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(screaming)
(narrator) IT'S AN EPIC BATTLE LIKE NEVER BEFORE--
24 OF THE TALLEST,
FASTEST, MOST PULSE-POUNDING SUPER RIDES
IN AMERICA
PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER
IN A 6-WEEK SHOWDOWN.
WHICH COASTERS ARE THE BEST?
THE VOYAGE IS THE BEST WOODEN ROLLER COASTER
IN THE WORLD.
BEST RIDE IN AMERICA, BELIEVE THAT.
(together) AFTERSHOCK ROCKS!
YOU PICKED YOUR FAVORITES AT travelchannel.com.
WE'VE GOT YOUR TOP TEN.
I AM AN ADRENALINE JUNKIE.
I HAVE A NEED FOR SPEED,
AND TOP THRILL DRAGSTER NAILS IT EVERY TIME.
PLUS, NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN FOOTAGE OF HOW THE SHOW IS MADE.
BLOCK OFF OVER THERE, STEVE. DON'T BE A HERO.
THIS IS "INSANE COASTER WARS" TOP TEN COUNTDOWN.
(man) WHOA!
(screaming)
Closed Captions provided by Scripps Networks, LLC.
ROLLER COASTERS--
FOR SOME, THEY CREATE PERILOUS FEAR.
FOR OTHERS, A DIE-HARD ADDICTION.
(screaming)
ROLLER COASTERS GIVE YOU THAT OUT-OF-CONTROL SENSATION,
AND IT'S SOMETHING YOU JUST CAN'T GET
WHOA!
ROLLER COASTERS FIRST SHOWED UP IN AMUSEMENT PARKS
IN THE 1800s.
EVEN BACK THEN, FANS COULDN'T GET ENOUGH.
TODAY, THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,500 ROLLER COASTERS
AROUND THE WORLD.
THE BATTLE TO BE THE FASTEST, TALLEST,
AND MOST EXTREME COASTER IS STILL GOING STRONG.
MILLENNIUM FORCE IS THE ULTIMATE COASTER.
(man) THE VOYAGE IS THE MOST AMAZING RIDE ON THE PLANET.
TOP THRILL DRAGSTER IS MY FAVORITE COASTER,
HANDS DOWN.
AAH!
AND THE BATTLE SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN.
DEATH-DEFYING DROPS,
INCREDIBLE INVERSIONS,
NECK-BREAKING SPEED--
YOU MAY PREFER ONE THRILL OVER ANOTHER,
BUT THEY ALL GET YOUR HEART POUNDING.
WHICH TEN ROLLER COASTERS DID YOU PICK
AS THE WILDEST RIDES IN AMERICA?
LET'S FIND OUT.
COMING IN AT NUMBER 10,
A MYTHOLOGICAL BEAST
THAT WHIPS YOU SO HARD AND FAST,
YOU'RE LEFT WONDERING WHICH WAY IS UP.
STEALING 37% OF THE VOTES
IN THE "WRONG WAY UP" CATEGORY,
AT SeaWorld ORLANDO, IT'S KRAKEN.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE STANDING ON THE TOP
OF KRAKEN'S 151-FOOT-TALL LIFT.
THE KRAKEN WAS POSEIDON'S BEAST
THAT HE WOULD RELEASE UPON HIS ENEMIES
AND SHOW HIS FURY TO THOSE HE WANTED TO FEAR HIM.
FEAR IS EXACTLY WHAT KRAKEN INSPIRES.
MADE UP OF OVER 4,000 FEET OF TWISTED STEEL
AND TOWERING 15 STORIES ABOVE THE PARK,
THIS MONSTER COASTER CASTS AN ENORMOUS SHADOW.
BUT WHAT MAKES IT TRULY INTIMIDATING?
KRAKEN TOYS WITH ITS VICTIMS,
FLIPPING RIDERS UPSIDE DOWN
THROUGH SEVEN HEART-STOPPING LOOPS.
KRAKEN HAS THE THIRD MOST INVERSIONS
OF ANY COASTER ON THE PLANET.
IT'S GOT A COBRA ROLL. IT'S GOT A ZERO-G.
YOU ARE WRONG-WAY-UP THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE RIDE
OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
(Tim) YOU HAVE A CONSTANTLY DECREASING RADIUS IN THE LOOP.
THIS ALLOWS G-FORCES TO RANGE ANYWHERE FROM 2 1/2 TO 6 G's.
ANY MORE THAN 6 G's, GUESTS COULD EXPERIENCE NOSEBLEEDS
OR BLACKOUTS.
IF YOU DARE TO FACE KRAKEN, CLIMB ABOARD.
ONE OF THE GREATEST FEELINGS IS THE EXHILARATION
OF CLIMBING THE LIFT HILL.
YOU'RE GETTING ALL THIS ANXIETY. YOU'RE LIKE, WHAT'S COMING NEXT?
(man) YOU'RE GOING UP THAT LIFT HILL.
IT'S THAT CLACK, CLACK, CLACK UNTIL YOU GET THE TOP.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT PAUSES FOR A LITTLE BIT,
AND THEN JUST EVERYTHING BREAKS LOOSE.
(woman) HERE WE GO!
(man) WHOO!
THIS BEAST UNLEASHES ITS FURY
WITH A 144-FOOT OPENING DROP,
LAUNCHING YOU UPSIDE DOWN
INTO AN ABSOLUTELY COLOSSAL INVERSION.
(woman) I LOVE GOING UPSIDE DOWN.
YOU FEEL THE WEIGHTLESSNESS. YOU FEEL YOUR STOMACH.
YOU FEEL THE G's AGAINST YOU, AND IT'S FANTASTIC.
AT THE COASTER'S APEX,
YOU'LL GAZE NEARLY 150 FEET
STRAIGHT DOWN,
BUT THAT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING.
KRAKEN SWINGS UP, INSTANTLY WHIPPING
OH, MY GOD! AAH!
(man) YOU REALLY FEEL COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL.
YOU'RE AT THE MERCY OF GOD, REALLY.
NEXT, THE ANGRY SERPENT FLICKS YOU BACK AROUND
INTO A ZERO-GRAVITY BARREL ROLL.
IT'S AN ADRENALINE-PUMPING AERONAUTICAL MANEUVER.
GETTING TO RUSH DOWN AND GO THROUGH THOSE LOOPS,
LIKE YOU'RE A FIGHTER PILOT-- IT'S AWESOME.
BUT KRAKEN IS JUST GETTING STARTED.
THE MONSTER CONTINUES ITS ASSAULT
INTO A 180-DEGREE BANKED TURN.
(man) WOW, IT'S STRAIGHT BACK.
(screaming)
THE COASTER CRESTS A HILL,
OH, MY GOD!
IT'S A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.
KRAKEN INSTANTLY DIVE-BOMBS INTO A TUNNEL
AND NEARLY SMASHES YOUR HEAD
INTO A SERIES OF CONCRETE BEAMS.
WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE TUNNEL,
YOU JUST ABOUT HIT THE ROOF TO THERE.
BY THAT TIME, I'M, LIKE, IN A HIGH FALSETTO--"AAH!"
(high-pitched voice) AAH!
KRAKEN THEN FLIPS UPSIDE DOWN YET AGAIN
AAH! (laughing)
FINALLY, THERE'S ONE LAST TWISTING CORKSCREW
BEFORE KRAKEN RELEASES ITS PREY.
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU'VE TANGLED WITH A MYTHOLOGICAL BEAST
AND LIVED TO TELL THE TALE.
IT'S JUST, LIKE, A CRAZY ADRENALINE RUSH
RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.
IT'S GREAT.
GOT YOUR FEET BACK ON THE GROUND?
NEXT ON OUR TOP TEN COUNTDOWN
IS A RATTLING WILD RIDE WITH A WICKED DROP.
COMING IN AT NUMBER 9 AT HOLIDAY WORLD IN INDIANA,
(screaming)
A WOODEN COASTER IS SORT OF WHAT EVERY ROLLER COASTER ENTHUSIAST
WHOO!
THEY'RE INTENSE, INSANE RIDES.
IT GIVES YOU THAT ADDITIONAL OUT-OF-CONTROL FEELING.
WOODEN COASTERS ARE AMERICA'S THRILL RIDE,
WHAT SOME CONSIDER THE TRUE CLASSICS.
WHEN WE BUILT THIS, WE TRIED TO BORROW EVERY ELEMENT
THAT THE ROLLER COASTER ENTHUSIAST LIKED
AND PUT 'EM ALL INTO THIS ONE RIDE.
(cheering)
WOODEN ROLLER COASTERS ARE SPECIFICALLY ENGINEERED
TO MAXIMIZE NEGATIVE Gs--
A DOWNWARD ACCELERATION
THAT SIMULATES THE FEELING OF WEIGHTLESSNESS.
OHH!
THE VOYAGE HAS A RECORD-BREAKING
24 1/2 SECONDS OF TOTAL AIR TIME.
AND SINCE ITS RENOVATION IN 2011,
THIS 67.4-MILE-AN-HOUR SPEEDSTER
IS SLICKER THAN EVER.
SOMETIMES, THINGS JUST GET MEANER WITH AGE,
AND THIS THING'S GETTING MEANER WITH AGE.
IT'S JUST UNBELIEVABLE.
THE VOYAGE DESTROYED ITS COMPETITION,
TAKING 33% OF THE VOTE
AGAINST ITS SPLINTERING SPEEDSTER RIVALS.
THE VOYAGE IS THE BEST WOODEN ROLLER COASTER EVER.
THE VOYAGE HAS 1.2 MILES OF TRACK LINE.
IT BOASTS FIVE UNDERGROUND TUNNELS
AND 3 90-DEGREE BANKED TURNS.
IT'S A JOURNEY THESE DAREDEVILS WILL NEVER FORGET.
AS THEY BUCKLE UP, THE JITTERY RIDERS
ARE GRIPPED BY EXCITEMENT AND DREAD.
I'M A LITTLE WORRIED.
SO YOU GET THOSE BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR STOMACH.
THE FIRST THING THEY SEE WHEN THEY LEAVE THE STATION
IS THE MENACING 163-FOOT ASCENT DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM.
THERE'S NO TURNING BACK NOW.
IF SOMEBODY HAS NEVER BEEN ON A WOODEN ROLLER COASTER
IN ALL OF THEIR LIFE,
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND STARTING WITH THE VOYAGE,
'CAUSE THEY'LL PROBABLY BE SCARED TO DEATH
AND NEVER RIDE A COASTER AGAIN.
IT'S THE "GET ME OFF NOW" MOMENT OF PANIC
BEFORE RIDERS PLUNGE HEADFIRST INTO NEGATIVE-G TERRITORY.
(man) WHOA!
VICTIMS ARE LAUNCHED FROM THEIR SEATS
NOT ONCE BUT THREE TIMES
AS THE AMBITIOUS MACHINE
MOUNTS A SERIES OF ADRENALINE-PUMPING HILLS.
(woman laughing)
(screaming)
BUT THIS JOURNEY HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.
FROM THE HEIGHTS OF THE SKY, THE COASTER THEN PLUNGES
HER CAPTIVES DEEP INTO THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH.
THEY EMERGE ONLY TO DESCEND AGAIN.
THIS RUNAWAY MINE TRAIN IS OUT OF CONTROL.
EVERYTHING'S TOTALLY DARK, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON,
AND THEN YOU SHOOT BACK INTO THE LIGHT.
THE VOYAGE IS ABOUT TO WHIP OUT HER SIGNATURE MOVE--
A SERIES OF DEATH-DEFYING
90-DEGREE BANKED TURNS.
AND I KEPT THINKING IT WAS OVER,
BUT IT KEPT GOING AND KEPT GOING.
THIS SPEED DEMON HAS ONE LAST TRICK UP HER SLEEVE--
A TRIP THROUGH THE SPAGHETTI BOWL.
YOU START GETTING TWISTED AND TURNED AND THROWN
THROUGH THE UNDERSTRUCTURE OF THE BELLY OF THE BEAST.
BACK ON SOLID GROUND,
THE SURVIVORS ARE PUMPED UP AND READY TO GO AGAIN.
IT WAS SO FREAKING GOOD!
I LOVED IT.
IT'S THE BEST WOODEN ROLLER COASTER I'VE EVER BEEN ON.
(laughs)
WHOO-HOO-HOO!
NEXT,
A RIDE THAT PUTS YOU LESS THAN 2 FEET FROM IMPACT.
PLUS, WE REVEAL THE COASTER THAT RECEIVED THE MOST VOTES
IN THE ENTIRE COMPETITION.
AMERICA HAS VOTED,
AND THE RESULTS ARE IN--
THE TOP TEN VOTE-GETTERS IN ALL SIX CATEGORIES
OF "INSANE COASTER WARS."
SO FAR, WE'VE FELT THE RUTHLESS WRATH OF KRAKEN...
WHOO! AAH!
AND TAKEN A TERRIFYING TRIP ON THE VOYAGE.
(screaming)
COMING IN AT NUMBER 8,
A 150-FOOT INVERTED COASTER
THAT FINISHED FOURTH IN THE CATEGORY
BUT STILL HAD ENOUGH VOTES TO MAKE THE TOP TEN.
AT BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY,
IT'S MONTU.
MONTU IS AN EGYPTIAN GOD
THAT HAD THE BODY OF A MAN AND THE HEAD OF A HAWK.
IT SOARS.
AND THIS ROLLER COASTER SOARS
LIKE NO OTHER RIDE IN THE WORLD.
I WAS AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC IN A NAVY FIGHTER SQUADRON,
AND THIS IS ABOUT AS CLOSE AS MOST PEOPLE ARE EVER GONNA GET
TO THE EXPERIENCE OF FLYING IN A FIGHTER JET.
MONTU IS AN INVERTED COASTER,
WHICH MEANS IT HANGS BELOW THE TRACK,
LEAVING YOUR FEET SUSPENDED IN MIDAIR.
THESE "HANG 'EM HIGH" COASTERS
ARE SO INTENSE THAT YOU PICKED FOUR OF THEM
FOR OUR TOP TEN COUNTDOWN.
THIS ONE HAS YOUR FEET DANGLING
OVER 15 STORIES IN THE AIR.
(woman) IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ANIMAL.
YOU'RE LITERALLY JUST HANGING ON,
AND YOU'RE BEING FLOWN, LIKE BEING IN A PARACHUTE ALMOST.
MONTU FEATURES SEVEN DIFFERENT INVERSIONS,
A TRACK NEARLY 4,000 FEET LONG,
AND A TOP SPEED OF 60 MILES PER HOUR.
READY FOR THE WILD JOURNEY?
IT BEGINS WITH A SLOW AND STEADY 150-FOOT CLIMB.
AT THE TOP,
RIDERS ARE BLINDED BY THE BLARING FLORIDA SUN
UNPREPARED FOR THE 128-FOOT
MASSIVE PLUNGE AHEAD.
(man) IT GIVES ALMOST A SENSATION OF FREE FALL
AS YOU COME DOWN THAT FIRST DROP.
GOING THROUGH AND KICKING NOTHING BUT THE AIR
IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE SENSATION ON AN INVERTED ROLLER COASTER.
AFTER THE DROP IS MONTU'S FIRST INVERSION,
A 104-FOOT VERTICAL LOOP
DESIGNED TO KNOCK YOU OUT.
(man) A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCE WHAT'S CALLED
G-FORCE LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS OR G-LOC.
SOME PEOPLE CALL IT A GRAYOUT, BECAUSE YOUR EYES
KIND OF GO SPOTTY, YOUR BODY'S JUST SAYING, "THIS IS WEIRD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON."
YOU'VE ONLY GOT SECONDS TO RECOVER BEFORE FINDING YOURSELF
IMMERSED IN AN IMMELMANN,
A HALF LOOP FOLLOWED BY A HALF TWIST
THAT SENDS YOU HURLING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.
IT'S AN INTRICATE AIRCRAFT MANEUVER
INVENTED BY A WORLD WAR I GERMAN PILOT.
MY FAVORITE TIMES ON MONTU ARE THE IMMELMANN,
'CAUSE YOUR FEET GET SO CLOSE TO THE WALL,
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE JUST GONNA KICK IT RIGHT OFF.
BUT BEFORE YOU HAVE TIME TO REACT,
IT'S TIME FOR THE ZERO-GRAVITY ROLL,
AN INVERSION LOADED WITH A 360-DEGREE TERRIFYING TWIST.
(Amelia) IT'S NOT JUST A FEELING OF WEIGHTLESSNESS.
IT'S A FEELING OF INFINITY.
IT'S A FEELING OF BEING SLOW AND FAST
AND HIGH AND LOW AT THE SAME TIME.
THIS RIDE WOULDN'T BE COMPLETE
WITHOUT THE SIGNATURE BATWING LOOP
WHERE YOU'RE FLIPPING UPSIDE DOWN
NOT ONCE BUT TWICE.
(Noah) ON MONTU, THE POSITIVE G's ARE WHERE IT'S AT.
YOU COME TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BATWING,
AND YOU JUST FEEL SLAMMED INTO YOUR SEAT, ALMOST 4 G's,
WHICH IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
WHEN YOU THINK IT'S OVER,
YOU'RE HIT WITH AN UNEXPECTED FINALE.
I'VE RIDDEN MONTU AT LEAST A HUNDRED TIMES,
AND MY FAVORITE PART IS, BY FAR, THE LAST CORKSCREW
WHEN IT'S ALMOST HIDDEN, AND IT GOES RIGHT BACK INTO THE TUNNEL.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT MAKES THIS COASTER SPECIAL.
IT'S A THRILLING RIDE
THAT WILL HAVE YOU BEGGING FOR MORE.
WHEN I GET OFF THE RIDE,
MY HANDS ARE STILL SHAKING A LITTLE BIT.
YOU KIND OF HAVE TO FIND YOUR FOOTING AGAIN,
YOU HAVE TO REALIZE, OKAY, I DID IT. I MADE IT THROUGH.
WHOO!
ARE YOU DONE LIFTING YOUR LEGS TO YOUR CHEST?
THEN IT'S TIME FOR A COASTER
THAT WILL LIFT YOU OUT OF YOUR SEAT,
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GO FAR TO FIND IT.
COMING IN AT NUMBER 7,
A FLOORLESS DIVE COASTER WITH A 90-DEGREE G-FORCE DROP.
IT'S OUR SECOND COASTER
AT BUSCH GARDENS TAMPA BAY--
SheiKra.
SheiKra IS JUST AWESOME.
(screaming)
SheiKra IS 70-MILE-PER-HOUR STEEL SCREAM MACHINE.
WHOO!
ITS MOST INTENSE VERTICAL ANGLE
HITS A SHUDDERING 90 DEGREES,
TOPPING OUT AT A MIND-BLOWING 4.4 G's...
ENOUGH TO LEAVE YOUR STOMACH
IN THE LAP OF THE GUY BEHIND YOU.
IT JUST TAKES YOUR STOMACH,
HITS YOU STRAIGHT IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR CHIN,
AND GOES RIGHT BACK DOWN TO YOUR STOMACH.
(screaming)
SheiKra IS ONE OF TWO G-FORCE GIANTS
IN OUR TOP TEN COUNTDOWN.
(cheering)
THESE GRAVITY-DEFYING MEGA MACHINES
PUT YOUR BODY TO THE TEST.
G-FORCE GIANTS ARE THE TYPE OF ROLLER COASTERS
THAT ENTHUSIASTS CRAVE.
EVERYTHING FROM THE POSITIVE G's THAT PUSHES YOU DOWN IN THE SEAT
TO NEGATIVE G's, WHICH GIVE YOU THAT OUT-OF-CONTROL FEELING
LIKE YOU'RE GONNA COME UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT.
(cheering)
SheiKra STARTS WITH A 47-DEGREE,
200-FOOT SLOW CRAWL TO THE TOP.
(Ken) YOU SEE THE DROP COMING, AND THE ANTICIPATION BUILDS UP.
YOUR ADRENALINE STARTS TO GO.
(screaming)
AND THEN YOU GO RIGHT OVER THE EDGE,
(man) AH, COME ON.
YOU'RE LIKE, "WHAT?"
(man) GO!
(laughs) TORTURE.
WHOO!
SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE TWO SECONDS,
AND SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE 20 MINUTES
(man) OHH.
AND THEN IT COMES.
(screaming)
(laughs)
AND THEN WHEN YOU HIT THAT BOTTOM,
THEN YOUR BODY JUST GETS WEIGHTLESSNESS.
IT'S LIKE A FEELING OF FREE-FALLING.
(screaming)
(Tammie laughs)
AFTER THE FIRST--IT STARTED TO PULL SOME OUT OF MY MOUTH.
IT WAS SUCH-- THE G-FORCES WERE THERE.
(screaming)
YOU'VE SURVIVED YOUR FIRST PLUNGE,
BUT SheiKra HAS MORE IN STORE.
THE SPEED FROM THE DROP PROPELS YOU
IMMEDIATELY INTO AN IMMELMANN LOOP.
IT'S A LOOP FOLLOWED BY A HALF TWIST
(cheering)
ADRENALINE, I'VE HEARD, IS A VERY ADDICTIVE DRUG.
YOU'RE HEADING BACK UP NOW,
BUT IT'S HARD TO TELL, BECAUSE YOU'RE HITTING
ALMOST 70 MILES PER HOUR.
WHEN YOU FINALLY LEVEL OFF,
IT'S TIME TO HOLD ON TIGHT.
(man) YEAH!
(screaming)
(groans) YOU COME OUT OF YOUR BODY.
YOU HIT THAT BOTTOM, SHOOT UP.
OH, BEST FEELING.
THIS FLORIDA HURRICANE HAS TO SLOW DOWN AT SOME POINT,
BUT SheiKra HAS A FINAL SURPRISE FOR YOU,
A CHILLING SPLASHDOWN WATER BRAKE.
YEAH!
(cheering)
SheiKra IS A PHENOMENAL COASTER.
PEOPLE STILL SEEK IT OUT FROM AROUND THE GLOBE.
YEAH, CAN WE GO AGAIN?
THAT'S MY OVERWHELMING-- I WANT TO GO AGAIN.
HAS YOUR BODY RECOVERED FROM THE G-FORCE ONSLAUGHT?
(screaming)
NEXT, THE TALLEST FULL-CIRCUIT INVERTED ROLLER COASTER
ON THE PLANET.
(screaming)
WE'RE COUNTING DOWN THE TOP TEN FAN FAVORITES
FROM "INSANE COASTER WARS."
SO FAR, WE'VE TAKEN A WILD RIDE ON KRAKEN,
THE VOYAGE, MONTU,
AND SheiKra.
NOW IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER RIDE
THAT WILL LEAVE YOU HANGING HIGH.
COMING IN AT NUMBER 6,
IT'S A 195-FOOT RUNAWAY SKI LIFT.
AT BUSCH GARDENS VIRGINIA,
IT'S ALPENGEIST.
ALPENGEIST REALLY MEANS IT'S AN ALPINE GHOST--
SOMETHING SCARY, IT'S A MONSTER THAT'S GONNA COME GET YOU.
ONE GLANCE AT ALPENGEIST
WILL MAKE ANY NERVOUS RIDER WEAK IN THE KNEES.
(Robb) WITH A 195-FOOT LIFT HILL AND A 170-FOOT DROP,
ALPENGEIST IS ONE OF THE TALLEST, THE FASTEST,
THE MOST EXTREME INVERTED COASTERS IN THE WORLD.
WHOO!
ALPENGEIST IS PATTERNED AFTER A MOUNTAINOUS SKI RESORT,
AND RIDERS PLUNGE THROUGH THE SURROUNDING VALLEY
IN CARS THAT RESEMBLE SKI LIFTS.
IT'S JUST WEIRD. THE WIND BLOWS UP YOUR PANT LEGS,
AND THAT COLD CHILL. (laughs)
THE RIDE BEGINS AS YOUR SKI LIFT
INCHES UP A GARGANTUAN HILL OF NEARLY 200 FEET.
THE ANTICIPATION BUILDS ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP
WHERE PASSENGERS ARE EITHER ENJOYING THE MOMENT
OR ARE HORRIFIED BY THE VIEW BELOW.
195 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND,
YOU'RE GETTING READY TO DROP,
AND YOU JUST FEEL THAT YOU'RE WEIGHTLESS.
THE FIRST DROP
IS ACTUALLY THE MOST AWESOME PART OF THE RIDE.
IT GETS YOUR ADRENALINE PUMPING.
THE GIANT FREE FALL IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
AT THE BOTTOM,
ALPENGEIST INSTANTLY WHIPS INTO A BREATHTAKING VERTICAL LOOP.
YEAH!
THIS SWEEPING AND ELECTRIFYING MOVE
IS THE FIRST OF FOUR IN A ROW.
WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!
YEAH, BABY!
WHOO-HOO-HOO!
THE TRAIN NOW APPEARS HEADED FOR DISASTER
AS THEIR RUNAWAY SKI LIFT FREE-FALLS
INTO A PITCH-BLACK TUNNEL,
BUT THERE'S NO TURNING BACK NOW.
NEXT, THE COASTER EXPLODES INTO A PRETZEL OF STEEL
CALLED A COBRA ROLL.
MY FAVORITE PART OF ALPENGEIST HAS TO BE THE COBRA ROLL.
YOU'RE UPSIDE DOWN TWICE, YOU'RE BACK INVERTED,
AND YOU'RE UPSIDE DOWN AGAIN.
AFTER A BRIEF PAUSE AT THE TOP, ALPENGEIST DROPS YET AGAIN,
BANKING INTO A STEEP CURVE.
THIS BURST OF SPEED
DELIVERS A BRIEF MOMENT OF ZERO GRAVITY.
THERE'S A ZERO-G ROLL AS WE COME UP AND TWIST AROUND.
IT'S ALMOST AS GOOD AS TAKING OFF FROM AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER,
ALMOST.
JUST WHEN YOU THINK IT'S OVER, THERE'S ONE LAST THRILL--
A FRANTIC 360-DEGREE CORKSCREW
ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISH.
IT'S JUST A FREE FEELING, A BREATHTAKING FEELING.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE FREE AS A BIRD FLYING THROUGH THE AIR.
(cheering)
INCREDIBLE!
YES!
ARE YOU READY TO PUT YOUR FEET BACK DOWN ON THE GROUND?
NOT SO FAST.
THE FLOOR IS ABOUT TO DROP YET AGAIN
WITH OUR THIRD "HANG 'EM HIGH" COASTER
OF THE TOP TEN COUNTDOWN.
COMING IN AT NUMBER 5,
VOTED BEST RIDE AT SeaWorld ORLANDO
IT'S MANTA.
MANTA IS MORE THAN JUST YOUR AVERAGE THRILL RIDE.
IT'S AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE
THAT CONNECTS RIDERS WITH THE UNDERWATER WORLD.
WE BUILT A FLYING COASTER
THAT ALLOWS YOU TO SIT UNDERNEATH THE RIDE
AND ACTUALLY FLY ALONG WITH THE RAY.
YOU'RE MAKING THE SAME MOTIONS AND THE SAME TURNS
AND THE SAME FLIPS THAT A MANTA WOULD MAKE IN THE WATER.
MANTA IS FLORIDA'S FIRST FLYING COASTER.
(screaming)
IT CAME IN A CLOSE SECOND IN THE "HANG 'EM HIGH" COMPETITION
BUT STILL GOT ENOUGH VOTES TO MAKE OUR TOP TEN.
(woman) WHOO!
IT'S AS CLOSE TO BEING A BIRD AS YOU CAN GET.
MANTA IS ANYTHING BUT TAME
WITH 4 INVERSIONS, A HEIGHT OF 140 FEET,
A TRACK ALMOST 3,400 FEET LONG,
AND REACHING SPEEDS OF UP TO 56 MILES PER HOUR.
(screaming)
THE RIDE HASN'T EVEN BEGUN,
BUT THE SCREAMING IS ABOUT TO START.
(screams)
IN AN UNEXPECTED MOVE,
RIDERS ARE TILTED 90 DEGREES
FACING THE GROUND IN A SUPERMAN-LIKE POSITION.
YOU KIND OF FREAK OUT A LITTLE BIT, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT USED
TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON A ROLLER COASTER.
NEXT UP IS THE PROLONGED AND TAUNTING
140-FOOT CLIMB TO THE TOP.
HERE, RIDERS GET AN INCREDIBLE VIEW
OF THE ORLANDO SKYLINE.
AS THE TRAIN CRESTS OVER THE TOP,
YOU'RE FLYING HEADFIRST INTO A 113-FOOT DROP.
WHOO!
(Scott) THERE'S NO ONE IN FRONT OF YOU.
THERE'S NO ONE BEHIND YOU.
THERE'S YOU, THE FLIGHT, AND THE GROUND,
AND YOU'VE COME THROUGH LIKE SUPERMAN.
AFTER MISSING THE GROUND BY JUST 6 FEET,
RIDERS ARE UNLEASHED
INTO A MASSIVE 98-FOOT PRETZEL LOOP
THAT LEAVES YOU ON YOUR BACK LOOKING UP.
YOU'RE GONNA GO HEADFIRST STRAIGHT DOWN
AT OVER 50 MILES AN HOUR.
(man) YEAH!
AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.
THE COASTER THEN THROWS HANGING RIDERS
INTO AN IN-LINE TWIST
FOLLOWED BY A RELENTLESS DEATH-DEFYING CORKSCREW ROLL.
THE INTENSITY SENDS FIRST-TIME RIDERS
NEARLY OVER THE EDGE.
IT'S THE HALFWAY POINT,
AND IT'S TIME FOR MANTA'S SIGNATURE MOVE--
THE WING DIP WHERE RIDERS TAKE A 70-FOOT NOSEDIVE
DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE GROUND.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU COME DIVING STRAIGHT INTO THE WATER,
AND YOU ACTUALLY FEEL SOME OF THE MIST ON YOUR BODY.
WHOO!
IT'S A 14-FOOT-HIGH,
60-FOOT FOUNTAINLIKE SPLASH--
A TIMED EFFECT USING WATERJETS.
YOUR ENTIRE SENSE OF FREEDOM, THE SENSE OF FLIGHT--
JUST TAKING AIR IS COMPLETE DIFFERENT.
MANTA'S CLOSING ACT--
AN ENCORE HIGH-SPEED CORKSCREW ROLL.
THE CAPTIVATING JOURNEY IS FINALLY OVER,
LEAVING RIDERS STRUGGLING TO REGAIN THEIR COMPOSURE.
(Jason) TRYING TO REGAIN YOUR LAND LEGS, YOU'RE READY TO WALK,
BUT YOU WANT TO WALK TO THE FRONT OF THE RIDE
AND GET ON AGAIN, YOU CAN'T WAIT TO TAKE FLIGHT.
(woman) I FELT SO EMPOWERED.
IF I CAN RIDE MANTA, I CAN RIDE PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING.
LIKE, THAT WAS SO AWESOME.
NEXT, WE CONTINUE OUR TOP TEN COUNTDOWN
WITH A CHARIOT RIDE THAT SENDS YOU FLYING.
PLUS, WE GO BEHIND THE SCENES
OF "INSANE COASTER WARS."
60 MILES AN HOUR, THIS THING COMING OFF,
THAT WON'T BE NICE.
24 ADRENALINE-PUMPING COASTERS WENT HEAD-TO-HEAD
FOR SIX WEEKS OF "INSANE COASTER WARS."
WHOO!
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FANS PICKED THEIR FAVORITES
AT travelchannel.com.
OH, MY GOD!
SO FAR, WE'VE SEEN SIX DEATH-DEFYING COASTERS
FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WHOO!
IT'S OUR SECOND G-FORCE GIANT
IN THE COUNTDOWN.
AT BUSCH GARDENS VIRGINIA,
IT'S APOLLO'S CHARIOT.
A THRILL-A-MINUTE POUNDING RIDE ALL THE WAY.
(screaming)
REACHING MAX SPEEDS OF 73 MILES PER HOUR,
THIS G-FORCE TITAN IS FAMOUS FOR ITS MULTIPLE HILLS
AND 210-FOOT
SUBTERRANEAN DROP.
THE THING THAT MAKES APOLLO'S CHARIOT
SUCH A PRIZE FOR COASTER ADDICTS
IS ITS RARE MIX
OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE G-FORCE.
HEAVY, AND THEN UP OVER THE HILL'S LIGHT,
AND THEN HEAVY, LIGHT, HEAVY, LIGHT.
IT'S FUN.
IT'S A BLAST.
YOUR STOMACH IS FLYING UP AND DOWN.
THIS FAN FAVORITE CRUSHED THE COMPETITION
WITH NEARLY HALF OF ALL THE VOTES CAST
IN THE G-FORCE GIANT FACE-OFF.
THE 4,882-FOOT-LONG TRACK
CLIMBS, DIPS, AND HITS SO MANY ZERO-GRAVITY POINTS,
IT SENDS YOUR HEART FLYING.
WHOA!
THE GENTLE 170-FOOT CLIMB IS DECEIVING,
MOSTLY BECAUSE THE DROP AFTERWARD
IS 210 FEET.
GOING OVER THE CREST OF THAT HILL,
YOU JUST FEEL EVERYTHING DROP RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER YOU.
HOW DOES APOLLO'S CHARIOT KEEP YOU
(screaming)
BY SPITTING YOU,
SCREAMING, INTO A SUBTERRANEAN RAVINE
(screaming)
BY THE SECOND HILL, YOU'RE BEGGING FOR MERCY
AS THE NEGATIVE G-FORCE KICKS YOU INTO FULL GEAR.
AT THE TOP OF EVERY HILL,
IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE GONNA JUST POP RIGHT OUT OF YOUR SEAT.
BUT APOLLO'S CHARIOT DOESN'T LET YOU
GET TOO COMFORTABLE WITH THE ZERO GRAVITY.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO BE DROPPED
131 FEET INTO A TUNNEL.
WHEN YOU HIT THE THIRD DROP, THE PARTY IS OVER.
IT'S 144 FEET WITH A LEFT BANK INTO A HELIX,
WHERE YOU HIT A SEEMINGLY ENDLESS 4.1 G's.
WHOO!
(David) WHENEVER YOU'RE ACCELERATING,
CHANGING YOUR DIRECTION RAPIDLY,
YOU'RE GONNA FEEL G's.
A BLOCK BRAKE TO A BUNNY HOP, AN OVERBANKED TURN,
AND YOU'RE HEADED TO CAMEL HUMP HILL.
AS YOU GRIP THE CLAMSHELL HARNESS FOR DEAR LIFE,
YOU START TO REALIZE
WHAT APOLLO'S CHARIOT IS ALL ABOUT.
IT'S LIKE BEING ON A BUS THAT GOES OVER A HILL
WAY, WAY TOO FAST.
IN ONE LAST UNFORGETTABLE DROP,
RIDERS ARE HURLED DOWNWARDS TOWARDS THE WATER
AND TERRIFYINGLY CLOSE TO SUPPORT COLUMNS.
(screaming)
RIDERS PLUMMET TOWARDS THE LAGOON,
WHICH FINALLY BRINGS YOU TO THE END OF THE RIDE.
IT'S TIME TO CATCH YOUR BREATH.
(cheering)
YEAH, FUN.
RIDING ON THESE WILD THRILL RIDES IS ONE THING...
(screaming)
BUT FILMING THEM IS ANOTHER.
EVERY SHOW NEEDS HUNDREDS OF SHOTS.
TO GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT, IT TAKES A SMALL ARMY.
AND CROSS IT.
ON THE PLATFORM, THE CREW WORKS QUICKLY TO MOUNT THE CAMERAS.
THAT'S PRETTY COOL, 'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA SEE IT COMING.
WE HAVE FOUR CAMERAS
THAT WE'LL BE MOUNTING IN VARIOUS POSITIONS
ON THE COASTER TO GET THE PERSPECTIVE OF A RIDER,
AND WE'LL GET VARIOUS ANGLES OF THIS--
GOING FORWARD, GOING BACKWARDS, SIDE.
RIDES GO BY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE,
SO SETUP IS KEY.
ANYTHING THAT CAN FALL OFF
HAS TO BE ATTACHED.
THIS IS THE HEAVY MONO-VIBRATION ON HERE
THAT AT 60 MILES AN HOUR, THIS THING COMING OFF,
(cheering)
FINALLY, THE CREW IS READY FOR SOME RIDERS.
ONCE I'VE GOT MY P.O.V. SHOTS,
I'M GONNA TURN THE CAMERAS AROUND TO GET THEIR REACTIONS.
THE CREW PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS
FOR THE TRULY AWESOME SHOTS.
(man) THAT COASTER REALLY SCREAMS PAST YOUR HEAD,
IT DOES. IT DOES. YES, YES.
YES.
ALL RIGHT, WE NEED TO GET HARNESSED UP.
THE CREW WANTS A CRITICAL SHOT FROM THE TOP OF THE COASTER.
THEY HAVE TO WEAR SAFETY HARNESSES
FOR THE LONG CLIMB UP.
(man) THESE LITTLE WOODEN PLANKS YOU'VE GOT TO WATCH FOR,
AND IT WAS VERY SLIPPERY AT THE VERY TOP.
I HAD ONE SLIP. I ALMOST WENT DOWN.
WHEN THE COASTER GOES OFF OF THE FIRST DROP,
IT'S DOING APPROXIMATELY 55 MILES AN HOUR.
IT'S A COOL SHOT.
THE DAY IS ULTIMATELY A SUCCESS.
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO CELEBRATE THE END OF THE DAY.
THAT'S A WRAP.
(cheering)
NEXT, THE CAMERAS ARE ROLLING,
AND SO IS OUR NEXT COASTER, AS IT CLIMBS A TOWERING BEAST
THAT DROPS YOU A HEART-STOPPING 177 FEET.
"INSANE COASTER WARS" FANS HAVE VOTED.
WHOO!
NOW WE'VE GOT YOUR TOP TEN FAVORITES.
SO FAR, WE'VE TAKEN A RIDE
ON SEVEN MIND-BLOWING COASTERS,
OH, MY GOD.
COMING IN AT NUMBER 3,
IT'S THE "HANG 'EM HIGH" COASTER
THAT SWEPT THE COMPETITION.
KNOWN AS THE BEAST OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST,
IT'S AFTERSHOCK.
(both) AFTERSHOCK ROCKS!
(all) AFTERSHOCK!
AFTERSHOCK IS A COASTER THAT IS ALMOST 200 FEET TALL.
IT GETS OVER 60 MILES AN HOUR AND EXCEEDS 4 1/2 G's.
IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING FOR THE ADRENALINE JUNKIES.
IT STARTED SLOW IN THE RACE
BUT MADE A LATE RUN TO BEAT ITS COMPETITORS,
TAKING 35% OF THE VOTES.
AFTERSHOCK'S THE BEST.
AFTERSHOCK'S SOARING TWIN TOWERS
SCRAPE AGAINST NORTHERN IDAHO'S SPRAWLING HORIZON,
BUT THIS ISN'T YOUR AVERAGE ROLLER COASTER.
IT'S WHAT'S KNOWN AS A GIANT INVERTED BOOMERANG.
YOU'LL BE SHOT THROUGH THE ENTIRE RIDE FORWARDS,
THEN BACKWARDS.
IT'S A SENSE OF FREE FALL.
IT'S NOTHING LIKE MOST PEOPLE EXPERIENCE IN A LIFETIME.
(screaming)
I'M SCARED. I'M SCA--I'M REAL-- I'M REAL SCARED.
THE RIDE STARTS BY LIFTING YOU IN REVERSE
ALMOST 200 FEET UP THE FIRST TOWER.
THE HARROWING VIEW WILL HAVE
EVEN THE MOST EXPERIENCED RIDER BEGGING FOR MERCY.
LOOKING DOWN, I FEEL LIKE I'M PUTTING TOO MUCH STRESS
ON MY CHEST RESTRAINTS.
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
YOU'RE DROPPED STRAIGHT INTO A 177-FOOT FREE FALL,
HITTING A STOMACH-CHURNING 4 1/2 G's.
YOU'RE, LIKE, GOING UP THERE, AND YOU'RE LIKE,
WHEN IS IT GONNA FALL? WHEN IS IT GONNA FALL?
AND THEN YOU HEAR THIS "CLICK, CLICK,"
AND YOU'RE LIKE, BAM!
AFTER ROARING THROUGH THE STATION
AT 65 MILES PER HOUR, YOU'RE THROWN DIRECTLY
INTO TWO SPINE-TINGLING INVERSIONS IN ONE--
A 110-FOOT COBRA ROLL.
IT'S KIND OF AN INVERTED LOOP TO WHERE YOU'RE ACTUALLY
RIDING THE LOOP ON THE OUTSIDE.
IT'S KIND OF A HEART SHAPE.
AND WHILE IT MIGHT BE SHAPED LIKE A HEART,
YOU WON'T BE FEELING A WHOLE LOT OF LOVE.
THAT IS PROBABLY THE SCARIEST PART OF THE RIDE,
BUT IT'S ALSO THE FUNNEST PART.
(screaming)
AND THIS EARTH-SHAKING RIDE IS JUST GETTING STARTED.
NEXT, YOU'RE LAUNCHED INTO A 102-FOOT-TALL VERTICAL LOOP
THAT WILL HAVE YOUR FEET KICKING THE BLUE IDAHO SKY.
YOUR HEART GOES...
AND YOUR STOMACH, AND IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY.
(screaming)
OH, MY GOSH! OH, MY GOSH, OH, MY GOSH! OH, NO!
RIDERS ARE NOW SENT TO THE TOP
OF THE SECOND CLOUD-BUSTING TOWER,
WHERE THEY'LL EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND AN INTEGRAL PART
OF AFTERSHOCK'S HIGH-TECH ENGINEERING--
THE CATCH CAR.
(Denny) THE CATCH CAR CATCHES THE VEHICLE,
HOISTS THE VEHICLE BACK UP TO THE TOP
WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING STRAIGHT UP INTO THE SKY,
AND AS IT DOES RELEASE,
THAT'S USUALLY WHEN WE GET A LOT OF THE SCREAMS FROM OUR GUESTS.
(screaming)
AFTER A SPLIT SECOND TO CATCH YOUR BREATH,
YOU'RE RELEASED FROM THE TOP OF THE SECOND TOWER
AND SENT SCREAMING THROUGH THE ENTIRE TRACK BACKWARDS.
THE RIDE NOW SENDS YOU BACK
THROUGH THE VERTICAL LOOP AND COBRA ROLL.
THE COBRA ROLL BACKWARDS IS TOO MANY SENSES ALL GOING ON.
THE TRAIN THEN ZIPS BACK THROUGH THE STATION,
AND RIDERS ARE LIFTED UP THE FIRST TOWER
AND GENTLY LOWERED BACK DOWN
IN A DAZE OF PURE ADRENALINE-FUELED JOY.
(laughs)
AFTERSHOCK LEAVES ITS COMPETITORS IN THE DUST.
BUT THERE'S STILL TWO MORE INSANE COASTERS
THAT CAME OUT AHEAD.
COMING IN AT NUMBER 2,
IT'S ONE OF THE FASTEST COASTERS IN THE COUNTRY.
AT CEDAR POINT IN OHIO,
THE ONE THAT LAPS THE FIELD IS TOP THRILL DRAGSTER.
I AM AN ADRENALINE JUNKIE. I HAVE A NEED FOR SPEED,
AND TOP THRILL DRAGSTER NAILS IT EVERY TIME.
IT IS THE FASTEST COASTER.
IT IS THE WINNER OF ALL SPEED DEMONS. IT'S PHENOMENAL.
TOP THRILL DRAGSTER LEFT EVERYONE IN THE DUST.
IT TOOK AN ASTONISHING 80% OF THE VOTE
AGAINST ITS SPEED DEMON RIVALS.
MY FAVORITE ROLLER COASTER IS TOP THRILL DRAGSTER.
THIS ENERGETIC RIDE USES A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM
TO LAUNCH PASSENGERS FROM ZERO TO 120 MILES AN HOUR
IN JUST UNDER FOUR SECONDS.
THERE'S NO COMPARISON. IT'S TOP THRILL DRAGSTER.
EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS LIGHTNING-FAST RIDE
IS GEARED FOR SPEED,
RIGHT DOWN TO THE RACECAR THEME.
(man) NOT ALL OF US ARE QUALIFIED
TO GET ON THE NASCAR TRACK,
SO IT'S GONNA BE A ROLLER COASTER
THAT'S GONNA DELIVER THAT EXPERIENCE FOR YOU.
BUT THIS IS NO SIMPLE LAP AROUND THE TRACK.
WITH A DURATION OF ONLY 17 SECONDS,
TOP THRILL DRAGSTER IS JAM-PACKED
WITH ADRENALINE-PUMPING ELEMENTS--
A 420-FOOT VERTICAL ASCENT,
A 90-DEGREE DROP--
THE EXPERIENCE IS UNBEATABLE.
IT'S ONLY 17 SECONDS LONG,
BUT IT'S THE BEST 17 SECONDS OF YOUR LIFE.
THE BEST RIDE IN AMERICA, BELIEVE THAT.
THE FULLY LOADED TRAIN INCHES FORWARD
AND BRAKES IN FRONT OF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
(man) KEEP ARMS DOWN, HEAD BACK, AND HOLD ON.
YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE BREATHING FOR A COUPLE SECONDS.
(hissing)
THEN THE LIGHTS BEGIN TO CHANGE--
ONE, TWO, THREE-- TAKEOFF!
BAM! YOU'RE OFF AND RUNNING.
THE FEISTY SPEEDSTER SURGES FORWARD
TO 120 MILES PER HOUR
(screaming)
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, PASSENGERS FIND THEMSELVES
SKYROCKETING UPWARD AT A 90-DEGREE ANGLE.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE TAKING OFF INTO OUTER SPACE.
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE FEELING.
RADAR GUNS GIVE READOUTS AS YOU GO UP THE COASTER.
RIDERS JUST EXPERIENCED 117 MILES PER HOUR
ON TOP THRILL DRAGSTER.
FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND, THOSE WHO DARE TO LOOK
TAKE IN A BREATHTAKING VIEW OF LAKE ERIE.
THE VERY TOP OF THE RIDE IS MY FAVORITE,
'CAUSE YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING.
YOU CAN SEE OVER ALMOST IN CANADA.
NOT TODAY. THIS RIDE'S GOING IN REVERSE.
IT'S CALLED A ROLLBACK, AND IT'S WHAT DRAGSTER FANS
THERE ARE COASTER ENTHUSIASTS
THAT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A ROLLBACK.
THEY WOULD PAY EXTRA TO HAVE A ROLLBACK.
A STRONG GUST OF WIND CAN SLOW THE TRAIN
JUST ENOUGH TO TRIGGER A STALL.
AS YOU GET UP TO THE TOP OF THE HILL,
YOU DON'T MAKE IT, AND YOU GO BACKWARDS
100 MILES AN HOUR DOWN THE HILL.
(woman) HERE WE GO!
IT'S TIME TO TRY AGAIN.
THIS TIME, THE WAYWARD SPEEDSTER
CRESTS THE TOP
AND SENDS RIDERS PLUMMETING TO THE GROUND FACE-FIRST.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PLUNGE
IS A DEATH-DEFYING 270-DEGREE SPIRAL.
AND YOU JUST FEEL THE WIND BLOWING THROUGH YOUR HAIR--
PURE SPEED, WHERE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HIT YOU.
THE WHIRLWIND COURSE ENDS
WITH RIDERS ZOOMING THROUGH THE FINISH LINE.
EVERYONE'S A WINNER IN THIS RACE.
TOP THRILL DRAGSTER
IS THE FASTEST COASTER I'VE EVER BEEN ON.
I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE FEELING LIKE THIS ON ANY OTHER COASTER.
NEXT, IT'S THE COASTER
THAT DEFEATED 23 OTHER COMPETITORS FOR THE TITLE.
WE'RE COUNTING DOWN
THE TOP TEN MOST INSANE COASTERS IN AMERICA
PICKED BY YOU AT travelchannel.com.
(screaming)
SO FAR, WE'VE SEEN NINE INCREDIBLE COASTERS
THAT HAVE NAILED US TO OUR SEATS,
TURNED US UPSIDE DOWN,
AND SHOT US DOWN THE TRACK AT MIND-BLOWING SPEEDS.
THERE'S JUST ONE COASTER LEFT.
WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO!
COMING IN AT NUMBER 1,
BEATING OUT 23 OTHER COASTERS IN THE COMPETITION,
A TOWERING TITAN
THAT HAS BEEN THRILLING FANS FOR OVER A DECADE,
THE GRAND CHAMPION OF INSANE COASTER WARS,
AT CEDAR POINT IN SANDUSKY, OHIO,
MILLENNIUM FORCE!
THIS EXTREMELY HIGH ROLLER COASTER
GIVES RIDERS VERTIGO ON THE GO.
MILLENNIUM FORCE GOT ITS NAME, OBVIOUSLY--THE MILLENNIUM.
IT DEBUTED IN 2000.
AND THE "FORCE" NAME CAME FROM THAT COMBINATION
OF EXTREME HEIGHT AND SPEED.
WHEN IT COMES TO HEIGHTS,
MILLENNIUM FORCE IS THE ULTIMATE COASTER.
MILLENNIUM FORCE DOMINATED THE COMPETITION
TAKING 80% OF THE VOTES
AGAINST ITS "EXTREME HEIGHTS" CONTENDERS.
THERE'S NOTHING THAT COMPARES TO MILLENNIUM FORCE.
LOOMING A JAW-DROPPING 310 FEET ABOVE LAKE ERIE,
MILLENNIUM FORCE
IS ONE OF THE TALLEST RIDES IN THE WORLD.
BECAUSE IT WAS SO EXTREME,
A NEW CATEGORY OF ROLLER COASTERS WAS COINED
OFF OF MILLENNIUM FORCE.
IT'S CALLED A GIGA COASTER.
A GIGA COASTER IS BASICALLY ANY COASTER OVER 300 FEET.
STRAP YOURSELF IN AND GLUE YOUR FINGERS TO THE HARNESS.
(cheering)
IT'S TIME TO FACE
MILLENNIUM FORCE.
THE FIRST SHOCK COMES FAST,
AS THE TRAIN ROCKETS UPWARDS IN A GUT-WRENCHING JOLT.
YOU'RE GOING UP THE FIRST HILL
WAY FASTER THAN YOU WOULD A REGULAR COASTER.
AT THE APEX OF THE MONSTER LIFT,
MILLENNIUM CREEPS UP TO THE EDGE
FOR ONE BRIEF SPECTACULAR MOMENT.
(Dionna) WHEN YOU'RE AT THE TOP OF MILLENNIUM FORCE,
YOU CAN SEE ALL OF SANDUSKY BAY.
(Shay) YOU'RE LOOKING DOWN, AND YOU REALIZE, LIKE,
OH, MY GOD, WHY AM I DOING THIS AGAIN TO MYSELF?
I HAVE GOOSE BUMPS JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW HIGH
YOU ARE IN THE AIR.
(screaming)
NOW YOU PLUMMET
STRAIGHT DOWN AT 93 MILES PER HOUR,
SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS.
YOU STARE DOWN, AND YOU CAN'T SEE,
BUT YOU HAVE TO TRUST THAT THE RAILS ARE GONNA BE THERE.
(man) WHOO! (laughs)
THE TRAIN REACHES THE BOTTOM, WHERE ONE GUY LOSES HIS HAT
AND THEN RACES INTO A RIDICULOUS OVERBANKED TURN.
YOU'RE SWEATING, AND EVERYTHING JUST KIND OF MELTS
INTO JUST A RUSH OF FUN.
(David) YOU'RE HITTING ALMOST 4 G's.
YOU CAN'T EVEN SCREAM. THERE'S SO MUCH PRESSURE ON YOU.
THEN WITH THE BLINK OF AN EYE,
MILLENNIUM FORCE PLUNGES INTO SUDDEN DARKNESS.
IT'S, LIKE, PITCH-BLACK, AND YOU'RE JUST, LIKE, WOW.
YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE DIPS INSIDE A TUNNEL.
NEXT, YOU SOAR INTO THE BLINDING LIGHT OF THE SUN
AS THE COASTER CATAPULTS YOU
INTO A ZERO-G PARABOLIC HILL.
YOU'RE WEIGHTLESS, SO IT'S JUST REALLY COOL.
(Jerry) YOU CAN FEEL YOUR BODY COME OUT OF THE SEAT,
YOUR STOMACH COME UP TO YOUR MOUTH.
(screaming)
YOU THINK YOU'RE DONE,
BUT THERE'S MORE--
A SECOND GIANT TURN--
THIS TIME, 360 DEGREES--
MORE HILLS THAT PROPEL YOU OUT OF YOUR SEAT,
AND ANOTHER TUNNEL.
THERE'S NO LULLS. IT'S REALLY THROWING YOU FOR A RIDE.
IT'S SENSORY OVERLOAD.
(Jerry) MILLENNIUM FORCE KEEPS YOU
TEETERING ON THE EDGE OF INSANITY.
AS THE TRAIN HURTLES TOWARDS THE STATION,
THERE'S ONE LAST JOLT
AS THE MAGNETIC BRAKES GRAB HOLD,
LEAVING YOU BREATHLESS BUT ALIVE.
I'VE BEEN ON ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT COASTERS,
AND BY FAR, MILLENNIUM IS THE BEST.
(together) MILLENNIUM FORCE!
(screaming)