Ever since Ravine Flyer II was first announced last year, it has been one of the top priorities on my ever-growing to-ride list. My entire family lives in the Pittsburgh area, and I visit at least once every summer.....so the prospect of having a Gravity Group woodie within driving distance of Pittsburgh was mouth-watering to say the least. I desperately tried subduing my expectations, but as the date drew nearer, it became painfully apparent my attempts were futile: I was expecting this coaster to be one rockin’ mofo
Luckily, my fellow coaster enthusiasts, I am happy to report that this mofo, is indeed rockin’
First of all, I’d like to make it well known that it doesn’t matter where you sit on Ravine Flyer II. Over the course of 12 rides in a wide variety of seats ranging from the very front to the very back, I am glad to report that there is top-notch airtime to be had in any seat. Now onto the blow-by-blow review:
View at the top: Absolutely beautiful. There’s no better way to crest the top of a coaster than gazing out onto a huge body of water. Definitely sets a great tone for the rest of the ride
First drop: Excellent. The backrow definitely provides a stunning whipping-action and dishes out some serious airtime. The front provides a very heavy, hanging sensation.
Bridge Bunnyhop #1: Great airtime... very surprising. Upon looking at the layout when it was first released, I was less than enthused about the bridge hills. They didn’t look airtime-worthy at all, but nothing could be further from the truth. Powerful and stiff floater-airtime
Turnaround: This was one of the biggest highlights of the ride for me. The left-right shimmy provides a startling jolt of ejector airtime along with powerful lateral g’s. Also, the train barely loses any steam at all as it crests the turn around and plummets back towards the bridge
Bridge Bunnyhop #2 and ensuing bunnyhills: Probably the best part of the ride for me. Even at the start of the day before the ride heated up and really started rolling, these bunny hills provided serious sustained airtime that hovers bizarrely between floater and ejector air. I can’t really put my finger on it. Regardless, the ass-cheeks leave the seat. Amazing.
90-degree turn: Another highlight of the ride and a first for me. Great maneuver and traversed flawlessly by the PTC rolling stock.
Final bunnyhills: The ride finishes strong, but not as strong as it could have. A few punches of airtime can be snagged before slamming into the brakes.
Ravine Flyer II just got better and better as the day progressed. Much like Boulder Dash, the ride got more and more intense as the rails heated up in the afternoon heat. With each ensuing ride, it climbed further and further into the ranks of my Top 10 coasters. By the peak of the afternoon, this thing was rambunctiously jolting riders to and fro like rag dolls...a fantastic fusion of classic charm and modern edginess. As of June 20th 2008, Ravine Flyer sits at #3 in my Top 10. Waldameer has a masterpiece on their hands.
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