Most Attractive Roller Coaster Elements

Have you ever looked at a roller coaster and just stared in amazement at its beauty? Don't worry, you're not alone! Sometimes, roller coasters, with their intricate support designs, towering heights, or twisted steel, just have a great æsthetic appeal.

Here are some of my favorite elements:

Intimidator 305. So much track. So little support! Amazing!

Shambhala. That just looks intimidating! Has a figure-8 look to it, but sideways!

There are hundreds more, I'm sure. Let's see what you find!

Yes that's it! Looks amazing!

I love B&M's super giant vertical loops of death.

Also, the lifts on Gerstlauer Eurofighters are really cool and intimidating looking.

Medusa west "B&M Loop of Death"

Zonga, multicolored loops in a maze of steel supports

Superman: Ultimate Flight with the amazing gravity defying track!

Goliath over Colossus

Scream! And the interlocking corks

Revolution (with Tatsu in the second pic) and threading the needle

talk about lack of support!

The Original X is still a ride ill never forget riding, the twists and turns your not really knowing when to expect the first or second time on the ride really add an element of surprise!

Xcelerator's unsupported top hat gets my vote. It looks freaking awesome.

Xcelerator's unsupported top hat gets my vote. It looks freaking awesome.

How does that just not totally fall apart.... its amazing!

THIS, just because of its sheer height and massive support structure

It has to be B&M's wingrider in-line twists for me.

Picture of a screenshot from coasterforce's/eastcoastergeneral's X-flight video.

Raptor's as well. And the swarm's. This picture I forgot who it belongs to.

I just love the beyond vertical drops on Gerstlauer's Euro-Fighters, especially Takabisha's 121 degree drop.

And don't forget the brand new Banana Roll, it's just the icing on the cake.

But we can't leave out the High-Five segment from Dragon Wings', can we?

^ Ha, the Banana Roll! That's funny because I thought of that exact figure years before Takabisha poped up.

This is obvious:

Can't believe I forgot about Incredible Hulk's first section. That is one of the most visually stunning coaster segments in the world.

These loops are always awesome to ride an look at!

We can't forget these beauties, courtesy of TPR member flipdude:

Cheetah Hunt's Tower looks nice.

So does GCI's turn around supports.

And my favourite is the pretzel loop! I'll be riding my first one this summer!

(All pictures from rcdb.com)

How about the world's tallest pretzel loop

Top Gun's barrel roll "over" Showtime theater is pretty amazing:

Volcano looks just epic, you don't see a coaster themed around a volcano everyday:

Speaking of Volcanoes...

Who cares if Journey isn't a coaster, it looks spectacular.

Also, the enterance to SWSD's Manta looks amazing, even if the coaster is only 30'. I couldn't find any good photos of it on the internet unless you like a construction photo of it.

Photo Credits: Top Gun & Volcano: RCDB; Mount Prometheus: Trip Advisor

The double corkscrew, it's such a classic.

And the tangled mess of a Premier LIM bowl is simply an incredible piece of engineering and art.

The way Prowler was set up always makes for an enjoyable ride!

I love the look of the batwing element on Montu.

I've always loved the interlocking Loops on Loch Ness Monster

also, I love the look of the twisted spires of Inverted Impulses...

I always thought Hershey's Wildcat had a sick looking drop.

Maverick-from RCDB

This (Shambhala):

And this (Ravine Flyer II):

From RCDB

Millennium Force's lift hill. Looks gorgeous on the shore during the day, and then maybe more so when they light it up at night. Pics taken from RCDB.

Xcelerator's unsupported top hat gets my vote. It looks freaking awesome.

 

How does that just not totally fall apart.... its amazing!

Most coasters are strong enough to support the weight of the trains and forces without anything other than the spine and rails; the supports are there normally to just hold the weight at whatever height they need.

That isn't to say that some elements lean on the supports more than others, but that if not everything has to be "supported" to be strong.

As far as what I've always considered to be one the more prettier drops from the top, is Apollo's Chariot. The way that the hill hides the true height of the first drop is fun, as is the twist under the first drop in the camel backs.