X-Flight is Better!

Last year I had the opportunity to ride X-Flight several times. I liked it, which had me really excited for Gatekeeper. I've ridden GK in nearly every seat (27 rides including media day) and last week, went back to SFGA and rode X-flight a few more times.

Despite liking GK, I think X-flight is better. But why? After all, it's smaller, has fewer inversions, one less keyhole, so what gives?

For one thing, it's far smoother. And I actually like the layout better. The flat roll through the keyhole on X-flight is pretty sweet, compared to GK's corkscrew roll through the twin towers.

It's just an opinion, and frankly, I'm as surprised at anyone that I like X-flight better, especially considering I really liked GK when it first opened. I guess sometimes having perspective changes one's opinion...

There are still some kinks to be worked out. When you build the tallest/fastest installation of a certain type of coaster, you have to deal with new problems. It took Cedar Point about 2 years to figure out the best wheel composition for Millennium Force when it opened.