Intimidator 305

The coaster begins with a huge drop, the pull from vertical to horizontal, a high-speed 270° turn (shown hugging the ground on the lower right), and the pull up the first hill (track going from lower right to upper left).  This combination of maneuvers subjects riders to a long, sustained positive g-force.  When Intimidator opened, some people reported blacking out during this prolonged g-force pushing them down into the seats.  I must admit that when I rode the coaster during its first week of operation, I experienced some of the initial symptoms of G-Force Loss Of Consciousness (G-LOC).  I found myself with tunnel vision and some greyout, a loss of peripheral vision and color vision.  Fortunately, as soon as the g-forces were unloaded while cresting over the second hill, I returned to normal.  I am in fairly good physical condition, and I didn't mind the sustained forces imposed by the coaster, but I could see why other riders might have been complaining of brief black-outs.  I also found that tensing my leg and core muscles helped eliminate the onset of G-LOC.  I rode the coaster a half dozen times in one morning, so I experimented by either relaxing or tensing my muscles during pitch-up maneuvers.  Tensing up helped eliminate the minor G-LOC symptoms I had when totally relaxed. (I am a jet pilot.  I have never flown a fighter jet, but I do know some techniques fighter pilots use during high-g turns and pulls.)

Intamin AG was forced to tone down the ride to minimize riders experiencing G-LOC.  When Intimidator 305opened, they had already slowed the ride's second half thanks to a set of trim brakes going up the hill shown on the lower left of this shot.  You can see the stairs situated next to this set of trims.  An additional trim brake was added to the first drop after the ride had been open for six weeks.   During the 2010-2011 off-season, the big 270° turn was replaced by new track with a larger turn radius, thereby reducing the g-forces imposed on riders.  This allowed the removal of the trims on the first drop.

©2020 by Joel A. Rogers