My first job in high school was as a ride operator on Mind Eraser at Elitch Gardens. The amount of times people came back from the ride with bloody noses or complaining of head pain made daily calls to the medics a guarantee. Also had to test ride it every morning several times so you learned how to hold your head just right real quick otherwise you’d be suffering a headache the rest of the day.
Luckily Nopuko is getting some brand-new track in 2025. I guess between Ratanga Junction and Lost Island, the ride was sent back to Vekoma for refurbishment, where they accidentally damaged some of the sections of track during its transit to the US. The park has been asking Vekoma for new track for the past couple years, but Vekoma has only been doing small fixes to avoid having to pay for the new track. Now they’ve finally given up the small fixes and are retracking portions of the ride.
For Kentucky Kingdom regulars, hating on that thing is like a tradition. Now we gotta find a new coaster to talk crap about. I nominate Lightning Run, not because it's bad...but because those mid day lines are god awful.
I hope that wasn't me lol, I had a habit of saying it sucked but if I re-rode it I had to get more creative! I was a regular and a worker there for 4 years so if that clip was between there it may have been me 😅
Just want to say that you have inspired me to be an enthusiast and I want to thank you for making these amazing videos and inspiring me. You also helped me get over my fear of coasters so thank you for that as well. Thank you airtime thrills for inspiring me and helping me.
Asked myself if I was geeky enough to watch someone rank one coaster model. Y E S Video didn't disappoint. Glad every time Canada makes an appearance, maybe SF will take some notes.
YMMV on merch. I went looking for a Michigan’s Adventure shirt when I visited this year. The only decent one they had HAD CEDAR POINT’S SKYLINE ON IT!!! WTF, Michigan’s Adventure?!?
I'm amused when you say "well when these SLCs first opened maybe they were good" (I'm paraphrasing) - no they were not lol! Your favorite coaster, The Great Nor'Easter at Morey's Piers may be great now, and it sounds great now - but I rode it in 1997 and 2001 and I was 16 and 20 at both times - and my body and head especially took such a beating. It was so unpleasant, I just kept going back to the Sea Serpent boomerang and the woodie Great White on those Wildwood trips. I didn't get on another until our SF New England trip in 2016, but I think that's before they got the new vest restraints, and it gave us both another massive headache. I can't even imagine how terrible these other SLCs are in that your favorite two basically ripped my head apart before they had better restraints and trains. Good video!
We got away quite lightly here in the UK when it came to SLC's Kumali and The Odyssey are good custom layout models. Infusion at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is terrible however, and after it beats you up has the audacity to have a model of the coaster as a B&M invert at the exit.
The great The Great Noreaster actually has a unique track setup, it was re-profiled when it got re-tracked. Using newer tech to smooth out the bumps. It is the theoretical best a SLC could ever be with the original layout
Every last one is my number one. But the winner is Kong at Discovery Kingdom. The imperfections and roughness makes the experience more chaotic. The headbanging gives me a brain massage.
@@LChineze Kong obviously is the # 1 worst in my opinion on this list, it's the most poorly maintained and in the worst of shape, along the the chipped paint.
Every time I go to a park, I swear I'm not riding an SLC. Then I see one and go, 'Oooooh, an SLC!' Five minutes later, I'm walking off like a human pretzel
My only SLC is Kong at SFDK. It looked so cool but at the brake run I yelled out " Is there a chiropractor on duty?" Half the train laughed, the other half were in pain like me.
Thunderhawk at Geauga Lake in 2006 and 2007 was a headbanging nightmare from what I remember. I never rode any other SLC after that. No reason to give myself a headache for no reason.
Love seeing the Nor’Eastern get the love it deserves. It was ROUGH before that retrack, so it’s nice seeing it get appreciated. Plus waiving to people at the waterpark while on the ascent is always fun.
I got to ride Great Noreaster this summer, and of the four SLCs I've ridden it is by far the best. But just imagine having ridden one of these (in my case Mind Eraser at SFA back in the mid-90;s) as your first inverted coaster. Worse yet, you have a terrible fear of any ride/coaster that goes upside down and then a "friend" drags you onto it! I wasn't crazy about any coasters before that time, but somehow I became an enthusiast after that SLC "trial by fire". Actually, the Mind Eraser really wasn't that bad when it was new. The only place you had to watch out for was on the brake run as the train rounded a sharp corner into the station. I learned pretty quick which way to lean my head to avoid getting smacked in the ear. If it had been as bad as it was later on before it got new trains and a re-theme I might have been permanently turned off of coasters!
I rode that one in 2015 before the new trains. The last 3 rows were permanently closed off (possibly because of the unbearable headbanging) but it doesn't matter because it's not like the other rows were much better. Yeah, I had a headache for the rest of the day. I don't even remember the ride itself all that much, just being thrown from side to side into those horribly designed restraints.
Your ability to continue to make fresh content and be creative with your topics is why you’re the best in the community. That’s a lie! We’re all really here for Sophie’s controversial hot takes and she never disappoints!
We had Arkham Asylum - Shock therapy at Warner Bros. Movie World. The Australian sun wasn't kind to it either. I rode it just before they demolished it and was brutal. They had the VR experience for a while and that was painfull. You couldn't see to brace and the head banging with goggles isn't fun.
2:37 From the handful of SLCs I rode in their early years, I'd say these were not, once upon a time, awesome. They can be fun rides with reprofiling and track work, though.
10:59 Fun fact, the only coaster KumbaK ever made was de Vliegende Hollander at Efteling. But Intamin jumped in later on to fix an issue with the lift hill. I believe they’ve only made trains after that.
Serial Thriller at GL ran so smoothe when it opened at GL in 2000. I remember marathoning it that summer with my aunt. One of my favorite coaster memories
Gardaland is my home park, so Blue Tornado is my so far only SLC. Nothing but a torture device. I rode it for the first time in 2021 and I can remember it being painful, but still enjoyable if you're prepared. This year, I could only ride once bc it was way too painful, so I'm glad I rode it last, bc I probably wouldn't have been able to ride anything else after it
The Riddler Revenge is my #3 at SFNE. I love the creative layout, it's far more intense than the Batman floorless, and dare I say it, the vest trains have some of the most comfortable restraints I've ever experienced. It definitely has a bit of a shuffle in the back row, but nothing that ruins my ride experience.
2:56 actually mind eraser got the new trains in 2017 and then were repainted one year later to fit the new name and theme. It might be my favorite but my least is definitely flightdeck.
Just moved to Colorado and got to experience my first SLC this summer, at Elitch Gardens. It was painful, but most of that pain came from me fighting to keep my head pinned, after hearing all the great stories of SLC headbanging. Can't say it was a terrible ride, but also can't say I'll ever get in that line again.
Mind Eraser at Elitch Gardens was pretty awful, and thus far is the only SLC I’ve ridden. Kong was closed when I visited Discovery Kingdom. On my visit to SFNE, my Flash Pass was not working on Riddler Revenge. I decided I’d rather get several more rides on Superman than wait in line for an SLC.
My very first and only SLC was Mind Eraser at Six Flags America. I remember feeling disoriented for a good 20 minutes after riding. It certainly lived up to it's name.
The longest line I have ever experienced for a roller coaster was the opening year for Top Gun, now called Flight Deck, at Canada's Wonderland. I enjoyed it in the late 90s, but less so now that both the ride and I have aged.
It's so crazy you rank Thunderhawk so well. When I rode it shot up easily into the top of the list of worst for me, having ridden all the previous US Six Flags ones the previous year, It was absolutely shaky and painful, gave me a headache in fact. I didn't find either of the Mind Erasers or Kong that bad at all. Of course Mind Eraser at Elitch....hoo boy, I agree that one just almost made me fall over from dizziness. As for Gauntlet, that one is easily the best that I've ridden. Rode it three times including once with my eyes closed. Arkansas Twister was closed, but Gauntlet was easily the best coaster of the others by a long shot.
Arkansas Twister isn't very good. Gauntlet is the best at the park, edging out X Coaster. Gauntlet is very smooth. I agree that Thunderhawk is quite shaky, at least it was on both of my visits. It's not my least favorite or the roughest, but it wasn't smooth like others say it is. Elitch's Mind Eraser did give me a good ride on the only ride I've ever gotten.
Buy or Sell: Vekoma figures out how to rebuild SLC's as STC's (same layout, footers, maybe even supports - but with gloriously smooth track and trains instead)
I haven't ridden one of these. I had a chance to ride t3 in 2020 and I liked myself too much to do it. I think they are worth it for parks to refurbish them rather than take them out, so long as the park sticks with Vekoma trains. It always makes sense to save money when you can do that without sacrificing quality and manufacturer support.
So far, I've only ridden The Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags New England and Thunderhawk at Michigan's Adventure. The Riddler's Revenge was easily the better version, but Thunderhawk was surprisingly not that bad with the old restraints. They should still get the new ones, though, because otherwise, you may have to ride it defensively.
I'm glad I rode T3 for the credit while it was still around but it felt like I was going to slip and fall out of the seat the whole time. Very unnerving.
We have an SLC in Brazil - Beto Carrero World (the same park that bought Batman and Robin but lost the plans). Since most of our parks are subpar and our roller coasters are second-hand, our relocated SLC is considered the best coaster in the country. Can you imagine being a theme park fan in Brazil?
Rode Thunderhawk in Michigan's Adventure in August of 2023. I was dreading it, but we actually had fun and ended up doing something I'd never done with an SLC: maybe it was the lack of other compelling coaster options or maybe the fact that it sat at a dead end with a hike back to the entrance, but we actually circled around and rode it a second time. It wasn't a love affair for me and the Wild Mouse in the park was more interesting, but I found it to be a fun, intense ride.
I remember Chris thought that the Michigan's Adventure Wild Mouse was the best Wild Mouse he'd ever been on (at least at the time), so it seems you're in agreement there.
'Celebrate' the suspended looping coaster. Erm ok. Interestingly Vekoma are refering to the new ones as 'Suspended Thrilll Coasters'. Which given new Vekoma are long past the dark days (other then disney would pay them big bucks) and do good work for everyone look very interesting as a model to replace the old SLC's in an easy way which won't be as janky.
Hey, thanks for ranking most of North America's SLCs. I've been curious about where all these coasters would be ordered in discomfort or pain. Especially when I got my only SLC credit back in July with Mind Eraser at Elitch Gardens and thus could find a comparison. I honestly found my experience to not really be affected by the fabrication or restraints of the ride, with the roughness while frequent and semi-aggressive with the shakiness, it didn't really cause pain, while the restraints were not only mostly past the padding, but I didn't really move much while on ride, probably based on my body preparing for the SLC based on my rides on the other coasters there beforehand, not including Sidewinder, as that was closed. I'll say that the roughness is more frequent and aggressive in the back, plus the fact that at least on my rides, the forces felt more frequent and stronger upfront compared to the back, so I felt like I had different emotions when talking about the front (positively) and back (negatively), based on if the forces made up for the roughness. I'm now curious and excited to see what my limit is for roughness since that Mind Eraser at Elitch was a little bit distant from where my roughness tolerance reaches, so hope the future wishes me luck.
I actually enjoyed Professor Screamore. I did it 3 times and twice in the front. I honestly didnt think there was any pain at all. Maybe my car was low I dunno. I was at an ACE event so maybe I was in a good mood
There is a SLC in the park near me that has the worst over the shoulders restraints with two plastic walls right beside your head and you bang against it at every twist and turn
The prototype in Walibi Holland probably will take the Most Painful crown (or at least top), ofc not in this list since its in Europe. Its def the most painful one that has vest restraints.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is my home park, and I’ve long believed that Kong needs to be torn down completely. It’s horrendously painful and I refuse to ever ride it again. Given its reputation, I was curious to see where it was on your list. To the parks with the two worst SLCs, I say 😬
I've only ridden one of these, but I'm happy that it's the best one on this list. I wonder if Moreys Piers has the most underrated collection of coasters. Maybe an idea for a future list?
I’ve been mostly spared from the Vekoma SLC, having only ridden one. That was Riddler Revenge at SFNE. It rode like death when I was there in 2022 and didn’t really enjoy it. I probably got a bad ride, but it was a one and done for me.
Idk what happened but I rode riddler revenge a few months ago and I thought it was a lot worse that mind eraser at Darien lake, I didn’t get headbanging on the restraints but it was still just so rough
As a Vekoma SLC, I highly approve of this video
My first job in high school was as a ride operator on Mind Eraser at Elitch Gardens. The amount of times people came back from the ride with bloody noses or complaining of head pain made daily calls to the medics a guarantee. Also had to test ride it every morning several times so you learned how to hold your head just right real quick otherwise you’d be suffering a headache the rest of the day.
SLC”s are so satisfying to watch, but once you get on them it ruins the experience
Very true theyre very photogenic but getting on them yea
Most true thing ever
Nah ride a good one they are fun, they are getting rare however.
@arturobianco848 I haven't been on it yet but by the looks of it probably TNT in Victoria is quite good
@arturobianco848 I haven't been on it yet but by the looks of it probably TNT in Victoria is quite good
Luckily Nopuko is getting some brand-new track in 2025. I guess between Ratanga Junction and Lost Island, the ride was sent back to Vekoma for refurbishment, where they accidentally damaged some of the sections of track during its transit to the US. The park has been asking Vekoma for new track for the past couple years, but Vekoma has only been doing small fixes to avoid having to pay for the new track. Now they’ve finally given up the small fixes and are retracking portions of the ride.
Thats awesome to hear
The guy hugging T3's pillar for whatever reason: lucky to be alive after it, or aftaid to go on it 😂
Are you kidding me?! This is premium content!
Morey's Piers takes amazing care of their rides..I knew that would be the best one..plus the view you can't beat. This was a fun list
It’s amazing how an SLC can be decently enjoyable when it’s not actively trying to concuss you
lol that guy screaming "T3 sucks" at the end was hilarious
The moment I saw that title I knew that clip would be somewhere in the video. I was not disappointed.
For Kentucky Kingdom regulars, hating on that thing is like a tradition. Now we gotta find a new coaster to talk crap about. I nominate Lightning Run, not because it's bad...but because those mid day lines are god awful.
I hope that wasn't me lol, I had a habit of saying it sucked but if I re-rode it I had to get more creative! I was a regular and a worker there for 4 years so if that clip was between there it may have been me 😅
That guy is my spirit animal.
12:24 "T3 SUCKS!"
The person who came up with this video idea deserves a huge award lol.
Apparently it was me. I vaguely remember doing that but not sure I was serious at the time lol.
Just want to say that you have inspired me to be an enthusiast and I want to thank you for making these amazing videos and inspiring me. You also helped me get over my fear of coasters so thank you for that as well. Thank you airtime thrills for inspiring me and helping me.
@@Loki_The_Cat well thank YOU for watching and sticking with me this long
@ you’re welcome! Don’t think I’ll be leaving anytime soon! Have a good day
Asked myself if I was geeky enough to watch someone rank one coaster model.
Y E S
Video didn't disappoint. Glad every time Canada makes an appearance, maybe SF will take some notes.
Proud of Michigan's Adventure for being able to keep Thunderhawk smooth. needs new trains. it has good merch too.
YMMV on merch. I went looking for a Michigan’s Adventure shirt when I visited this year. The only decent one they had HAD CEDAR POINT’S SKYLINE ON IT!!!
WTF, Michigan’s Adventure?!?
This is the highest an Elitch gardens ride would ever be in an airtime thrills list.
Proud to say that Australia is now the SLC-free continent
@@AussieCoasterReviewer i know i just missed arkham asylum
Wait, are you saying there's an SLC in Antarctica?!
I'm amused when you say "well when these SLCs first opened maybe they were good" (I'm paraphrasing) - no they were not lol! Your favorite coaster, The Great Nor'Easter at Morey's Piers may be great now, and it sounds great now - but I rode it in 1997 and 2001 and I was 16 and 20 at both times - and my body and head especially took such a beating. It was so unpleasant, I just kept going back to the Sea Serpent boomerang and the woodie Great White on those Wildwood trips. I didn't get on another until our SF New England trip in 2016, but I think that's before they got the new vest restraints, and it gave us both another massive headache. I can't even imagine how terrible these other SLCs are in that your favorite two basically ripped my head apart before they had better restraints and trains. Good video!
Ah yes, my favorite kind of coaster
So, I looked up a pov on T3 and this guy filming is absolutely in love with the coaster! 😂
@@jasbas459 probably rode it too many times and is now deranged
@@AirtimeThrills T3 syndrome is unfortunately incurable.
We got away quite lightly here in the UK when it came to SLC's Kumali and The Odyssey are good custom layout models.
Infusion at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is terrible however, and after it beats you up has the audacity to have a model of the coaster as a B&M invert at the exit.
The great The Great Noreaster actually has a unique track setup, it was re-profiled when it got re-tracked. Using newer tech to smooth out the bumps. It is the theoretical best a SLC could ever be with the original layout
Every last one is my number one. But the winner is Kong at Discovery Kingdom. The imperfections and roughness makes the experience more chaotic. The headbanging gives me a brain massage.
Kong feels like riding in a manual car driven by a new driver while on a roller coaster
@@LChineze Kong obviously is the # 1 worst in my opinion on this list, it's the most poorly maintained and in the worst of shape, along the the chipped paint.
@@zacharyyamashita8554 dont forget the screeching noise when the platform lowers before the ride begins lol
Every time I go to a park, I swear I'm not riding an SLC. Then I see one and go, 'Oooooh, an SLC!' Five minutes later, I'm walking off like a human pretzel
My only SLC is Kong at SFDK. It looked so cool but at the brake run I yelled out " Is there a chiropractor on duty?" Half the train laughed, the other half were in pain like me.
@@briansanchez5758 thats one great shared experience
never thought i'd ever here "elite slc" till today
I think Mind Eraser at DL is gonna be close
Great video! I dont know which is worse, these or Zamperla Volaires 😂. I really enjoyed watching this!
@@michael7054 volares with ear pads are the devil
Thunderhawk at Geauga Lake in 2006 and 2007 was a headbanging nightmare from what I remember. I never rode any other SLC after that. No reason to give myself a headache for no reason.
Love seeing the Nor’Eastern get the love it deserves.
It was ROUGH before that retrack, so it’s nice seeing it get appreciated.
Plus waiving to people at the waterpark while on the ascent is always fun.
I got to ride Great Noreaster this summer, and of the four SLCs I've ridden it is by far the best. But just imagine having ridden one of these (in my case Mind Eraser at SFA back in the mid-90;s) as your first inverted coaster. Worse yet, you have a terrible fear of any ride/coaster that goes upside down and then a "friend" drags you onto it! I wasn't crazy about any coasters before that time, but somehow I became an enthusiast after that SLC "trial by fire". Actually, the Mind Eraser really wasn't that bad when it was new. The only place you had to watch out for was on the brake run as the train rounded a sharp corner into the station. I learned pretty quick which way to lean my head to avoid getting smacked in the ear. If it had been as bad as it was later on before it got new trains and a re-theme I might have been permanently turned off of coasters!
Conda at Walibi World before new trains was a once in a life time experience.
I rode that one in 2015 before the new trains. The last 3 rows were permanently closed off (possibly because of the unbearable headbanging) but it doesn't matter because it's not like the other rows were much better. Yeah, I had a headache for the rest of the day. I don't even remember the ride itself all that much, just being thrown from side to side into those horribly designed restraints.
Your ability to continue to make fresh content and be creative with your topics is why you’re the best in the community. That’s a lie! We’re all really here for Sophie’s controversial hot takes and she never disappoints!
@@theheardtheorem her "idgaf whats popular opinion" picks are quite funny
I have not ridden a vekoma slc yet. Your content is top notch i've been subscribed for a while now i love me some roller coasters.
We had Arkham Asylum - Shock therapy at Warner Bros. Movie World. The Australian sun wasn't kind to it either. I rode it just before they demolished it and was brutal. They had the VR experience for a while and that was painfull. You couldn't see to brace and the head banging with goggles isn't fun.
2:37 From the handful of SLCs I rode in their early years, I'd say these were not, once upon a time, awesome. They can be fun rides with reprofiling and track work, though.
This earns a like just on the title alone 😂
Mind eraser is the most literal name ever
@@OriginalJoe just wait for next thursdays video....
I rode one SLC and vowed to never ride one again. Screw the credit.
BABE, GET THE POPCORN!!! AIRTIME THRILLS JUST POSTED ON A TUESDAY!!! I love it!
10:59
Fun fact, the only coaster KumbaK ever made was de Vliegende Hollander at Efteling. But Intamin jumped in later on to fix an issue with the lift hill. I believe they’ve only made trains after that.
Wow, back to back airtime thrills vids. CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY🥳🥳🥳
Next Rank all of the zamperla volare Coasters.
Serial Thriller at GL ran so smoothe when it opened at GL in 2000. I remember marathoning it that summer with my aunt. One of my favorite coaster memories
The ending was gold man, lmao 🤣
"I rode in the back row 'cause of course. you have to." Yup.
My ranking (best at top)
1. The Riddler Revenge-Six Flags New England
2. T3-Kentucky Kingdom
3. Ednor-La Ronde
Gardaland is my home park, so Blue Tornado is my so far only SLC. Nothing but a torture device. I rode it for the first time in 2021 and I can remember it being painful, but still enjoyable if you're prepared. This year, I could only ride once bc it was way too painful, so I'm glad I rode it last, bc I probably wouldn't have been able to ride anything else after it
As a Gauntlet survivor, I can confirm that you have likely done yourself a favor by not riding it.
4:09 As someone who’s home park has Infusion, yes definitely a curse.
Your in luck Chris, Nopuko is getting new track.
that's a tremendous gift
If Katherine Zimmerman goes to Six Flags Great Adventure, she should be careful. The name Zimmerman isn't being taken too kindly there right now...
I am in no way shape or form related to the person you’re mad at, I promise. No one in my family is interesting enough to draw enthusiast ire. 😂
Finally my favorite coaster t3 is being appriciated
My favorite Vekoma SLC is Silver Bullet at Knott's because it's made by B&M.
@@riparianlife97701 thats......accurate
The Riddler Revenge is my #3 at SFNE. I love the creative layout, it's far more intense than the Batman floorless, and dare I say it, the vest trains have some of the most comfortable restraints I've ever experienced. It definitely has a bit of a shuffle in the back row, but nothing that ruins my ride experience.
I've been waiting for this!!!
2:56 actually mind eraser got the new trains in 2017 and then were repainted one year later to fit the new name and theme. It might be my favorite but my least is definitely flightdeck.
@@TheCoasterSpot right, i did know that. All this happened between my rides in 2015 and 2018
Batman at Six Flags Mexico is a one and done. It's rough as hell. Their shuttle coaster is an instant headache.
Just moved to Colorado and got to experience my first SLC this summer, at Elitch Gardens. It was painful, but most of that pain came from me fighting to keep my head pinned, after hearing all the great stories of SLC headbanging. Can't say it was a terrible ride, but also can't say I'll ever get in that line again.
Love this! I would love to see you rank the Woodies in the US like this too. And Aarows
Done two - Toxic Garden at Heide was more painful than Infusion at Blackpool, which surprised me because Infusion has a bigger reputation.
Mind Eraser at Elitch Gardens was pretty awful, and thus far is the only SLC I’ve ridden. Kong was closed when I visited Discovery Kingdom. On my visit to SFNE, my Flash Pass was not working on Riddler Revenge. I decided I’d rather get several more rides on Superman than wait in line for an SLC.
Now do a video ranking all the Boomerangs you’ve ridden (including the Giant Inverted Boomerangs and Invertigos), from least painful to most painful.
@@sebasllaura7254 i dont think the boomerangs have as much of a unique identity as the SLCs. Almost all of them are like, ehh
I'm going to say the one at MA is the best in terms of the original trains with how smooth it is
My very first and only SLC was Mind Eraser at Six Flags America. I remember feeling disoriented for a good 20 minutes after riding. It certainly lived up to it's name.
That T3 sucks at the end LOL 😆
AHH YES IVE BEEN WAITING FOR A VIDEO LIKE THIS
From 12 to 1 it's time for "RATE THE PAIN!"
(i've rode mind eraser and flight deck before and i know your pain pal, one and done with those rides)
The longest line I have ever experienced for a roller coaster was the opening year for Top Gun, now called Flight Deck, at Canada's Wonderland.
I enjoyed it in the late 90s, but less so now that both the ride and I have aged.
Geez Katherine Zimmerman, we have another air time thrills video because if you 😂
You’re welcome, fam. 😊
It's so crazy you rank Thunderhawk so well. When I rode it shot up easily into the top of the list of worst for me, having ridden all the previous US Six Flags ones the previous year, It was absolutely shaky and painful, gave me a headache in fact. I didn't find either of the Mind Erasers or Kong that bad at all. Of course Mind Eraser at Elitch....hoo boy, I agree that one just almost made me fall over from dizziness.
As for Gauntlet, that one is easily the best that I've ridden. Rode it three times including once with my eyes closed. Arkansas Twister was closed, but Gauntlet was easily the best coaster of the others by a long shot.
Arkansas Twister isn't very good. Gauntlet is the best at the park, edging out X Coaster. Gauntlet is very smooth. I agree that Thunderhawk is quite shaky, at least it was on both of my visits. It's not my least favorite or the roughest, but it wasn't smooth like others say it is. Elitch's Mind Eraser did give me a good ride on the only ride I've ever gotten.
@@TerraEpon it seems like most people have a good experience on thunderhawk
T3 is the only coaster I’ve been on that actually injured me. Walked away from it with a ruptured eardrum
Buy or Sell: Vekoma figures out how to rebuild SLC's as STC's (same layout, footers, maybe even supports - but with gloriously smooth track and trains instead)
@@AG7-MTM that would be a hell of a product to offer parks
I haven't ridden one of these. I had a chance to ride t3 in 2020 and I liked myself too much to do it. I think they are worth it for parks to refurbish them rather than take them out, so long as the park sticks with Vekoma trains. It always makes sense to save money when you can do that without sacrificing quality and manufacturer support.
So far, I've only ridden The Riddler's Revenge at Six Flags New England and Thunderhawk at Michigan's Adventure. The Riddler's Revenge was easily the better version, but Thunderhawk was surprisingly not that bad with the old restraints. They should still get the new ones, though, because otherwise, you may have to ride it defensively.
I'm glad I rode T3 for the credit while it was still around but it felt like I was going to slip and fall out of the seat the whole time. Very unnerving.
Its last year of operation was when I got like 7 zen rides. I felt that after maintenance stopped by one evening, it was crazy
Condor is the worst SLC I've been on even with the new trains. Honourable mentions to Vampire (Walibi Belgium) and Flight Deck for also sucking
We have an SLC in Brazil - Beto Carrero World (the same park that bought Batman and Robin but lost the plans). Since most of our parks are subpar and our roller coasters are second-hand, our relocated SLC is considered the best coaster in the country. Can you imagine being a theme park fan in Brazil?
Before video watched I know the smoothest slc is great nor’easter
if you want to sink even lower, you should rank every wild mouse youve done
@@CowsiinCoasters this is actually more doable than boomerangs
I’m pretty sure SLC’s were one of the methods of torture used in MKUltra
Ooo this is great! Good guide to go off of!
Rode Thunderhawk in Michigan's Adventure in August of 2023. I was dreading it, but we actually had fun and ended up doing something I'd never done with an SLC: maybe it was the lack of other compelling coaster options or maybe the fact that it sat at a dead end with a hike back to the entrance, but we actually circled around and rode it a second time. It wasn't a love affair for me and the Wild Mouse in the park was more interesting, but I found it to be a fun, intense ride.
I remember Chris thought that the Michigan's Adventure Wild Mouse was the best Wild Mouse he'd ever been on (at least at the time), so it seems you're in agreement there.
I can safely say that Infusion at Blackpool Pleasure Beach is the single worst roller coaster I’ve ever been on.
Kong has gotten better. It’s not good but it’s bearable
Extra Tuesday video drop?!? Sign me up.
i have to say, with how good riddlers revenge is at sfne, i hope i get to ride great noreaster one day
My only SLC was thunderhawk last year. Pleasantly surprised and was my number 2 in the park behind the obvious
'Celebrate' the suspended looping coaster. Erm ok. Interestingly Vekoma are refering to the new ones as 'Suspended Thrilll Coasters'. Which given new Vekoma are long past the dark days (other then disney would pay them big bucks) and do good work for everyone look very interesting as a model to replace the old SLC's in an easy way which won't be as janky.
Hey, thanks for ranking most of North America's SLCs. I've been curious about where all these coasters would be ordered in discomfort or pain. Especially when I got my only SLC credit back in July with Mind Eraser at Elitch Gardens and thus could find a comparison.
I honestly found my experience to not really be affected by the fabrication or restraints of the ride, with the roughness while frequent and semi-aggressive with the shakiness, it didn't really cause pain, while the restraints were not only mostly past the padding, but I didn't really move much while on ride, probably based on my body preparing for the SLC based on my rides on the other coasters there beforehand, not including Sidewinder, as that was closed. I'll say that the roughness is more frequent and aggressive in the back, plus the fact that at least on my rides, the forces felt more frequent and stronger upfront compared to the back, so I felt like I had different emotions when talking about the front (positively) and back (negatively), based on if the forces made up for the roughness.
I'm now curious and excited to see what my limit is for roughness since that Mind Eraser at Elitch was a little bit distant from where my roughness tolerance reaches, so hope the future wishes me luck.
Boomerangs are next
Here’s a video idea, you should definitely do a ranking of all of the Vekoma boomerangs you’ve ridden
I actually enjoyed Professor Screamore. I did it 3 times and twice in the front. I honestly didnt think there was any pain at all. Maybe my car was low I dunno. I was at an ACE event so maybe I was in a good mood
There is a SLC in the park near me that has the worst over the shoulders restraints with two plastic walls right beside your head and you bang against it at every twist and turn
日本にある3つのSLCは、旧型ハーネスの肩の部分にクッション材を用いていますが、効果はいまひとつです。実際にそのうちの一つ(北海道にあるSLC)に乗ったことがありますが、ダブルインラインスクリューの場面でハーネスに押し回されるような負荷がかかりました。他にも小刻みにエグい振動がくるので頭を後ろに付けるだけで精一杯です。
The prototype in Walibi Holland probably will take the Most Painful crown (or at least top), ofc not in this list since its in Europe. Its def the most painful one that has vest restraints.
Kumali at Flamingo Land has to be one of the better ones I've ridden
For April Fools you should make a video called “Best SLCs in North Korea” or something like that
Fun fact: There is actually a Zamperla Volaire in North Korea.
@katherinezimmerman6997 Wow I want to ride it 😎
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is my home park, and I’ve long believed that Kong needs to be torn down completely. It’s horrendously painful and I refuse to ever ride it again. Given its reputation, I was curious to see where it was on your list. To the parks with the two worst SLCs, I say 😬
Compact Inverted Coaster 1 is really good value!
I've only ridden one of these, but I'm happy that it's the best one on this list.
I wonder if Moreys Piers has the most underrated collection of coasters. Maybe an idea for a future list?
@@Coyotek4 they certainly take care of the rides they have. This, their boomerang, and great white are all super smooth
I’ve been mostly spared from the Vekoma SLC, having only ridden one. That was Riddler Revenge at SFNE. It rode like death when I was there in 2022 and didn’t really enjoy it. I probably got a bad ride, but it was a one and done for me.
Idk what happened but I rode riddler revenge a few months ago and I thought it was a lot worse that mind eraser at Darien lake, I didn’t get headbanging on the restraints but it was still just so rough
@@BackRowCoasters my rides in 18 and 21 were fine. Maybe it got worse