|
Goliath - Currently Canadas tallest and fastest roller coaster. This is actually kind of a depressing statement really, as this coaster isnt really all that fast or tall. In fact at only 175 feet tall and 68 mph, it doesnt even achieve hypercoaster status. B&M, the designers of this ride, created a coaster by the same name for Six Flags over Georgia, which opened a month earlier than this in April 2006. This southern version of Goliath is what its Canadian cousin should have been - a hypercoaster with speeds of 70 mph, and more interesting design elements such as larger drops, a 540 degree helix and a horseshoe. In fact the Georgian version was awarded the ninth-best steel roller coaster in the world award at the 2006 Golden Ticket awards .. but I digress. The point being, this version of Goliath at La Ronde is more of a grown up version of a kiddie coaster. It begins with an unsatisfying initial first drop due to it only being 170 feet. Before riding this I didnt think I would be able to notice that the drop was a bit shorter, but you really do notice that missing 30 or 35 feet compared to similiar steel coasters. This one however doesnt deliver any adrenaline. Following the initial drop the ride is mostly just a series of increasingly smaller and smaller drops, with a few uninspired twists toward the end. I will conclude however, by saying a few positive things about the ride. B&M did do a good job with airtime and smoothness of the ride. There are a few of the hills where I was reminded of Apollos Chariot, as I crested over the top and felt a few seconds of weightlessness. And given that the ride is only a few months old its not that suprising that it is very smooth. So all in all, by all means come see Canadas tallest and fastest - but probably not its best.
|