As an enthusiast I feel as if we’ve all got those rides which we have to thank for the hobby we love today. I thought it’d be nice to have a little look back at those rides I feel helped shaped me and why they did? I’d love to hear yours as well.
Pirates Adventure – Drayton Manor:
I owe so much to this ride & Drayton Manor as a whole. After visiting as a child I began to fall in love with it all especially Pirates Adventure. I found myself really intrigued by how it worked, what it would look like with the lights on & almost finding myself with a desire to imagine my own boat ride to some aspect. From this I started to doodle ride layouts of course they were child drawings so nothing all that special. I found myself interested in rollercoaster tycoon the original one! Basically Pirates Adventure was the first ride that made me become enthusiastic about rides & theme parks.
Beaver Creek Log Flume – Blackpool Pleasure Beach:
This was the first log flume which made me interested in log flumes. It was a turning point for me to become a log flume enthusiast. I found myself following the re-theme closely on YouTube. In all honesty I found the transition between the two themes quite interesting.
Shockwave – Drayton Manor:
This was my first ever inverting rollercoaster. I never really wanted to experience it as I looked at it so much that I always scared me off it. During the days of long ass queues I remember queuing and instantly wishing to turn away each step closer I got to the station. I stood on the train and cried so hard but my mums encouragement helped a lot. Got back into the station and felt blown away by the adrenaline rush & love I felt. From that moment I became fearless and never battered an eyelid at other rollercoaster except The Big One haha.
Big Dipper – Blackpool Pleasure Beach:
I cherish wooden rollercoasters and my first ever woodie was in fact Big Dipper. I just remember feeling uncertain as to whether I could do it or not (this was pre shockwave). The turnaround at the top of the lift hill had my heart doing back flips. It still does to this day. The first drop was something else I remember been so small I felt as if I was going to die with the amount of airtime I got. But somewhere deep inside of me fell in love with that feeling (as weird as that was). It was the start of my love for woodies and also the start of my life for airtime.
Rhombus Rocket – Fantasy Island:
I genuinely owe a lot to this rollercoaster. It was the one regular one I could re ride a lot. Every August when we used to holiday at Ingoldmells I would spend ages just riding this coaster over & over. It gave me the initial love for rollercoasters and I swear by that to this day.
There’s a little insight into what helped me become who I am and do what I love today. I owe so many parks for giving me this hobby and escapism which helps with my mental health and just escaping reality & tough times. What rides do you feel helped shape you?
Thank you for reading!
