X at Magic Mountain

by Eric Minton

www.gettheloop.com

X
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Valencia, California

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www.sixflags.com
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'It's controlled mayhem'
As American Coaster Enthusiasts' public relations director, David Escalante (above, left) has, in the past 18 months, broken a world coaster-riding record and was on hand to see that record broken again (THE LOOP, August 10, 2001), fooled a To Tell The Truth game show panel last spring (THE LOOP, May 18, 2001) and taken part in most new ride openings around the United States. So, it was an arresting moment yesterday to see this usually unflappable professional thrill-seeker still trembling about his experience on X, Six Flags Magic Mountain's newest ride—an experience which totaled 15 rides over the course of six hours.

"I've never experienced. . .I squealed with delight," he said, trying to find suitable phrases for what he'd gone through. "The ride seems to save your life a few times during its course, because it feels like everything is out of control and you're going to bust out of the track and your body is doing things you're not used to on a roller coaster."

What your body does on X is rotate 360 degrees, forward and backward, during the ride. These are not indiscriminate rotations, a notion that had many riders worried it would induce motion sickness. Rather, Arrow Dynamics engineers used a second set of track that governs the seat rotation separately from the coaster's own race through its course. Modulations in the seats' track create the flips, all at strategic points to maximize thrill and minimize discomfort.

Most notable is the first drop of 200 feet. A dip in the track between the lift hill and that sheer cliff of a drop provides time for the cars to flip their passengers from back to belly and descend them rapidly face-first—a sensation Escalante described with admiration as "just wrong." "It just feels like controlled mayhem."

Magic Mountain's public relations staff first rolled out news for the prototype coaster last winter, and anticipation for X built during the spring with hopes for a summer opening. But technical delays—typical of any prototype product—pushed the opening date all the way into 2002. Even as the naysayers started smirking, the ride was ready for its first guests, the park's season pass holders. Postive feedback from those riders began enhancing the enthusiasts' already fervid anticipation, and buzz built to levels Six Flags staff had never seen before.

Usually, that much hype and anticipation sets up disappointment. Not with X. "It delivered, big time. Big time," Escalante said. "Beyond my expectations, which is pretty hard to do. When I look at a new coaster layout I can envision what it's going to feel like, and I'm usually pretty close. But I was totally shocked by this ride. The ACErs here all agree it's a spectacular ride. It's so unique, and the word unique is overused many times, but here it describes it perfectly."

Photos and text by Eric Minton