nice to ride.

For some reason, some people would've conceived Batman backwards as entering through the shop, the LIMs propelling the ride through the loops before finally descending down what would formally be the 'lift hill'. How's that for a ride.

They should have a Giant Drop backwards, renamed "Giant Leap", launching the cars up to the top of the tower before slowly descending back down the tower into the station.

And now X-Flight backwards could be just around the corner...

[JimPanky]

I think Iron Wolf backwards would hurt like the idea of Demon backwards. Maybe idk. My theory is headbangers would hurt even more backwards.

X-Flight with all it's quick changes and inversions I would think would be disorienting backwards.

Space shot, double shot, and The Tower of Terror use upward blasts that would be like a reverse Giant Drop.

[JimPanky]

And to Batman reverse instead of backwards LOL. It has to start with a lift hill.

[Mr. D.T.]

LOL, remember though that Tower of Terror and Giant Drop are pears and oranges; they're much different than each other because Giant Drop uses gravity for the drop and Tower of Terror uses actual motors, which kind of creeps me out.

Looks like X-Flight won't follow the backwards trend anytime soon.

[Johnny.Ink]

LOL, remember though that Tower of Terror and Giant Drop are pears and oranges; they're much different than each other because Giant Drop uses gravity for the drop and Tower of Terror uses actual motors, which kind of creeps me out.

Looks like X-Flight won't follow the backwards trend anytime soon.

I'm pretty sure Giant Drop uses hydraulics and cables to control the descent to give the "illusion" of a real drop. Gravity drop from 200 feet would be a hard braking experience.

The Intamin 1st Gen drop like the Edge or Demon Drop at Dorney - not THAT was a a true mechanical drop and very very fun in my opinion. And a little scary as well

X-Flight has actually been rumored a couple times this offseason as Swarm is already doing some seats backwards. No reason to not see it happening soon.

And Six Flags has already confirmed via Twitter that Eagle Blue is going backwards again this year...

[JimPanky]

And the idea was a reverse drop which would require power from a motor or compressed air.

[FParker185]

Giant Drop is 100% gravity. Only difference between Giant Drop and the first gen's is the advent of Magnetic Braking(linear inductive dynamic braking) eliminating the need for the curve and brake run and providing a very smooth stop.

[PfightingPolish]

And the idea was a reverse drop which would require power from a motor or compressed air.

What you're saying is basically start the riders at the bottom and shoot them to the top, a la a slingshot or that sort of ride.

Interesting idea, but the effort required to transform such a ride might be better used on just finding a place to put in a slingshot.

[ianmac79]

I think going backwards its worse. It's nice to ride once, but it is not as re-rideable as the sickening factor increases when you can't see where you are going.

I agree completely. I rode Batman twice today. The first time was fun but the second time I felt like I was going to hurl and felt that way for the rest of the short day (bloody rain) there today.

Now Eagle is fun backwards but there is not all the twisting and flipping you find on Batman. Plus its always the blue side that is bw and that side is boring to me going forward so it adds a level of excitement! GO RED!

I think flipping the train on V2 would be interesting experience. Viper...please no. Same with X-Flight and Demon.

Raging might be interesting backwards for there is no upside down bits.

[JimPanky]

I agree, there are already rides out there that are essentially a Giant Drop with a quick upward motion instead of drop.

[BLADE]

Backwards is worse!

[JimPanky]

Some do actually prefer backwards but my theory is that most of the enthusiasm over turning already great coasters backwards is simply that it's different. Different is not always better. Different is not always worse.
In my opinion backwards makes most coasters worse (not all some are cool backwards).

Batman is my favorite coaster forwards. I ride it several times every trip. With it backwards most trips I don't ride it at all.

[JimPanky]

I think they should leave American Eagle with forward and backwards. Having the choice is a good idea and that's the only coaster you can really do that with.

[Ilovthevu']

^But than they would feel obligated to run both sides, and what they are starting to do within the past few years is run one side on some days only.

Another thing that makes backwards coasters worse is that more people are puking (or bloody noses) because of it, and than rides go down more often, especially already intense coasters like Batman. I was in line one day, and the ride went down twice in 45 minutes due to puke. And no, it wasn't mechanical. I seen it.

[Luxornv]

^But than they would feel obligated to run both sides, and what they are starting to do within the past few years is run one side on some days only.

Another thing that makes backwards coasters worse is that more people are puking (or bloody noses) because of it, and than rides go down more often, especially already intense coasters like Batman. I was in line one day, and the ride went down twice in 45 minutes due to puke. And no, it wasn't mechanical. I seen it.

I don't think people losing their lunch on rides causes any more of a downtime issue than when the train is going forward. The kinds of people who vomit on rides likely will no matter if it's going forward or backwards.

[DeathbyDinn]

^But than they would feel obligated to run both sides, and what they are starting to do within the past few years is run one side on some days only.

No they wouldn't, this is Six Flags we're talking about.

[JimPanky]

Disorientation occurs when what you see and what you feel disagree. Disorientation is much more prevalent with backwards coasters and does cause vomiting. There is more vomiting with backwards.

[JimPanky]

I do think they would feel obligated to run both sides and I think they should run both sides. What's the point of having a racing coaster with one side sitting dormant?

[Sporlo]

Rode namtaB once yesterday front row (no cars blocking view). It was certainly a lot more dizzying, but I don't think it was too disorienting or too rough for backwards. Those loops in particular are incredible backwards! Also, the swoop down where the police car sits is nice too because you can actually see it and the queue.

If I had to pick one direction forever, I'd go forwards, but backwards ain't bad at all.