Larry, Jason (me), and Sergio at SFFT on 5/3/98
??Why
Roller Coasters??
1989: It all started back
in May of 1989. I was 14 years old and I made my first trip to an
Amusement park. I was on the yearbook club in 9th grade and we sold candy
bars to raise money to go to Valleyfair. I had ridden several "Spin
'n' Puke" rides at local fairs and was not afraid to ride the ones
there. However, I had never ridden a roller coaster or anything with a
large drop. Being with friends from school that had ridden these
awful things before, I was pulled on to the Corkscrew. It was okay, but I
didn't want to go again. That was the only roller coaster I rode that day
and it wasn't until I got home that I wanted to ride it again. It was also
on this trip that I found out that if I rode more than about 2 of the "Spin
'n' Puke" rides that I started to not feel so good. I felt like crap
on the 60 mile ride back home.
In August of the same year I went to visit
my Dad in San Antonio, TX. That summer Astroworld offered free
tickets on 12 packs of coke. So my Dad and I took a weekend trip to
Houston and spent part of a day at Astroworld. The only roller coaster I
rode was XLR-8. We spent the rest of the day on water rides and anything
else that didn't involve trains and tracks. I was too afraid to go on any
coaster myself.
Later that month I returned for Minnesota
and by my request, my Mom and Step-Dad took me and a friend(Zach) to Valleyfair
for my birthday. I rode all the roller coasters there at least
twice. Corkscrew, Wild Rails, Excalibur, and High Roller.
1990: In
July/August of 1990 I returned to San Antonio to visit my Dad once again.
This time my friend Zach came to spend a couple weeks. We went to
Astroworld. I went on all coasters they had at the time and also had my
first experience on a freefall ride (Skyscreamer). Had a great time!
1991: In June/July of
1991 I once again returned to San Antonio to visit my Dad. Went to
Astroworld with him and my sister. I rode all the roller coasters by
myself....didn't ride skyscreamer though.
1992: May 1992, made my
last trip to Valleyfair for several years with my high school physics
class. Nothing new here. In August, I moved to San Antonio to live
with my Dad.
1993: Went to
Astroworld in the summer, rode all rides by myself (again) and rode the new Batman:
The Escape.
1994: After living
in San Antonio for 2 years, finally made it to Fiesta Texas and rode the
Rattler.
1995: Too busy with
my new job in Austin to go to any parks.
1996: Bought my first
season pass for Six Flags. Went to Fiesta Texas 5 times and rode the
Rattler and Joker's Revenge several times. I think I finally go to the
point where I wasn't afraid to try new rides. Never went to
Astroworld or SF over Texas though. Didn't have too many friends, and it
is more fun to go with someone than go alone.
1997: I would call
1997 the year where I found out that I LOVE roller coasters and other thrill
rides. Couldn't get enough. Made several trips to Fiesta
Texas. The trip that I think changed how I felt about coasters happened in
June of 1997.
I heard some guys I work with talking
about Astroworld. I had talked to them several times, but didn't know them
that well. I had never really done anything with them outside of
work. I asked them what they were talking about and they said they were
going to Astroworld after work on that Saturday morning. I said it had
been a while since I had been there and they asked me if I wanted to go. I
wasn't sure. After working a 12 hour night, I didn't know if I wanted to
take a 2.5 hour drive and spend a whole afternoon in the hot Texas sun at an
amusement park, and besides, I didn't know them that well and they were going
with their wives who I had never met. About 6am Saturday morning I
finally said "what the hell" and told them I'd go. This would
turn out to be the best time I'd had since I moved to Texas! Not
only did I have a great time riding the rides(including the new Dungeon Drop)
but I met some people who I now consider VERY good friends. Larry
& Shona, Shiloh &
Wendy, and Sergio(too busy with other things to have his own web site).
I would return to Astroworld 2 more times
this year, including on trip with another friend, Dana. When I went with
him it as an all day deal. We left Austin on a Monday morning at 7AM, got
to AW at 9:30AM, left AW at 10:00PM(when they closed), and got home at about
12:30AM Tuesday. Rode a total of about 30 rides on coasters and Dungeon
Drop. My last coaster ride for the year was in September when I went to AW
with Shiloh.
1998: As I write
this it April 20th, 1998 and I have already been to a Six Flags park 4
times. In most states parks are still not open, or are just now
opening. On Easter I made my first trip to Six Flags over Texas and rode
Mr. Freeze....awesome. Rode other coasters as well, but nothing could
compare. Yesterday, I went to AW and met Larry and his family there.
Rode Taz's Texas Tornado...another awesome ride. Spent the day riding
various coasters, 2 of his kids(barely tall enough to ride some of the
rides--the ones with the 42" height restriction) rode Excalibur, Greezed
Lightnin', Mayan Mindbender, and XLR-8. Some they liked and some
they didn't. My parents never took my to a place like that when I was
young, probably because they didn't enjoy that type of thing and it has only
been in the last 5 years that I've grown to love riding "Thrill
Rides". I believe I will be to Astroworld and SF over Texas
numerous times this summer hopefully with the people I have mentioned
above. This will definitely be the year I have ridden the most
coasters. Hopefully in the future I can start to travel to other states to
ride different coasters, but for now I'm content with the 3 parks in Texas. One
of the many reasons I love living in Texas. From Austin: Six Flags
over Texas--3 hour drive, Six Flags Houston--2.5 hour drive, Six Flags Fiesta
Texas--1.5 hour drive. Oh, and by the way, to this day I avoid all rides
that sit on the ground and spin in circular paths.....I still get sick!
Go to the usenet newsgroup rec.roller-coaster
for questions, anwsers, and general info about coasters all over the world and
for some of the nicest people on the internet.
Jason Knutson
04/20/98 9:00PM
