Blue Hawk Review, Six Flags Over Georgia Vekoma Looping Coaster | The Sit-Down Vekoma SLC

[@charleskummerer]

Blue Hawk is a great ride. Smooth, decently intense, and super fun. Also, the seats are comfortable. I don't like over the head vest-type restraints like most people, but they didn't bother me on this ride. It's in my top 5 for Six Flags over Georgia

[@CanobieCoaster]

The trains saved it.

[@Bordomized]

@@mattiasdanieldamsgaardwood1315 An SLC is a suspended looping coaster

[@maxhagenauer24]

I heard this is one of the smoothest Vekomas out there. As Vekoma Mk 1200s are quite rare, this one sure is unique and with that butterfly element which is on 1 of only 2 coasters in the world. The new restraints, repaint, and retrack have definitely made it better. It looks to be a fun ride indeed.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The restraints are the biggest help.

[@chargedonpc9989]

I didn't realize it had close to the same layout as an SLC until you ranked the rides at over Georgia the other day. It looks like a good ride.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's eerily similar.

[@rixrobin]

I know a lot of people who will not ride this again because they have memories of what it was like as ninja. That was a headache of a ride, but the renovation made it much more bearable. I wouldn’t say its anything fantastic at its park but thats more because of the quality of SFoG other coasters in the park. However your right when you say it never has a line, and I always ride it any time I go because its on the way to and from the back of the park and it only takes a few minutes.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The new trains made a big difference.

[@AirtimeProductions]

Wow, I never noticed the layout was a sit down SLC! I’ve actually never ridden an SLC yet… don’t know if I should be thankful or feel like I’m missing out

[@CanobieCoaster]

The ones with vest restraints are fine.

[@360coasters]

@Airtime Productions you should be thankful for not riding an SLC with it's original restraints

[@ctg5679]

@@360coasters yeah those first restraints had your head banking like crazy

[@zachcoastercrazy4032]

I have only ridden a single one (Mind Eraser SFDL, considered one of the worst) and I did not think it was that bad. It was good. Then again, I ride it in the front. From what I have heard, the ones with the vests are actually really good.

[@stephenboshears4832]

I found this to be the sleeper hit of SFOG, it’s not the smoothest but it’s the GOAT when it comes to headchoppers, the loopey elements deliver strong sustained positives just like a looper should, all the turns all feel underbanked offering laterals, and the corkscrews are just as snappy as Batman’s. Overall I genuinely think it’s a more enjoyable ride than the Tennesse Tornado.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I prefer Tennessee Tornado myself, but this is a solid ride with those vests.

[@thomasxl200]

I love the concept of Vekoma saving these old loopers with updated trains. I hope S&S can catch on to the genius of this idea and give Arrow loopers the new lease on life they so deserve.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'd be in favor of that.

[@thomasxl200]

@@CanobieCoaster I realized after you posted this comment that you mentioned it in the video already haha

[@jarredpickles9451]

I was very disappointed that this ride was closed when I visited. I was not so disappointed that GASM was closed (since that entire area was being closed). Looks like a solid ride.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Was it for Holiday in the Park?

[@jarredpickles9451]

@@CanobieCoaster At that point, the event had ended. Not sure if they were just extending the closure or something.

[@StamfordBridge]

Yes, this ride was a pleasant surprise. A good coaster.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Agreed.

[@CoasterRoaster]

With the speed it crests that lift hill, it could also be considered a dive coaster lol

[@thomasxl200]

Lol I feel that way with the Morgan hypers and their glacial lift hills. Steel Force in the front row seriously feels like a mini dive coaster, especially cause the angle stays shallow and then suddenly gets steep right as the train finally picks up momentum

[@CanobieCoaster]

Basically.

[@zacg_]

Now that you mention it I can see the similarities to the SLC layout but it had never really struck me as being similar other than the curved drop. I find this to be a pretty cool coaster. Unfortunately, I've always seen one train operations on this thing so maybe I just haven't had good luck.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I've had better luck.

[@koalakyle19]

I think it looks more similar to an Arrow looper. It doesn't have those SLC inversions like the heartline roll for instance

[@Daniel_Coasters]

this looks and sounds like a good ride

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's decent.

[@WeWereInvertedVideo]

Love this review. One of the coasters I've been able to ride in multiple locations having frequented Wildwood with my grandparents as a kid.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@thegun1981]

I rode Ninja on opening day! I remember it being incredibly rough as it aged, but I rode Blue Hawk a few years ago and it reminded me of Ninja a little.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The trains were a major help.

[@thegun1981]

@@CanobieCoaster They definitely were. It was nice not having to ride defensively for a change. Lol

[@zacharygambler9306]

Always appreciate your reviews. Could be silly but would love to see a top 20 of best que lines and best preshows in your opinions

[@CanobieCoaster]

I don't take too much queue footage, so that would be a hard one to do.

[@zacharygambler9306]

@@CanobieCoaster understood mate

[@BigDCoasterFam]

Rode it for the first time this past summer and while I was disappointed I couldn’t lift my hands, Blue Hawk was a superior ride to the headache inducing Ninja. The Ninja, IMO, was even worse than its predecessor Z-Force which I actually enjoyed

[@CanobieCoaster]

The side of the cars are tight for your hands.

[@zacharystewart5344]

I LOVE Blue Hawk! It is the most disorienting coaster I think I've done. I know a lot of people complain about it being jerky but I'm taller so I have a larger tolerance for head banging or neck banging than most. It's just rough woodies that hurt me.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The vest restraints helped immensely.

[@Eggsaladcausewhynot]

I’m going to six flags over Georgia and this is one of the coasters I’m really exited for

[@CanobieCoaster]

Enjoy!

[@cltcoasters]

This one has always intrigued me, especially since there are only two butterfly inversions in the world.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's decent.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

I've only ridden it as Blue Hawk, and I love it. It didn't even feel shaky to me. The headchoppers are very freaky. I wonder what the clearance is. It's rides like this that make me thankful that I'm not tall. I usually prefer sit-down loopers to floorless/inverts/etc, so this ride has always stood out to me, and is usually a must ride when I go. But on one busy Saturday pit stop, they were running one train, and the queue was full. I only rode Twisted Cyclone & GASM that day.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Fortunately I've never seen this with one train.

[@MountainDrewfl]

Ninja was a car crash simulator. It felt as if an actual ninja was behind you, ping-ponging your head between his fists. I was unable to ride anything else after this on my first (and only so far) trip to the park because of my massive headache. That being said, I’m glad they put money into keeping it around instead of scrapping it. That area of the park is beautiful, and this coaster accents it well, especially with the new paint job. Being built out over the water is the cherry on top. I look forward to taking a trip back out there and giving this layout a real go.

[@CanobieCoaster]

These new trains were a major help.

[@xtremeadventures7270]

I rode Ninja several times in it's opening year and enjoyed it, but didn't ride it again until 2019 as Blue Hawk. I have well over 100 rides on Blue Hawk and definitely prefer the back row. For me, it is my third favorite coaster in the park behind Goliath and Twisted Cyclone. I really like the fact that there is rarely a wait and have caught it many times where you could just stay on the train and keep riding it multiple times.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

It looks cooler now with the blue track it also looked pretty cool with the white

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes

[@bluetomato2184]

Good to see that vekoma made more than just trainwrecks back then! XD

[@CanobieCoaster]

The new trains saved the ride.

[@davedoesthingsdreaded]

Finally someone that is actually critical when rating a coaster unlike coaster studios where he gives every coaster a 9 or 10

[@MondoCoasters]

*laughs in Divertical review*

[@CanobieCoaster]

I think it's fair to look at the pros and cons of each ride, but I still like to stay on the positive side.

[@daniev6]

Even as Ninja, it was still one of my favorites at the park.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'm guessing your ears cleared the top of the old restraints?

[@daniev6]

@@CanobieCoaster they did.

[@thomasxl200]

Speaking of Vekoma loopers, I'd love to hear your opinion of the infamous Goudorix someday. Ik it has a horrendous reputation but the layout looks pretty great to me.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Goudurix was a pleasant surprise. Smooth and very forceful.

[@arturobianco848]

It is a bad coaster it looks nice but while its not the worst vecome out there it is the worst one i've done of the "major" vecoma loopers.

[@mpatrovits1]

Was very rough when I rode goudrix in 2018, but pulled big positive Gs in the loops

[@upsidedown_]

I almost died in that batwing, the ride is just pure SAW movie torture

[@mateoalvira3514]

What do you think about the traditional Vekoma SLCs with the vest restraints and the over the shoulder restraints?

[@CanobieCoaster]

The vest restraints make SLCs tolerable (for the most part).

[@mateoalvira3514]

Why were the vest restraints and trains the most fixed and important change in the 2016 refurbishment?

[@CanobieCoaster]

To me, the updated vests were the most important part.

[@matiasdupree4834]

I was in line for this but it broke down :/. Would love to ride it soon!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Oh no! Usually it's reliable.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

I wonder how close the near misses are

[@CanobieCoaster]

Vekoma likes their near-misses.

[@Asshat237]

Canobie, you said It has the shortest average wait of the coasters at sf georgia based on queue time data. Where do you get that data? Is there data from other parks?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Queue-times.com

[@matthewsouthwell9653]

Headchopper: The Ride

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes

[@pecemakor917]

MNL2 Contriver loves slcs

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@whuryoboss]

I rode this as ninja and was annoyed years ago when they decided to refurbish the ride instead of getting rid of it to build something new. So I never rode it but finally decided to ride it this past Friday and it was fun lol not too bad…glad they never got rid of it after all

[@CanobieCoaster]

The new trains are definitely better.

[@mateoalvira3514]

Which change in the 2016 refurbishment was the most important, the colors and picture, the name and theme, the track or the trains? why? Which change did you like more?

[@CanobieCoaster]

The updated restraints.

[@nafspark]

Been going to SFOG for 20+ years and literally never thought about it being basically a sit-down SLC before. I remember people waiting 3 hours for Ninja back around 2000 or so because it went upside down so many times (therefore it had to be the best ride). Personally, I always really hated Ninja. But when they transformed it into Blue Hawk, it shot up into my top 50 steel. Now with how they've neutered MindBender, this may actually edge it out.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The trains helped this ride immensely.

[@thinline8504]

if I'm not mistaken . this is originally the ninja? which by far was not a comfortable ride at all..

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes, but it has new restraints now.

[@Itsyaboyharry98]

I only rode this as Ninja once in 2011, but from what I remember it was mainly the OTSRs that made the ride unbearable, I've found that the most enjoyable spot to ride Blue Hawk is the front of the rear half still is pretty bumpy and will rough you up.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The new restraints are a major help.

[@The_over_GA_enthusiast.365]

I rode this coaster today and it almost gave me a headache because it was so shaky and it had a humongous rattle, no wonder it’s a walk on.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I don't find it uncomfortable, but it is intense.

[@JohnDoe-hx9vm]

As Ninja, it was a brutal headache machine. As Blue Hawk, it's bearable, but the track still has a horrible rattle.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I agree it's not perfectly smooth, but I don't find it uncomfortable.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Kamikaze was a Vekoma looping coaster with five inversions. It opened there in 1989, then it went from the pier to Six Flags Over Georgia, named...

[@CanobieCoaster]

Ninja

[@MrCrash-hz8xy]

I’m surprised this ride is still in operation because it’s so rough

[@CanobieCoaster]

The new trains really help.

[@keithstransitexperiences9749]

This coaster is made by the same manufacturer and has the same model as Gouderix. Have you ridden Gouderix? You said Coaster Express is the worst. Maybe Gouderix is the 2nd worst.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I actually like Goudurix. It wasn't rough and it was very forceful.

[@mateoalvira3514]

Did you get to ride this before?

[@CanobieCoaster]

No, just after

[@philismenko]

I love vest restraints

[@CanobieCoaster]

Me too.

[@TheFraziers]

I rode this ride as Ninja and the improvements are significant, but I still find the ride uncomfortable and not incredibly exciting. That first drop is a total buzz kill.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish the drop were better too.

[@jtwoolley]

outlaw run has inversions.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes

[@Nonfiction79]

SFOG is my home park. I haven’t ridden Blue Hawk in a few years because last time I went it was closed, last time I rode it, it was awful. Now I am taller since last time so I will have see when I go back this year.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The new trains helped.

[@spacemilker9093]

Need mm to do this to viper because i avoid that coaster like a plague lol

[@CanobieCoaster]

That would only help. I already like Viper.

[@koalakyle19]

I disagree. I don't think Blue Hawk looks like an SLC, it looks like an arrow looper.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Trackwise, it looks like an Arrow looper. Layout wise, it looks like a SLC.

[@koalakyle19]

@@CanobieCoaster Maybe when it come to layout, but not the elements. Where's the double corkscrew after the first drop? Where's the inline twists/heartline rolls? But you know what Blue Hawk does have? Really tall vertical loops just like the taller Arrows like Great American Scream Machine and Vortex

[@DrPepperone]

Blue Hawk Tuah

[@CanobieCoaster]

Lol

[@APE-b8x]

This Ride Needs Lap Bar and Retrack

[@CanobieCoaster]

The vest restraints are fine for me.

[@APE-b8x]

I Hate Blue Hawk this Roller coaster Is Bad Vest

[@CanobieCoaster]

I like how forceful the start is.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Canobie Coaster would say: While the track wasn't replaced, the renovation featured four changes. One, the coaster was painted royal blue. The coaster's appearance is one of its biggest strengths. The color really pops and its placement above the water is incredible. It's one of the most picturesque coasters out there. Two, the coaster was given a very light military theme. This is reflected in the coaster's logo and the pendants in the queue line. Three, Vekoma performed some trackwork according to the park. Although the extent of this is unknown. It's clear the entire track wasn't replaced. Just look at how smooth rides like the aforementioned Great Nor'Easter and Efteling's Python became after their track was replaced. But Vekoma could venest or refurbish some sections. Four and most importantly...

[@CanobieCoaster]

New trains with vest restraints.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Some of your friends thought that the ride on the Vekoma looping coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia was rough, painful or disliked. That was based on the current experience as Blue Hawk or on the old experience as Ninja? The best change that made Blue Hawk in the 2016 refurbishment was the trackwork?

[@CanobieCoaster]

The new trains make it comfortable.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

The story began in Conko's Party Pier, a Vekoma compact looping coaster was built there and opened, under which name and which year?

[@CanobieCoaster]

1989 as Kamikaze

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Canobie Coaster would say: While the track wasn't replaced, the renovation featured four changes. One, the coaster was painted royal blue. The coaster's appearance is one of its biggest strengths. The color really pops and its placement above the water is incredible. It's one of the most picturesque coasters out there. Two, the coaster was given a very light military theme. This is reflected in the coaster's logo and the pendants in the queue line. Three, Vekoma performed some trackwork according to the park. Although the extent of this is unknown. It's clear the entire track wasn't replaced. Just look at how smooth rides like the aforementioned Great Nor'Easter and Efteling's Python became after their track was replaced. But Vekoma could _ _ _ _ _ _ or refurbish some sections. Which word is missing in the quote?

[@CanobieCoaster]

I think retrack.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

There were three Ninja coasters at Six Flags parks, which manufacturer and model were those three Ninja coasters and their opening years?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Magic Mountain (suspended 1988), St. Louis (looper 1989), Over Georgia (looper 1992)

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

What was the change did you like the most in the 2016 refurbishment, the trackwork, the name, the theme, the paint, or the trains?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Trains

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

The Vekoma SLCs built in the 1990s, opened and many enthusiasts said them as "infamous", what does infamous meam?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Known for the wrong reasons.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

At Six Flags Over Georgia, Ninja was located in the lake near the Great American Scream Machine. It opened there in 1992. Ninja was unfortunately criticized by most enthusiasts because of the rough ride with headbanging. So after the 2015 season, Ninja was closed for a refurbishment. The refurbishment that would improve the ride for the 2016 season. For the 2016 season, the ride was renovated and transformed into Blue Hawk. The ride was repainted royal blue. The ride received a military theme. More other changes were made to the ride, but which one was the most notable you've seen during the renovation? Which change did you like the most?

[@CanobieCoaster]

The new trains helped the most.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Do you like or love the glacial lift hill?

[@CanobieCoaster]

It is what it is.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

What do you think about: Blue Hawk at Six Flags Over Georgia Great Nor'Easter at Morey's Piers Python at Efteling Sea Serpent at Morey's Piers Xpress Platform 13 at Walibi Holland Thunderhawk at Michigan's Adventure

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thunderhawk is bad. I'll ride the others.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Of the four changes, four and most importantly, what does "most importantly" mean?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Most impactful.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

When Blue Hawk at Six Flags Over Georgia received new trains for the 2016 renovation, what do you think? Those trains saved the ride Those trains ruined the ride

[@CanobieCoaster]

New trains were a major help.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

What means that a coaster gives a 6 out of 10?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Decent

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Why did you say "infamous" in Vekoma SLCs?

[@CanobieCoaster]

They are known for bad reasons.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Glacial, what means?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Slow

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

What do you think about: Wilde Beast at Canada's Wonderland Blue Hawk at Six Flags Over Georgia Sooperdooperlooper at Hersheypark Goliath at Six Flags Over Georgia Goliath at Six Flags Magic Mountain American Eagle at Six Flags Great America Vampire at La Ronde Shivering Timbers at Michigan's Adventure Untamed at Walibi Holland Alpina Blitz at Nigloland Katun at Mirabilandia Coast Rider at Knott's Berry Farm Arkansas Twister at Magic Springs Vampire at Walibi Belgium Boomerang at Six Flags Fiesta Texas

[@CanobieCoaster]

Like some of those, hate others.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Ninja reopened at Six Flags Over Georgia in... A) 1990 B) 1991 C) 1992 D) 1993

[@CanobieCoaster]

C

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

What means that a coaster gives a 5 out of 10?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Ok