The Runner-ups:
While these aren't in exact order, this list starts with good coasters and moves up towards better coasters. Keep in mind that even though they're called the "runner-ups", they're still at the top of all of the steel coasters I've ridden. If they weren't great coasters, I wouldn't be including them here.
X-Flight at Geauga Lake (now Firehawk at King's Island) and Batwing at Six Flags America
Mantis at Cedar Point
Dominator(formerly Batman Knight Flight) at Geauga Lake
Hypersonic XLC at King's Dominion
Georgia Scorcher at Six Flags over Georgia
Rock n Roller Coaster at Walt Disney World MGM Studios
Superman Ultimate Flight at Six Flags over Georgia, Six Flags Great America, and Six Flags Great Adventure
Alpengeist At Busch Gardens Europe (Williamsburg)
Chang at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom
Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure
Superman: Ride of Steel at Six Flags America
Raging Bull at Six Flags Great America
Shockwave at Six Flags over Texas
Steel Eel at Sea World San Antonio
Volcano: The Blast Coaster at King's Dominion
Great Bear at Hersheypark
Steel Force at Dorney Park
Mamba at Worlds of Fun
Sheikra at Busch Gardens Africa (Tampa)
Steel Venom at Geauga Lake (removed in 2006) and V2 Vertical Velocity at Six Flags Great America
Raptor at Cedar Point
The Top Tier
These coasters stand out for various reasons as my favorites, the type of coaster worth traveling long distances to ride over and over. These are listed from great coasters moving up towards awesome coasters.
Mindbender at Six Flags over Georgia
Superman: Ride of Steel at Six Flags New England
Thunder Dolphin at LaQua, Tokyo Dome
Batman the ride at Six Flags Great America, Six Flags St.Louis, Six Flags Great Adventure, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags over Georgia and Six Flags over Texas; and Great White at Sea World San Antonio
Goliath at Six Flags over Georgia
Wicked Twister at Cedar Point
Superman Krypton Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Top Thrill Dragster at Cedar Point
Dueling Dragons - Ice Dragon at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure
Dueling Dragons - Fire Dragon at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure
Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Titan at Six Flags over Texas
Maverick at Cedar Point
Kraken at Sea World Orlando
Medusa at Six Flags Great Adventure
Apollo's Chariot at Busch Gardens Europe (Williamsburg)
Nitro at Six Flags Great Adventure
Magnum XL-200 at Cedar Point
TOP FIVE
These five coasters are a league above the rest, with unique and amazing elements that set them apart from every other coaster on earth. Magnum and Nitro came very close to making the short list. Here they are, in no particular order:
The Incredible Hulk at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure
This is an amazing coaster. It starts out with a launch up an incline directly into a zero G roll. The rest of the ride is non stop inversions and turns. The front seat is a head rush, with unbelievable views. The theming is cool too - kind of a futuristic facility with the coaster's theme song pumping in the background.
Montu at Busch Gardens Africa (Tampa)
Montu has a lot of trenches and tunnels, so it really looks like you will lose your feet as almost every drop travels below grade. The first half has huge, powerful inversions, while the second half sends riders plummeting into half-buried loops and corkscrews. From start to finish it's intense action, right down to the speedy final corkscrew.
Millennium Force at Cedar Point
Millennium Force's 80 degree first drop is astounding. Even in the middle of the train, the airtime on the drop is shocking. This ride is all about speed, and you just fly through the over-banked turns. It has several moment of good airtime, and is a great night ride.
X at Six Flags Magic Mountain
A simple name for a surprisingly complex ride. This is the first "4th dimension" coaster. An inner set of rails causes the cars to rotate 360 degrees forwards and backwards. The first drop is incredible - the cars lean backwards at the top then suddenly flip forward so you hurtle towards the ground face first before flipping onto your back at the last second. It's probably the most shocking and one of the most intense moments on any coaster. The rest of the ride, although far too short, is still very disorienting and fun.
Kumba at Busch Gardens Africa (Tampa)
Kumba has the perfect layout. It seems to fit in perfectly, with every drop conforming exactly to the ground. The cobra roll even wraps around a spectator bridge. Its incredible camelback inversion flies over the station and offers surperb airtime. The first loop locks around the lift (a great upside-down visual), and the powerful double corkscrew/tunnel/helix finale ends the ride with a bang. The ride has a playful attitude, yet is far more intense than other rides with a similar series of elements. I have ridden Kumba when it was a tad rougher than normal, but when it's running in top form it is probably my favorite steel coaster on earth.
list last updated: 10-8-07