Maverick Crew cracking down on no earing policy.

I was there this weekend. In the course of the day on Saturday, they went from kicking people off of Maverick if they wouldn't take earrings out, to saying that non-post earrings did not have to be removed, and finally just to saying that it is highly suggested to remove earrings but not requiring it. That final stance seems to be the one that is sticking for now, because it was the same way Sunday.

FWIW, I do not like Maverick's restraints even though I love the ride overall. It would easily be the #1 coaster at CP for me if it had the same kind of restraints as MF or TTD (or even better, Diamondback). If you lean into the rolls and turns you can avoid most but not all of the roughness from the restraint though.

I agree about Maverick. Fun ride but WAY too much a head banger. Igot my rides on it when it first opened and since then avoid it due to that. I hear quite a few people complain about those restraints. Very uncomfortable and painful to some of us. I had hopes they would go the route of I305 but have heard they do not want to change them. I beleive part was due to cost. But maybe 'someday' they will listen and change the restraints. Then I will ride again.

I have never experienced any headbanging on Maverick, but my thighs are sometimes bruised after riding due to the restraints. There needs to be more padding on the lower part of the restraint.

On May 18th we we on Mav's platform and got the "do not board" message - there was an ordinary little protein spill.

After cleaning and dispatch we got a second "do not board" message. This time, it was a punky-looking teen who had been stuck on the brake run for several minutes bleeding like crazy from her torn ear. The EMTs carted her off for treatment although she seemed more embarrassed than anything.

A group of junior-high girls waiting next to us were so grossed out that they skipped riding.

I remember Steel Phantom at Kennywood had the same earring rule and enforced it strictly.

Steel Phantom was a completely different beast. The headbashing on it was brutal! It was a great ride, once you knew how to ride. But, for a first time rider, it beat you to death. Maverick does hurt quite a bit, but nowhere near as bad as SP.

I don't know if I've ever been "beat up" on maverick ever. I've tried riding it like a limp noodle and still never felt like it was "abusive"

You gotta just lean into the turns and some people just can't figure it out....so.... who's fault?

I still like mavericks OTSR's

If you have to take off your earnings too damn bad. It's the same type of thing as riding the giant wheel by yourself.

I've been bruised up pretty good from Maverick's OTSRs... I ride with my hands up (I know that is not Cedar Point's fault since they tell you to hold on)... but the shoulder restraints bang up my arms going around curves, especially if I do any back-to-back riding on it.

I wouldn't mind if they were changed to something a little more comfortable.

Hey, it is called Maverick. The name fits it well then, no?

You just need to know how to position your head where and when. It can be a great ride if you're able to brace yourself before certain elements of the ride. I still love the ride and I don't notice much of a difference since I first rode it in '08. I admit, it can benefit from different restraints, but it's nothing that will keep me from riding it.

Tim M. said:
I don't know if I've ever been "beat up" on maverick ever. I've tried riding it like a limp noodle and still never felt like it was "abusive"

You gotta just lean into the turns and some people just can't figure it out....so.... who's fault?

Wait, which is it? Does the right not beat you up or does it require defensive riding?

Tim M. said:
You gotta just lean into the turns and some people just can't figure it out....so.... who's fault?

I'm going to go with Intamin. If you have to ride a coaster defensively, it's broken. Just ask people getting off Hershey's new ThighCrush, er, SkyRush.

If you have to take off your earnings too damn bad.

No matter how many times you apologize for the ride or the park's shortcomings, you're not going to win anyone over.

I don't think the ride is ruined or useless because of the restraints, it's just not as good as it could be. Like I said, it would be a clear #1 in the park for me with better restraints. I learned after a couple of rides how to lean into most of it, but that's not really the point. I don't have to lean into anything on MF or TTD, and I feel a lot more going on because of the freedom of the restraints.

I tend to agree with you. I enjoy the ride, personally, but it took awhile to understand how to ride it comfortably. That's not a positive for the ride, especially if you visit the park once a year or less.

For OTSR restraints, Maverick has some pretty open restraints. Although, I think that somebody should improve on the style of overhead lapbars like on STR and Windseeker so that they can be used on coasters. Maverick with lapbars could potentially turn into a jerky ride with the lateral G's it can produce. As for the earrings rule, I think that rule shouuld be more enforced on rides like Corkscrew that can REALLY hurt you with earrings.

I was in the park today and didn't notice Maverick Crew cracking down on anything! I do have to say they are the slowest crew in the park and they were moving at a turtle pace, stacking 3 to 4 trains every cycle. No hustle at all!

I just wanted to prove that emailing Cedar Point does do something. I'm not sure why I wasn't just emailed back, but I got a custom typed letter from Cedar Point Ride Operations Manager, Steve Voorhees, in the mail. It was definitely signed in pen, not some stamp or electronic image.

While he didn't address my suggestion of the soft straps for Maverick, here were the highlights:

"Due to the dynamics, speed, inversions, and location of the restraints, it could present a safety hazard to any guest who would wear earrings on the ride. The ride manufacturer, and the State of Ohio Ride Inspectors set this policy in place, and we are required by law to abide by it."

Anyway, it sounds like CP has relaxed the Maverick earring policy once again?

Steve is a great guy. I'm glad you got a solid answer back.

My biggest problem with the restraints isn't my head banging against the sides. It kills my thighs though at the end of the ride.

Very true, especially if you sit in the back. If you're sitting in the back, those restraints really come down on your thighs because of the angled drop.

The first year we were stuck out in the sun at the end of the ride for 20 minutes because of some issue. Many of the riders, myself included, were loudly complaining of the pain from the compression on their thighs. I had bruises later. Now I've learned to try to position differently when they are first locked into place.

The park doesn't get a pass just because the manufacturer says this or that. They're the customer, they bought the ride, and they can make change happen. Dave could correct me, but I'm pretty sure state inspectors don't establish policy either.