Are loops a slowly dying fad?

Are loops something that are slowly dying out of the coaster design? I know there are some coasters still being built with loops, but it seemed like for almost 20 years that loops were the thing to have in a coaster. It seems more common these days to build a non-inverting coaster, or some almost inverting coaster. This is especially true at Cedar Point. Cedar Point only has 3 loopng coasters, and only had one for 18 years.

I think that you are still going to see loops, or rather inversions on coasters, especially those designed by B&M. More and more parks though, seem to be going away from the looping frenzy in order to gain ridership and height. Some newer riders fear going upside-down, so parks are building coasters with traditional out-and-back layouts. Also, coasters that are 200-250'+ are not normally going to have a loop. That is not saying that they never will, but the likelyhood isn't there. You probably won't see another hyper-looper from Arrow (bankrupt or not). Look at Steel Phantom (now Phantom's Revenge) and Drachen Fire (non-hyper), the speed and roughness of the ride caused both rides to be razed. B&M has always had a love for inversions, but they also have learned that loops aren't always great for a ride (Nitro, Silverstar). I think CP has a good array of loopers and non-loopers at the park. But, I would like to see a nice sit-down looper other than Corkscrew. The thoughts of Mantis becoming a floorless still intrigues me.
------------------
Michael McCormack CP '02: 40
Magnum XL 200: 359 (484)
Millennium Force: 8
Wicked Twister: 28
*** This post was edited by BirdOfPrey00 9/25/2002 9:32:27 PM ***

No way, Birdof Prey! I thought I was the only one who thought Mantis should become a floorless. It has the right type of elements to make it work well.

I also wish that another woodie would be built, but by Gravity Designs, not some stupid company that builds coasters to last one or two years before they go to hell... :(

Definitely see your point about roughness and height concerns.

I also have thought Mantis should be floorless. I would enjoy the ride much more. I love Batman at SFWoA. It's awesome!

No millennium michael loops are not dying. Maybe in america, but not everywhere.

(colossus, dragon kahn, the vipers... etc.)

You don't need to build a coaster with loops just give me one with lots of air time.

Uh oh. It's the "Loops vs Airtime" thread. Loops are fun, but Airtime rules.

MrScott

------------------
"If we go any faster, she'll blow apart for sure!"

Loops aren't a dying fad. So what, Cedar Point has gotten a ride with loops in 8 years. Big deal. The park will get some more loops in the future, perhaps in some sort of new inovating coaster design.

Edit: Also, you have to realize what the majority of guests like more. Would you rather of had a mega looper or Millennium Force?

------------------
Turkeys, the only animal smarter than man
*** This post was edited by raptor323 10/1/2002 6:14:17 PM ***

Actually, it's only been 6 years. Mantis opened in 96.

------------------
Michael McCormack CP '02: 42
Magnum XL 200: 401 (526)
Millennium Force: 8
Wicked Twister: 28

I'm sure the next coaster built at Cedar Point that contains inversions will be a B&M flyer.

------------------
If you meet me and forget me, you've lost nothing. If you meet Jesus and forget Him, you've lost everything.

Mantis would be so forceless as a floorless. The amout of G's that you can stand comfortably while sitting is so much bigger than when standing that it wouldn't be a fun ride. I've actually sat down on it twice before.

The first time was when I was barely tall enough to ride it. It was pretty boring, even for how big it was back in 1997. The last time I rode it sitting down, I was trying to get a good picture of me reclining, but the photo area wasn't big enough.

This is not a ride that you would want to be sitting down on. There would be people complaining about it being changed, and even more complaining about how forceless it would be.

------------------
June 28th: LocoBazooka Tour (Sevendust headlining)
July 11th: Korn, Puddle of Mudd, and Deadsy

Whatever dude... Mantis as a floorless would be the most interesting floorless there is. Every other floorless is the same thing with some minor changes in element sequence.

------------------
Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

Jeff said:
Mantis as a floorless would be the most interesting floorless there is.

-------------

I agree.