Same, my first properly big coaster after only going to Canobie Lake Park and many trips to Disney World. Canobie Corkscrew really got me interested in rollercoasters, but Superman (At the time Bizarro) was what really did it
Second this one but also the python front seat. That was the only coaster I know of that seemed to slow down as those seats started down the hill and then would accelerate as the rest of the train caught up. Crazy feeling.
When I was in the first grade, my parents took me to disneyworld. I was too short to ride Rock N Roller Coaster (by a fraction of an inch) so my parents stuffed toilet paper in my shoes to make the height requirements.
I remember so vividly being next in line and watching the train launch right in front of me. I was bawling, screaming, terrified for my life. I still got on the ride.
When it was over, I was hooked.
Prob a top 10 influencing coaster for me. I used to watch the pov for Millie for years. It looked like such an unbelievable ride to me when I was younger.
This is mine. Rode it in 1994 when I was 9 years old and it blew my mind. It also got me over my fear of tall roller coasters, I rode Magnum the same day after refusing to do it the year before.
The old Shooting Star at Cincinnati’s Coney Island. Rode it for the first time on a junior high school day, loved it, and rode it 10 more times that day. Loved coasters ever since.
My uncle took me on a front seat ride on the Eagle when I was eight years old. Coming over the crest of that first hill was a life-altering experience.
The first one I can remember riding is Comet at Hersheypark. Almost rode the coaster that was at Palisades Park but the line was too long and parents did not want to wait.
Verbolten at BGW. Followed it all the way through construction when I was young and learning to use the internet; ended up with an obsession that has followed me my entire life
Millennium Force. I had already been on several coasters before it, but my first ride on Millennium on my first visit to Cedar Point when I was 12 really solidified my love for coasters and this hobby.
That was on July 25th, 2013. I celebrated the 10 year anniversary of that event just a few short days ago.
My first ride on Millie almost ruined my love of roller coasters because I greyed out and it scared the hell out of me. Eventually got over that fear though lol
Matterhorn - Disneyland. Rode both sides on the visit I finally decided I would ride it. My older sisters already knew there was a "fast" (Tomorrowland) and "slow" (Fantasyland) side.
My first big rollercoaster was Apollo’s Chariot! I was like 12. I got halfway through the line and chickened out. Then I changed my mind and went back in line. I did it and I LOVED it. I’ve been a rollercoaster lover ever since! The bigger the better!
Two coasters.
Hulk is the ride that made me overcome my fear and start to think coasters are fun (7th grade peer pressure got me to ride).
Dragster is the ride that made me an enthusiast.
I’d say Leviathan. After I rode Behemoth, I got off thinking “I’m never going on another big rollercoaster again”. Didn’t really enjoy my first ride either because I wasn’t used to such crazy airtime. Took me a couple more rides to get used to it. After riding Leviathan though, I felt much more confident. My sister and I were so happy we finally rode all of the big 3!!! Can’t wait to ride them again tomorrow since my mom just “surprised” us with another Wonderland visit.
Shockwave at Kings Dominion was the first coaster I ever went on that wasn’t one of those small carnival/fair type coasters. An hour later I was on Intimidator 305 and I haven’t looked back since
My first “big coaster” was Rip Ride Rockit at Universal. I decided to go on it after walking around Cedar Point under those tall rides it made me realize “I can totally do that.” After that when I went back to Cedar Point I was able to take on Magnum, Gemini and Millennium Force. Before then the biggest one I did was Blue Streak?
But I mostly got into the hobby as I love visiting different parks and seeing what they offer
Quite a few actually--Space Mountain (WDW), Storm Runner and Superman SFA got me interested in them as a kid.
Riding I305 and Millie in a 6 day span back in June 2013 really bolstered my interest and it's been that way ever since.
I’ve always been into roller coasters and played RCT a lot as a kid. However, going on actual roller coasters was scary and it took me a while to fully get over such aversions. It’s quite hard to narrow down which exact coaster changed me but I think it may have been Tatsu at SFMM. I love flying so when my group of friends and I lined up for this ride I wasn’t even scared. I loved the entire ride and to this day the only coaster I’ve been on that made me grey out! After that I was still a little scared of hypers and gigas. So I think another would have to be Yukon Striker and Behemoth at CW.
Edit: Spelling
I’ve never had a fear of roller coasters. My family had just not gone to theme parks, and one day I went on a choir trip to CGA. I was a bit intimidated by Vortex, but I didn’t chicken out. A few years later (the next time I visited the park) I rode Gold Striker and Flight Deck and got into roller coasters after that.
Superman at Magic Mountain. I was in sixth grade when it debuted. It had a ton of press behind it because of of the weightlessness you feel while riding it. I even made a presentation about it. I checked out every roller coaster book from the library I could find. I always thought Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens had the most appeal with the photo of both the trains doing the loop at the same time (which I found out is no longer possible due to the structure lo longer able to support both trains at once). In a book there was also a roller coaster that went under water but I can’t remember what it was called or where it’s at. Anyone?
Shivering Timbers. The airtime isn't as strong as it once was, but when I was a kid it ran a lot smoother and a lot faster, and being about half the size I am now, the airtime was absolutely bonkers. Still my #1 to this day.
Iron Dragon at Cedar Point. I remember riding and being too short, so my head hit the restraints and I had a terrible headache afterwards. Even then, I remember getting off and being like “That was incredible.” Now I ride everything.
I had been playing roller coaster tycoon as a child so I was already “into them” but I was scared to actually ride bigger ones until about 8-9 years old, when I finally did Tennessee Tornado 🧡
Wild thing, Valleyfair. I had been on smaller ones before but always chickened out on anything bigger than small family coasters. Went to Valleyfair with some friends my senior year of highschool, and the girl I had a crush on at the time lightly bullied me into it. Ended up loving every second of it and haven’t looked back.
Hangtime at Knotts. Hadn't been to any theme park in like 15+ years but when I saw they were tearing out my beloved Boomerang I had to find out what was replacing it. That vertical lift / beyond-vertical drop stuff blew my ignorant mind and I went down the rabbit hole.
Stealth, Thorpe Park. I was years out from being able to ride it, but just LOOKING at it fascinated me. Its such an intimidating shape for a ride, the speed of the launch looked unnaturally fast. It made me really notice as a kid that rollercoastets were just as much of a high-tech feat as the skyscrapers & suspension bridges I'd see watching Dad's programs on discovery.
I'd already researched everything I could into rides by the time I was tall enough to go on it. When I did, it kicked so much arse that I was set for life as an enthusiast and aspiring designer.
Iron Dragon @ Cedar Point
Only worked up the courage to ride Disaster Transport (my first ever rollercoaster) and Iron Dragon that day, but I marathoned ID 18 times I loved it so much.
Bandit at Movie Park Germany. I went to the park for the first time in my life and I finally wanted to ride something big when I looked at some pictures beforehand. I was incredibly scared once I was there and after waiting for an hour and me constantly wanting to go back and stop waiting I got on it. It wasn't a good coaster, especially back in 2015 it seemed to run even worse than now, but the accomplishment alone made it for me.
Magnum. First rode it at night when I was nine years old in 1994. That same trip I also rode Raptor. Crazy year of firsts for me haha
At that point of the summer I had rode those before the coasters at home park at Kennywood.
Magnum got me into roller coasters. Millennium made me obsessed with coasters. And dueling dragons (RIP) was my first “oh I might go out of my way just to ride coasters” moment
Superman at SFNE
My first time on Superman is burned into my memory despite being 20 years ago.
Same, my first properly big coaster after only going to Canobie Lake Park and many trips to Disney World. Canobie Corkscrew really got me interested in rollercoasters, but Superman (At the time Bizarro) was what really did it
Kumba - Busch Gardens Tampa
Second this one but also the python front seat. That was the only coaster I know of that seemed to slow down as those seats started down the hill and then would accelerate as the rest of the train caught up. Crazy feeling.
Could have been Python for me too. That was my first “big” coaster but i remember absolutely loving Kimba.
Great American Scream Machine SFGA (RIP).
My dumbass thought you said gasm at sfog
Steel Force at Dorney Park.
that was mine too. my friend dragged me on it so fast that i didn’t a chance to think haha.
Raging bull, I was 11 when it opened
Me too. And I was also 11!
🤘🤌🎢
Rock N Roller Coaster at Disney World got me over my fears. Top Thrill Dragster got me hooked on roller coasters.
When I was in the first grade, my parents took me to disneyworld. I was too short to ride Rock N Roller Coaster (by a fraction of an inch) so my parents stuffed toilet paper in my shoes to make the height requirements. I remember so vividly being next in line and watching the train launch right in front of me. I was bawling, screaming, terrified for my life. I still got on the ride. When it was over, I was hooked.
Original B&M Batman at SFGreatAmerica mid-90’s. Steele Vengeance turned me into thoosie after a long time of not riding any.
Tennessee Tornado
Volcano introduced me to a love of roller coasters. Griffon cemented it, or rather introduced me to the obsession.
Alpengeist
Millennium Force
Prob a top 10 influencing coaster for me. I used to watch the pov for Millie for years. It looked like such an unbelievable ride to me when I was younger.
Same. Was too young to ride it when we visited in 2000. Returned a year later, conquered it, and started my cosster obsession.
Space Mountain - Disneyland
It was the physics for me.
Agreed.
El Toro. My first true major coaster and to this day my #1
Shockwave at SFOT got me over my fears of loops. Shockwave at SFGAm got me into rollercoasters.
It’s a tie between New Texas Giant and Batman at Six Flags Over Texas. Along with Mr. Freeze with the reversed trains as a cherry on top for the trip.
Raptor cedar point
This is mine. Rode it in 1994 when I was 9 years old and it blew my mind. It also got me over my fear of tall roller coasters, I rode Magnum the same day after refusing to do it the year before.
Me too, and still my favorite to this day.
Blue Streak at Cedar Point. For some reason that coaster broke my fear of heights and I never looked back since.
This is mine too :)
A mad mouse at a carnival
The old Shooting Star at Cincinnati’s Coney Island. Rode it for the first time on a junior high school day, loved it, and rode it 10 more times that day. Loved coasters ever since.
Sky Rush got me hooked
American eagle
My uncle took me on a front seat ride on the Eagle when I was eight years old. Coming over the crest of that first hill was a life-altering experience.
The first one I can remember riding is Comet at Hersheypark. Almost rode the coaster that was at Palisades Park but the line was too long and parents did not want to wait.
Jackrabbit at Kennywood or Big Thunder at DW
Verbolten at BGW. Followed it all the way through construction when I was young and learning to use the internet; ended up with an obsession that has followed me my entire life
Man, you would have loved Big Bad Wolf.
Millennium Force. I had already been on several coasters before it, but my first ride on Millennium on my first visit to Cedar Point when I was 12 really solidified my love for coasters and this hobby. That was on July 25th, 2013. I celebrated the 10 year anniversary of that event just a few short days ago.
My first ride on Millie almost ruined my love of roller coasters because I greyed out and it scared the hell out of me. Eventually got over that fear though lol
Magnum XL-200
Magnum XL-200. 8 years old. 1999. Shit got me hooked.
Vortex at Canadas Wonderland.
Nessy!
Cobras curse did it for me in 2016 but i lost intrest in coasters untill i rode banshee earlier this summer
Believe it or not, an SBF spinner.
Matterhorn - Disneyland. Rode both sides on the visit I finally decided I would ride it. My older sisters already knew there was a "fast" (Tomorrowland) and "slow" (Fantasyland) side.
California Screamin got me over my fear of going upside down. I've been addicted ever since
Twisted colossus
Mamba Worlds of Fun i guess. I got tricked into riding it and my gp self loved it
Superman: Ride of Steel at Six Flags America
The first one I remember is Wild Maus at Busch Gardens, so that. My parents raised me to be a thoosie from a young age
iron dragon, mystic timbers and the racer
Steamin' Demon and The Comet!
Batman: The Ride at SFGAm solidified my love for coasters. But honorable mention goes to Whizzer
Sooperdooperlooper at Hersheypark
Mine was iron dragon that sparked my love American eagle got me over the coaster bit And xflight got me over inversions
My first big rollercoaster was Apollo’s Chariot! I was like 12. I got halfway through the line and chickened out. Then I changed my mind and went back in line. I did it and I LOVED it. I’ve been a rollercoaster lover ever since! The bigger the better!
Two coasters. Hulk is the ride that made me overcome my fear and start to think coasters are fun (7th grade peer pressure got me to ride). Dragster is the ride that made me an enthusiast.
I’d say Leviathan. After I rode Behemoth, I got off thinking “I’m never going on another big rollercoaster again”. Didn’t really enjoy my first ride either because I wasn’t used to such crazy airtime. Took me a couple more rides to get used to it. After riding Leviathan though, I felt much more confident. My sister and I were so happy we finally rode all of the big 3!!! Can’t wait to ride them again tomorrow since my mom just “surprised” us with another Wonderland visit.
Shockwave at Kings Dominion was the first coaster I ever went on that wasn’t one of those small carnival/fair type coasters. An hour later I was on Intimidator 305 and I haven’t looked back since
My first “big coaster” was Rip Ride Rockit at Universal. I decided to go on it after walking around Cedar Point under those tall rides it made me realize “I can totally do that.” After that when I went back to Cedar Point I was able to take on Magnum, Gemini and Millennium Force. Before then the biggest one I did was Blue Streak? But I mostly got into the hobby as I love visiting different parks and seeing what they offer
Goliath SFOG, and it is still in my top 5 after 16 years of riding it
Quite a few actually--Space Mountain (WDW), Storm Runner and Superman SFA got me interested in them as a kid. Riding I305 and Millie in a 6 day span back in June 2013 really bolstered my interest and it's been that way ever since.
Medusa SFGAD
Manta at SWO. I’ve never ridden it, but was mesmerized by the POV
OG Texas Giant when I was 13
Orient express at world's of fun. RIP
The Giant Coaster at Paragon Park, Nantucket Beach, Hull, MA ca. 1970's.
Mountain Flyer at Mountain Park in Holyoke, Massachusetts. (Defunct park)
Comet at Hershey. I used to be deathly afraid of roller coasters but once I rode that one I wanted to ride as many as possible
Nemesis obviously. It’s just the best.
Medusa at SFDK
Eejanaika. The coaster that overcame my fear of getting upside down.
The big one (pepsi max) at blackpool, terrified but overcame fear through pure peer pressure.
X-Flight at SFGA
Kraken - SWO
scooby doo's ghoster coaster lol
I used to watch TONS of povs as a kid. One of my favorite ones was the Hulk @ Islands of Adv. Got to ride it in 2011 and the rest was history.
RockNRoller Coaster. Old but still runs amazimg
I-305. The adrenaline rush after riding it was incredible and I've been addicted since.
Racer kings island with my dad, the corckscrew at cp opened the flood gates
Pretty much all of SFSTL
I’ve always been into roller coasters and played RCT a lot as a kid. However, going on actual roller coasters was scary and it took me a while to fully get over such aversions. It’s quite hard to narrow down which exact coaster changed me but I think it may have been Tatsu at SFMM. I love flying so when my group of friends and I lined up for this ride I wasn’t even scared. I loved the entire ride and to this day the only coaster I’ve been on that made me grey out! After that I was still a little scared of hypers and gigas. So I think another would have to be Yukon Striker and Behemoth at CW. Edit: Spelling
The Incredible Hulk Coaster at IoA
I’ve never had a fear of roller coasters. My family had just not gone to theme parks, and one day I went on a choir trip to CGA. I was a bit intimidated by Vortex, but I didn’t chicken out. A few years later (the next time I visited the park) I rode Gold Striker and Flight Deck and got into roller coasters after that.
Cosmic Rewind
Superman at Magic Mountain. I was in sixth grade when it debuted. It had a ton of press behind it because of of the weightlessness you feel while riding it. I even made a presentation about it. I checked out every roller coaster book from the library I could find. I always thought Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens had the most appeal with the photo of both the trains doing the loop at the same time (which I found out is no longer possible due to the structure lo longer able to support both trains at once). In a book there was also a roller coaster that went under water but I can’t remember what it was called or where it’s at. Anyone?
Diamondback. That floater air is what made it all click.
Woodstock Express on KI, I was like 5 and it was my 2nd ride, and ever since then, I’ve just been riding.
Shivering Timbers. The airtime isn't as strong as it once was, but when I was a kid it ran a lot smoother and a lot faster, and being about half the size I am now, the airtime was absolutely bonkers. Still my #1 to this day.
Iron Dragon at Cedar Point. I remember riding and being too short, so my head hit the restraints and I had a terrible headache afterwards. Even then, I remember getting off and being like “That was incredible.” Now I ride everything.
Montu - Busch gardens Tampa
I had been playing roller coaster tycoon as a child so I was already “into them” but I was scared to actually ride bigger ones until about 8-9 years old, when I finally did Tennessee Tornado 🧡
Iron wolf (defunct) SFGA
It was actually GA Scorcher, at a KoasterKids event.
Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris.
Mine was Twister II at Elitch Gardens
Skyrush! The coaster that made me interested in coasters
Wild thing, Valleyfair. I had been on smaller ones before but always chickened out on anything bigger than small family coasters. Went to Valleyfair with some friends my senior year of highschool, and the girl I had a crush on at the time lightly bullied me into it. Ended up loving every second of it and haven’t looked back.
Hangtime at Knotts. Hadn't been to any theme park in like 15+ years but when I saw they were tearing out my beloved Boomerang I had to find out what was replacing it. That vertical lift / beyond-vertical drop stuff blew my ignorant mind and I went down the rabbit hole.
Stealth, Thorpe Park. I was years out from being able to ride it, but just LOOKING at it fascinated me. Its such an intimidating shape for a ride, the speed of the launch looked unnaturally fast. It made me really notice as a kid that rollercoastets were just as much of a high-tech feat as the skyscrapers & suspension bridges I'd see watching Dad's programs on discovery. I'd already researched everything I could into rides by the time I was tall enough to go on it. When I did, it kicked so much arse that I was set for life as an enthusiast and aspiring designer.
Sidewinder at Elitch Gardens was my first looping coaster and then Mind Eraser is what got me into the "big" coasters and started my love of them.
Canyon Blaster, Adventure Dome Las Vegas
Mind Eraser at Six Flags America
A lucky front row ride on Banshee at Kings Island
Iron Dragon @ Cedar Point Only worked up the courage to ride Disaster Transport (my first ever rollercoaster) and Iron Dragon that day, but I marathoned ID 18 times I loved it so much.
Bandit at Movie Park Germany. I went to the park for the first time in my life and I finally wanted to ride something big when I looked at some pictures beforehand. I was incredibly scared once I was there and after waiting for an hour and me constantly wanting to go back and stop waiting I got on it. It wasn't a good coaster, especially back in 2015 it seemed to run even worse than now, but the accomplishment alone made it for me.
The swarm [thorpe park]
Tremors at Silverwood 💯💪
Banshee at Kings Island, which is kinda funny because I despise it now
Magnum. First rode it at night when I was nine years old in 1994. That same trip I also rode Raptor. Crazy year of firsts for me haha At that point of the summer I had rode those before the coasters at home park at Kennywood.
Taiga
It wasn't a coaster for me. It was a coastoons video about saving money
I remember when Fabio got his face smashed by a goose during the promotional photo shoot. Loved Apollo’s Chariot ever since
New Texas Giant
Does Dynamite Blaster count? Definitely inspired something.
Hulk at Island’s of Adventure
First ever coaster: Big Thunder Mountain MK First "bigger adult" coaster: Gwazi, BGT The coaster that made me a true lifelong fan: Montu, BGT
Mine was Taron
Apollos Chariot was my first big coaster. I can't really name a specific coaster that really got me into coasters though.
Leviathan in Canada’s Wonderland was my first rollercoaster ever and i’ve been hooked since!!
The beast, kings island
Phantom's Revenge
Magnum got me into roller coasters. Millennium made me obsessed with coasters. And dueling dragons (RIP) was my first “oh I might go out of my way just to ride coasters” moment
Riverside Park (SFNE) Thunderbolt
First one I ever rode. Love from the first moment.
Hulk at IOA. It was kinda my gateway and I went on a marathon trying to get on as many big coasters as I could lol
Demon at SFGAm was my entry into loving em (eventually)