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I will start out with the rating. Alpie gets my first 10 rating, because it is my favorite coaster in the world so far, invert or not. This might change at some point in the future when I get more riding experience, but at this point in time, Alpie is the coaster by which all others are judged in my view. Although I have an apprecaition for airtime, I am more of a fan of intensity and an innovative element layout. Alpengeist is a well-themed coaster with fake ski lift-type condition signs designed to make the overall theme a synergistic component of the riding experience. The faux snow added to the theming as well, and the weather was horrid when I rode this beast. This began to actually make me believe that I was a wanderer in this fairytale land of doom that designers were pushing upon me. I inadvertently waited on line for the front row, not realizing that there was a clear sign warning me of this. When I finally mounted the haunted beast, I had a clear view of the sudden thunderous rain downpour that I would soon experience. The ride began, and I tried to be brave, but this is difficult when riding the equivalent of a car speeding down the highway at nearly 70mph with no windshield in a thunderstorm. (Oh, did I mention that the car is flying up to 195 feet high in this analogy?) The intial drop was very unique in that it meandered around a decsending turn, giving the impression that it would not be intense. However, the drop is so high that the intensity quickly sneaked up on me with malicious intent, and then the fun began! I grabbed for my glasses in an effort not to lose them in this whirlwind of ferocity that I was experiencing! This ride took me by surprise and I was never really able to regain my bearings. It was a constant struggle for life. I rode it ultra-defensively, and was totally unprepared for its prowess. It came rather close to the ground several times, which was a big plus. The cobra roll over the Rhine River, which is now my favorite inversion because of this ride, was powerful and demanding. It showed off Alpies anger in a way that made me bow in humility. The Immelman was intense, and I felt some good gs on it. I dont think that I had ever experienced a Zero-G roll on any coaster before this one either, and it was a strange sensation of euphoria. In summary, when I mounted this beast, I had no idea that it was the tallest, fastest invert in the world with the highest drop and the largest vertical loop. However, I found all of this out in short order as this ride pleased my senses in every conceivable way that a roller coaster can. I felt totally brutalized in every way after I dismounted Alpie. No matter how much I tried to reconcile my machismo, I cannot say that I had that feeling of conquering a coaster that is the norm after I finally decide to bear down and ride it. All I did was barely survive Alpie, not conquer it, but there is always Round 2! Get ready Alpengeist, because Im coming, and Im bringing hell with me! Kudos B&M on a masterpiece! Aplengeist is FAR more than I ever expected, and is #1 on my list of favorite coasters.
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