by Went to SFoT 4/20 and tried the new Giant. I have to admit, I was
really disappointed in the removal of the double-up when I heard about
it and was wondering how this change would affect TG's current #2
ranking in my personal Top 10 list. (My #1 coaster, the Grand National
at Blackpool bumped TG off the top spot last summer). Well, after a
1.5 hour wait in line, we took the back seat and off we went. By the
way, where is the white train??? With only two trains on track, the
queue line stretched all the way to the Yosimite Sam ride(!) But I
digress...
The lift slowed to a crawl at the top and we eeeeeeased over. I
listened for the brake at the first drop and didn't hear it(!) We
zoomed down the drop and I didn't feel a brake. We hit the first turn
and I KNEW the brake was off! Here's something you don't hear often
about the Giant: AIRTIME. Coming around the first turn, we were YANKED
HARD over the next drop, flying into the lap bars. The third turn's
drop was even wilder. It really felt out of control. Zoom, up into the
bright new turn. Fast, fast, fast, and not as smooth as I expected.
It's not wild like the double-up was, but it is wild enough that it
feels like a part of the original design. I wasn't desappointed much
at all, especially when we screamed over the top of it and the whole
back car got a good up-and-right airtime slam before the next drop.
The trim brake slowed us down and I caught my breath. The first half
of this ride was as good... no, it was actually BETTER than it was
opening season. I've never been that impressed with the first half of
TG other than the double-up, but my mind has been changed. This was
wild, fast, and vicious. Diving down into the next drop, the ride
played out just about like it always has, though the final zip through
the structure with the hoop-de-do's seemed just a little faster than
last year.
Other than the midcourse brake, TG ran brake-free and regained its #1
spot on my top 10. It was truly awesome.
Note: Our second ride later in the day found that the first drop brake
was back on, but none of the others were. It still kicked serious ***
in the first half, though, and it's still wedged in my #1 spot--- at
least till I get to Hershey's Wildcat this summer, then we'll see!
Jim