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cfc

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cfc last won the day on January 12

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  • Birthday 02/16/1960

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  1. Looks great, and I'm intrigued by the "roast beef" popcorn.
  2. This is very sad news. I always liked those Schwarzkopf shuttles, but most of them are gone.
  3. It's good to see a park adding a skyride. I'm always in favor of transportation rides to help guests get around.
  4. I've always been fond of Montezooma's Revenge. My older brother and I rode it numerous times back when it was new. It's too bad that this classic type of coaster has disappeared in the the U.S.
  5. Yep--exactly! That weird boat ride could be an effective "haunt," too. It was pretty creepy.
  6. Part 17 Our Revels Now Are (Almost) Ended: Linnanmaki We have reached the most melancholy part of any trip report--the last park. Fortunately, it’s a good one: Linnanmaki in Helsinki. Although it’s not on the scale of Liseberg, Linnanmaki is a solid urban park, with a good assortment of attractions and some very aggressive seagulls (kind of like Liseberg). It’s also the home of my personal favorite “new-to-me” coaster of the trip: Taiga, a multi-launch Intamin creation. Taiga features not only forceful launches, but also a crazy, disorienting layout with equally crazy airtime. I was wondering if any ride could top Farup’s Fønix, but Taiga pulled it off; Taiga is even “Phoenix themed,” too. ERT on this ride was great! But there’s more to Linnanmaki than Taiga. They also have a classic wooden coaster with brake men and brake women; two dark rides--a “haunted hotel” for witches and a goofy circus ride with clowns and elephant feces; an “outer space” indoor coaster; Tulireki, a weird Mack coaster than makes no sense at all; and a ball of fire! Here’s a look at the finale of TPR’s 2023 Scandanavia Trip. My thanks to Robb and Elissa for making it all happen. This fountain is either adorable or frightening. Up to you. I’m having Tivoli Gardens/Bakken flashbacks here. So many serious faces! I guess being in the middle of a classic woodie is serious business. Are you "Oikopolu" or "Taigapolu"? Not to worry. We won't judge you. I'm Taigopolu and I'm proud! Intamin has done it again. With this, VelociCoaster, and Pantheon, I'm a happy man. You don’t know whether you’re coming or going in this layout. "What is happening to us? Save us, Jeebus!" Er, how does this work, exactly? Talk about “twisty.” If Taiga is too much for you, you can always play the Linnanmaki home game. Or perhaps you would rather challenge the Dark Forces? ”Yes, come a play a little game with us, dearie.” ”Roll the dice to see which demon you will invoke!” “You have summoned Tulireki! The most messed up demon of them all!” ”He has the power to cloud your mind and convince you that this is a good ride!” If Grona Lund’s Insane was a bit much for you, try Kirnu. ”Kirnu” is Finnish for “chum.” This ride just wants to be your Kirnu (not to throw you to the sharks). But maybe you’d rather have Ukko, the Finnish God of Thunder, as your Kirnu. Vuoristorata (“roller coaster”) might be a good Kirnu for you. it’s just not the same with computer-operated magnetic brakes. Linnanmaki and Tivoli Gardens are doing it right by sticking with brake men and brake women. Oh, lord--this ride still exists! It’s scarier and smellier than the hotel-for-witches ride! If they break into “Dancin’ Queen,” I’m outta here. When at Linnanmaki, take this sign seriously! Er, heads up, Jere! It’s Linnan-anarchy with these freakin’ birds! What out for your goodies there, guys! The gulls are hungry! Just about time to go. Here’s one last look at a classic from the past . . . . . . and Taiga, the classic of today. I leave you now with an old classic and a ball of fire! Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this look back at Scandinavia 2023. Once again, my thanks to Robb and Elissa for another great TPR trip!
  7. Ultra Twister (Nagashima Spaland)
  8. Nemesis has always been my favorite B&M inverted coaster. Looking forward to it being "reborn."
  9. ^I don't know for sure. I think the aquarium was under the observation tower, but I'm not certain.
  10. It was ironic that the one reliable ride was the goofy S&S prototype (well, along with the train and the snake).
  11. Part 16 Selfies, Hype, and a Tornado: Sarkanniemi About all I remembered about our second Finnish park, Sarkanniemi, from a previous TPR trip was that it had a dark ride, which was fun; the first Volare I’d ever ridden, which was not exactly fun; and an Intamin inverted coaster named Tornado, which was fun. Well, the dark ride is gone, which is too bad; the Volare is still there, which is also too bad; and Tornado is still there, which is very good. There used to be an Intamin Half-Pipe on top of a building, but it’s gone, too. I remember the park itself as being a bit generic, but it did have a nice setting on the water. It’s changed a bit since then. A parody of social media has seized the midway. It’s much more colorful now, and somewhat generic rides have been given names like “Hype” and “Boom.” There’s even a handy spot for taking a selfie, which helpfully sports a sign that says “Selfie Zone.” The social-media midway has the usual assortment of flats you might see in any European park, along with a Premier Sky Rocket 2 (the aforementioned Hype) and one of those Zamperla Moto Coasters. There’s a nice observation tower, a small aquarium, and even a “farm,” as well. A look at the park from the other side of the water. It amuses me that Hype (Sky Rocket 2) sits next to Boom (drop tower). We’re visiting the park tomorrow, so this is where we are for now. Let us now explore the city of Tempere and take in in this exquisite work of art. Now this is a tasty work of art. This pizza joint was a short walk from the hotel, and many of us ended up eating there, along with a lot of locals. It’s too bad that they haven’t build more of these Intamin inverts. I think the only other one is in Spain. This one even features a zero-g roll in a cave! This ERT session was a lot of fun, as Tornado is very smooth and re-rideable. (Photo by Elissa, I think.) I love the fluorescent yellow and orange trains. What sorcery is this? Fluorescent orange is the color of Zen rides. While fluorescent yellow is the color of “whee” . . . wait, that sounds wrong. To ensure safety, be sure to take all selfies in the designated Selfie Zone only. Let’s see what this is all about. About 150 feet, I think. We all felt magically transported to a Busch/SeaWorld park in the U.S. (I imagine Andy or AJ took this photo.) This is Trombi. I think this might be Finnish for “ouch,” “ow,” or perhaps “!!@#@$#@!!@@!.” “OK, who’s ready to become a social-media sensation?” Sarah was born ready! Is that Eric . . . or Dr. Strange? Hmm . . . I suspect that AI provided the name of this food stand. Robb shoots his most intense backseat POV ever. Either Elissa took this photo or I have an enormously long, invisible arm that’s holding my phone out for a selfie. Let’s check out the view topside. I wonder where the toilet fountain is? The park isn’t too big, but you really have to search to find the entrance to this rapids ride. Either the sea is calling me, or I really have to use the restroom. This is my best picture from the aquarium, which isn’t saying much. This is the only shot of the park’s “farm,” as I had to rush through it right before we left. I hope you like dog statues and sheep butts. We're off to Helsinki!
  12. Part 15 An Identity Crisis and Dueling Infinity Coasters: Power Park Puzzled strangers are nothing new on Theme Park Review trips. Here’s a case in point. We flew to this rather small airport in northern Finland en route to the country’s (and I imagine the world’s) northern-most theme park--Power Park. The group was hanging out at baggage claim when I noticed this, I presume, Finnish gentlemen in a suit and tie staring at us in astonishment. It was as though he couldn’t believe that anyone who wasn’t Finnish would fly here unless they absolutely had to on business. Hey, fun is very serious business. Sometimes, fun requires you to wear a fire suit! So, off we went from the adorably cute little aerodrome to Power Park . . . or was that “Powerland”? The resort and park bear both names. From what I’ve gleaned, “Powerland” started out as the amusement section of the Power Park resort. However, over the years the “Powerland” name was dropped, and the whole place--hotel, go kart tracks, stables, and amusement park--became known as “Power Park.” But I could be mistaken. Power Park boasts two Gerstlaurer Infinity Coasters: Junker and Pitts Special. Junker is a launched ride with a sprawling layout, some inversions, and plenty of airtime. Pitts Special has a vertical chain lift, a twisty layout with no inversions, and some decent airtime. The rides are next-door neighbors. When you see all that green track from the park’s go-kart grandstands, it looks like it’s all one ride. Everyone seemed to love Junker, but were more indifferent to Pitts Special. I look at it this way: Junker is great ride, while Pitts Special is a good one. There was a TPR Gran Prix this year. I drove in the 2009 version and found that I wasn’t a “go-kart guy” (I also had the worst time of anyone on the track that day, as I’m far too cautious). But Power park had plenty of other attractions to offer, such as Thunderbird (an old GCI built in 2006) and a fun Wild West shooting dark ride in a haunted saloon. (Yes, like other Scandinavian parks, Power Park has its own western town.) Start your engines and come on in. The cleverly named “Park Hotel.” It’s actually quite nice. The photo of the photo session of the video session of the TPR Gran Prix. I’m dizzy just from writing that. See all that green, twisty Gerstlaurer track? It's two Infinity Coasters that seem to merge into one! Perhaps Power Park is a portal to the Multiverse! I think the train in the foreground (red stripe) is Pitts, while the train in the background is Junker. But it’s really hard to tell from this vantage point. Is "Powerland" the alternate-universe "Power Park"? We’re not talking “junker” as in your cousin’s old 1980 Chevette. This is “Junker” as in the old WWII German airplane. A dramatic shot of Junker in flight, diving out of the sun, strafing an enemy airfield . . . well, maybe not that. Pitts Special cannot do this. Reactions range from “whee” to “why did I get on this thing?” Put me in the “whee” group. I really liked this ride. Time to unleash the group on an unsuspecting park! (Photo by Robb Alvey.) Neo’s Twister is a ride that exists. The fact of its existence is neither “good” nor “bad.” It simply “is”--and that’s enough. Bill Maher in a cowboy hat doing a set in Vegas--Finnish style. “You gonna flip them flippers or whistle ‘Dixie’”? It’s a truck and a restaurant? O brave new world with such people in it! “I’m Jack Palance. And tonight, you’re going to ride a Vekoma Boomerang that doesn’t actually try to kill you! Believe it . . . or else!” Joyride. It too exists. Like Neo’s Twister. This gives you a good look at Pitts’s weird “treble clef” element, which reminded me of Fury at Carowinds. At least that's how it looks from this angle. Thunderbird runs surprisingly well for a 17-year-old GCI. I like its nice sign and waterfall, too. It does, indeed, have hair time--if you provide the hair. “This here’s the wildest ride in the Finnish wilderness!” OK, this was apparently a somewhat uncomfortable section of track. (Photo probably by AJ or Andy.) I vote for the front row on Thunderbird. (Photo probably by AJ or Andy. Or maybe Elissa. I forget.) So that’s what happened to WDW’s old Tower of Terror billboard. Let’s have another look at Pitts Special. It’s the best Infinity Coaster at Power Park that isn’t Junker. OK, I kid--it’s a fun ride. It’s also endearingly bowlegged. Here’s another ride that happened, but I’m not sure it exists as more than a hallucination. There’s this little indoor mall near the park with a collection of unusual cars--such as James Bond’s Lotus from The Spy Who Loved Me. You get a nice view of the park’s skyline on the walk back from the mall. Before we bid a fond farewell to Power Park . . . . . . here’s one last look at Junker.
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