Giant Inverted Boomerang Review | Why are These Rides so Problematic?

The Vekoma Giant Inverted Boomerang is one of the most intense coaster models ever decided. This takes elements of the standard boomerang and invertigo, but scales the ride up to nearly hyper heights. While enthusiasts love these rides, they are mechanical nightmares. I'll go into detail why in this review.
Examples include Aftershock at Silverwood, Goliath at Six Flags New England, Giant Inverted Boomerang at Jin Jiang Action Park, Quantum Leap at Sochi Park, Stunt Fall at Parque Warner Madrid, and Deja Vu at Six Flags Magic Mountain, Six Flags Great America, and Six Flags Over Georgia.
Video Credits
Deja Vu Great America (Menachem Piekarski)- • 2005 videos dejavu six...
Deja Vu Magic Mountain (coastercrutchfield)- • Déjà Vu (Off-ride HD) ...
Deja Vu Over Georgia (Coaster Jeff)- • Deja Vu at Six Flags o...
Giant Inverted Boomerang (psyclonesteve)- • Giant Inverted Boomera...
Face/Off, Night (psyclonesteve)- • Face Off, Kings Island...
Two Face (Coaster Jeff)- • Two Face at Six Flags ...
Goliath - Six Flags New England
• Goliath Off-Ride - Six...
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[@Zerethon]

Imagine a modernized version using the lsm idea as an ever popular swing launch instead of the catch car system Be one heck of a comeback for an already great ride

[@edt-ze3ke]

The Super Boomerang is technically a comeback for the GIB

[@bigc1280]

Kinda like how Gerstlaur did with Storm the Dragon Legend at Tusenfryd? I wonder if the engineers for that did work for Vekoma at some point...

[@bocahdongo7769]

I mean Vekoma is the first manufacture to introduce LSM Launch Invented coaster on Battlestar Galactica

[@CanobieCoaster]

That could work. Look at the Super Boomerang that Vekoma made.

[@drumnbasssakuga9352]

Someone needs to make a successor to these coasters with the Inverted Impulse track. Linear electric motors avoid almost all the problems associated with the catch car lift.

[@TimEssDub]

Sochi, Russia is on the coast of the Black Sea, is mild to warm year-round, and rarely sees freezing temperatures. That is one of the better places for this style of coaster.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Ah ok, thanks for clarifying the climate.

[@coasterblocks3420]

It’s a very impressive and intimidating ride. I think modern Vekoma could do a little finessing of the elements to make it butter smooth like their other modern inverts, and they’d have a real winner.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'm excited for the super boomerang.

[@talkingweevil3172]

Honestly aftershock is very smooth

[@Nexusman39]

The biggest regret I ever had was not waiting for Deja Vu at SFMM. But I know I neeeed to visit Idaho soon.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Sorry you missed it there.

[@talkingweevil3172]

It’s worth it. They also have a RMC single rail

[@Nexusman39]

@@talkingweevil3172 done rail blazer, JD, And WW. But then having a raptor also makes the trio even more appealing forsure. And their wooden coaster I heard is pretty good

[@talkingweevil3172]

@@Nexusman39 Ya the wooden ones are decent but don’t sit in the back on them, it will hurt. Their SBF spinner is pretty good as well. If you’re making the trip just for silverwood you could consider going to the water park connected. It’s not bad and it’s got a pretty nice duelling water coaster that was new for this year. Oh and don’t miss the magic show, I know that sounds weird but it’s actually incredible.

[@Topitopi14]

I just love Stunt Fall. It's my second favorite at the park after Gotham City Scape. It's normally a walk-on or a 5 minutes wait almost everytime I visit the park.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I was stunned it had a short wait this past summer even when the other coasters got backed up.

[@thesteveterryproject9611]

It’s a shame these weren’t more reliable as they are a ton of fun. I still remember Deja Vu at SFOG being one of my favorite rides at the rare times it was open. Hanging face down nearly 200 feet in the air was quite the thrill. I was so sad when they took it out and replaced it with a Thomas the Tank Engine themed playground.

[@edt-ze3ke]

The Thomas the Tank Engine area is now home to a giant frisbee ride known as Pandemonium

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish the Six Flags ones ran more consistently, but Aftershock and Stunt Fall seem to run well.

[@truelife974]

It was a good year for SFOG because we got this along with Acrophobia.

[@CoasterCore297]

Doing Stunt Fall in November was a proper experience. Stupidly intense and relentless throughout, and remarkably smooth for old school Vekoma. Absolutely blew me away

[@CanobieCoaster]

It is a wild ride.

[@Thrills_And_Chills_WQAQ]

Even more insane, the bankruptcy of vekoma led to KumbaK being formed with old vekoma engineers. So they kinda did a cci to gravity group but if gravity group was even worse than vekoma.

[@Lkendrick]

so old vekoma killed montezoomas revenge?

[@lyingdogfacedponysoldier201]

​@@Lkendrick allegedly. We will see when the court case wraps up

[@CanobieCoaster]

Didn't realize that's how Kumbak was formed. That's even odder how their trains have damaged some SLCs then.

[@SnowghostFilms]

More of a GCI to an RCCA transfer.

[@Thrills_And_Chills_WQAQ]

@@CanobieCoaster yeah it’s listed on Wikipedia for KumbaK

[@iceblade019]

My first ever coaster was the GIB at Jinjiang Action Park during my primary school field trip when i was 11, it brought me into the hobby. i haven't seen it operate for a long time tho, it was such a fun and intense layout,

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's a bold first coaster.

[@iceblade019]

@@CanobieCoaster i'm glad it was my first coaster instead of some knock-off SLC, i definitely enjoyed the thing

[@Alberto_Alonso]

Stuntfall gets me every time. It's unique, intense and rarely has a line at Parque Warner Madrid. Rode it 6 times in a row once, and the operator said: "you are a glutton for punishment" Highly recommend it, not many rides like it out there.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@oriolat2]

Spanish thoosie here: Stunt Fall also featured belts across the lap when it opened. It was after getting refurbished under Parques Reunido's belt that they got rid of them. As for the rows being left empty, it was the first two rows and the last row. Besides catchcar engagement issues, I was told it was because PR was not confident enough to perform an evac if the train stalled on the cobra roll: since those rows are located on the far ends of the train, positioning these rows with a crane would prove too difficult, so they just decided not to offer them altogether. Luckily, after the refurbishment, with better reliability, Stunt Fall went back to full capacity.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks for sharing the history. Wow that line must have crawled opening year with that limited of capacity.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

My only giant inverted boomerang was SFNE Goliath in 2019. I got lucky (or unlucky) to get that credit in the final season. The line was short enough, that I was able to pick my own row, including my front row ride, which had 3 people on the train. I did front, row 4, and back, trying to find somewhere on the train that wouldn't be terrible. I liked the spikes, but that was it. The jackhammering was too much for me. Bottom 15 coaster on my list, but ahead of Lake Compounce's Wildcat and Nopuko at Lost Island.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Getting to pick your seat on Goliath was rare. You lucked out there.

[@ruipeixoto5737]

Loved Stunt Fall, despite of having only a single ride on it last December. Half that afternoon it was closed, after every ride elsewhere, I'd check if it was open. Seen test after test completing the circuit both ways but no signs of it opened. Almost gave up, but then looked at it for what looked like another test, but that time I've seen legs in the air, so I started to walk there at a fast pace. Totally worth it. Since you mentioned issues with cold, that was a cold day indeed, but strangely it had opened right after sunset when temperatures are on the decline. So makes more sense they were having another kind of technical issues. BTW, winter time in Madrid is fairly cold, contrasting with their "hellish" summers. That first tower is my favorite element in the entire park: from an already scary lift to an "is this it? the end?" feeling on the drop, pure joy! Had a couple bangs passing through the cobra roll forwards, but bearable. Everything else was amazing. Overall the coaster is my #2 there, and putting it above the 2 great B&M's there says it all about how much I loved that one ride on it. No surprise Batman GCE is my #1 there, because... reasons!!!

[@CanobieCoaster]

I prefer the B&Ms to Stunt Fall, but Stunt Fall's drops may be better than anything on the B&Ms.

[@m_ianO]

The one in shanghai had so many seatbelt! Two across the lap, on outside the harness on the side and another in the middle

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's even more than Silverwood. Wow!

[@talkingweevil3172]

@@CanobieCoasterLol silverwood takes forever to check the harnesses

[@Benthetrainkid]

Imagine Vekoma making new redesigned Giant Inverted Boomerang trains with over the shoulder lap bars with vests

[@elevatoralarmcoasterandarc1214]

That's a great choice.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That would be sweet.

[@rlynch1980]

I remember riding the one at Great America in ‘02, right when it opened. The hype was pretty incredible. Back then, there weren’t many coasters that did a vertical drop, so it was the first time I went vertical on a coaster. I remember loving it, but the line was incredibly long so I only did it once. It felt like a combo between a drop tower and coaster. They don’t hold up compared to modern coasters, but when they came out it was quite a rush.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Glad you got on it since it was an elsuive one.

[@ShockerTopper]

I really liked Deja Vu, it's crazy it was only open for 6 years at Magic Mountain. I'm so glad I got to ride it, I didn't realize the ride had such bad downtimes back in 2003. I recall it going down when I went to the park, but you know we didn't network about this kind of thing back then haha. I had a Boomerang at Knott's which was my home park in Orange County (which I still miss), however, this was so cool because it was a SLC with vertical spikes, so it felt unique. Honestly, I like Boomerangs (the 2 I've been on) and think they're cool but I guess there are a lot that are terrible. Is that purple/green Boomerang you show from Knott's? It certainly looks like it to me, I think that was the last color scheme it had before sadly being deconstructed. I remember my ex-fiance loved that ride so much. I didn't realize they had non-vertical spike versions of the SLC boomerangs. But I have like 35 "credits" lol. Although I have some rare ones (at least because of my age) with Wind Jammer, Soap Box Racers, Whirlpool, and XJ-1 from Knott's (90's basically), Desperado (state line), original Manhattan Express (Vegas), and Insanity (Vegas). Those Knott's rides were all AMAZING...whirlpool was a ton of fun for a flat ride, XJ-1 was amazing that you could spin the car upside down while riding, and Soap Box Racers was just amazing. Wind Jammer...permanently damaged my neck to this day I think lol. Desperado I rode when I was really small and like 12 years old and almost fell out (for real I was out of the restraint hanging on for dear life). That's crazy thinking that it's been almost 3 decades since I rode Desperado, seems like yesterday. Oh ya, I guess I also have the "Log Ride" credit from Buffalo Bills too haha, I know that ride hasn't been open in FOREVER! It was a fun shooting game for sure while riding a log, very unique.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Going from memory, I probably used footage of Zoomerang from Lake Compounce. Sorry, I have too poor cell service to load the video at the moment.

[@edt-ze3ke]

Used to have this at SFOG but I've heard that it was almost never open back when it was at the park. I wish they brought it back, I imagine the 90 degree drop feeling very intense if I rode it

[@thesteveterryproject9611]

It was rarely open but when it was it was amazing

[@CanobieCoaster]

Maybe they get a super boomerang one day.

[@joao.spegiorin]

Totally agree with your rating. I've only been to Stunt Fall, but that was one of the few coasters I've been to that I felt it was way too intense and rough. One and done for me, but those drops are indeed fantastic

[@CanobieCoaster]

With vest restraints, I'd definitely rate it higher.

[@raulsanmiguel4941]

Stunt fall front and back row were empty at the time because the evacuation platform under the cobra roll wasn't big enough to cover those seats and make evacuation easy in case of valleying.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks for explaining why.

[@davidpalomeque4689]

Do you think that modern LSM lift hills would make it more reliable? I know LSMs have improved since their introduction. Not to mention that those same LSMs could theoretically launch the train downwards to reduce the risk of valleying.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They potentially could. Look at the Super Boomerang model.

[@RollerCoasters62719]

I rode Aftershock at Silverwood 2 weeks ago. It was the most intense ride I have ever ridden. 1 ride was more than enough for me.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's a wild ride for sure.

[@talkingweevil3172]

Isn’t stunt pilot more intense tho? In the back of stunt pilot I would say it’s more intense yet less intimidating.

[@Thefury325]

Aftershock is my favorite as I find the ride very enjoyable

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's a fun one.

[@mateoalvira3514]

Canobie Coaster would say: The experience I described applies to the giant inverted boomerangs running Vekoma trains. As a whole, the ride tracks well minus the flips on the cobra roll. But what about Six Flags New England's Goliath when it had the Premier trains? The forces I described through this review still hold true, but add in a whole lot of roughness. I absolutely loved the vertical drops, but everything else was an endurance test and not a good one. The initial pullout could squash your nuts from the restraint profiling. The valleys would jitter profusely causing additional headbanging. Then the train would jolt around the cobra roll, even more-so than with the Vekoma trains, adding some back slams along with the headbanging. The front seat was much more tolerable, but the roughness increased exponentially further back in the train. And unfortunately, seating was assigned on this coaster, so you only had a 1/8 chance not coming off in major p _ _ _. Which word is missing in the quote? What do you think?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Pain

[@RedPilledDan]

Are they really that problematic or was Wix Flags just bad at maintenance in the 90s and 00s? Silverwood’s, who has great maintenance, runs with no issues at all for years as long as the temperature is 60F or above.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Silverwood upgraded their's after they bought it, which seems to have helped mightily.

[@Jillousa]

A good ride Dejavu at six flags Great America. However, only went on it once or twice because the ride was always down. Takes forever in line. Rode it at Kings Island as well

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's unfortunate the Six Flags ones were so unreliable.

[@jmaindigo6641]

Did you know that HangOver, the invertigo that operated at Liseberg from 1997 to 2002 also had a leakeage of hidraulic fluid right into a fully loaded train stucked up in the first lift? Liseberg’s director of operations at the time, while taking me on a tour around the park back then, confessed me that they deeply regreted the purchase of the inverted boomerang, and wished they had kept their old Looping Star instead.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I didn't realize Hangover had the same accident as Two Face. I can imagine they weren't satisfied given the downtime.

[@clairefunnell8481]

The Bat is our Vekoma Boomerang and I love it. Do like the Inverted ones too. Neat.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@CanobieCoaster]

Bat runs a bit rough for my liking, but it is intense.

[@DaríoMuñózCercós]

Do you know something called Stunt Fall? What would you rate it and what do you think about it in terms of pacing? And in terms of smoothness?

[@CanobieCoaster]

This review covers it.

[@katschaccc]

Stuntfall of one of the scariest coasters I've ever been on.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It is intimidating.

[@shanepetyko8004]

It was really a gorgeous looking ride at six flags great America but it was never open never. I heard it was open the first year in October but I tried and tried. You never even saw it testing. It was giant and cool looking.

[@CanobieCoaster]

These rides are finnicky for sure. I've had good luck with the Silverwood and Parque Warner ones.

[@askjeevescosby2928]

I think this coaster deserves a higher score for its menacing appearance alone. They should have changed the spikes over to use lsms instead of the catch car.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The super boomerang will sort of use that concept.

[@askjeevescosby2928]

@CanobieCoaster the super boomerang doesn't look anywhere near as awsome as this behemoth

[@UrLocal_Michael]

Six Flags Mondstadt Adventure, Even With The Fact That They Have The Best SF Operations, Barely Opened Deja Vu, It Was Closed More Than It Was Open. It Was Actually The Last Deja Vu In The Six Flags Chain, Operating Untill 2021, When It Was Replaced By The RMC Raptor Archon. Mondstadt Has A Temperate Climate With High Winds, Its The Land Of The Wind After All. Which Means Deja Vu At SFMA Can Only Operate On Specific Days. It Can Not Operate During Fright Fest Or Holiday In The Park Due To Low Temperatures.

[@CanobieCoaster]

If only all parks had the weather policy of Great Adventure.

[@mauricelong4678]

What about invertigo

[@CanobieCoaster]

I made a review for that one.

[@keithstransitexperiences9749]

When Six Flags New England had Goliath next to Flashback, Goliath was fun to watch than ride, especially with its cousin Flashback running along its side. I have a tale for those rides. A tale of 2 identical coaster cousins: One day at Six Flags New England, when the news came that a Giant Inverted Boomerang was to come, in the name of Goliath, Flashback was surpised to have a cousin! Goliath opened with comfortable thrills in 2012, but not so fast - Premier Rides trains, or should I say, no so premier trains came on Goliath and Flashback heard all the tales of Goliath's terrible rides. Flashback heard that Goliath would remain in hibernation during rain and temperatures lower than 60°. After the last train halted on Goliath in 2019, little did Flashback know what would happen upon getting more rides in 2021. Its cousin Goliath was to remain dormant, but later that year, its cousin died. While Flashback missed its cousin, its guests didn't miss the ride, unless they rode Goliath when it was known as Deja Vu or admired the train in motion along with its cousin Flashback, a rather cool spectacle. This is just a thought, but imagine of Flashback got a new cousin, the Vekoma Super Boomerang, a different layout, albiet the same concept.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That would be ironic, but I'd be ok with it.

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

I was one of the very few who liked goliath

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

Same I have a feeling because it’s so far the only Giant Inverted Boomerang I’ve ridden

[@CanobieCoaster]

I really wish the trains were never changed.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

Would love Vekoma to bring this model back in some form

[@verybighomer]

Wanted to write the same. They proved with Great Nor'Easter that they can even turn an SLC into a good experience. Maybe even use launch technology that has become much more reliable and add second load platform for better capacity. That could be a hell of a ride.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The Super Boomerang looks great.

[@altronproductions2179]

I don't normally bring up politics into the world of amusement parks and rollercoasters but I am also pondering at whether Sochi Park may be able to keep their Giant Inverted Boomerang operating for the foreseenable future with all the sanctions imposed in the wake of the current war with Ukraine. I can imagine that spare parts provided by Vekoma will become so rare that downtime will be even more commonplace compared to the other Giant Inverted Boomerangs in the US, Spain and China (which can be further excerebarted by Russia's frequently cold climate as you briefly touched on).

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'm not sure how the sanctions come into play maintaining it.

[@altronproductions2179]

@@CanobieCoasterWell, I am also not in the loop about the amusement park scene in Russia during the ongoing war. But I know that infrastructure (including their aircraft owned by Russia's various airlines) are becoming diecey because spare parts become harder to come by due to the aircraft manufacturers being prevented to supply these crucial parts to maintain the aircraft. I'm not surprised if their amusement rides are also harder to maintain due to the sanctions.

[@Kittyhat]

Aftershock is legit almost an 8.5

[@CanobieCoaster]

I get rating it higher.

[@Kittyhat]

@@CanobieCoaster it sounds like you didn't enjoy the cobra rolls but when they're snappy and not rough, I think they're the best part of the ride. awesome design tbh

[@katashworth41]

Seeing the one in Sochi was about the only entertaining thing about the Russian Grand Prix.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Didn't see that race.

[@ScottyMania313]

If I were NRG Stadium or the Houston Texan's Organization, I would buy one of these, paint it red, white, and blue, and give it Oiler's theming, as it resembles derricks - They can charge $12-20 for a ride on gameday and people would gladly pay. I would for the experience. If I were Kemah Boardwalk, I'd add this to the boardwalk. Problematic yes, but TX is all about Football. It would put asses through that entry gate.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That would be an interesting location for one.

[@maverickheartlineroll]

Bring it back Bring it back Bring it back Bring it back

[@CanobieCoaster]

Goliath?

[@maverickheartlineroll]

@CanobieCoaster no, goliath was scrapped lol, I mean build more of these

[@TheWolfXCIX]

Why do you say "liseberry"?

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

That’s how the park name is actually pronounced

[@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od]

@ThrillsofColdplay I still pronounce it like its spelled because liseberry sounds dumb lol

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

@@HugeRMCFanBoY-bx3od yeah

[@CanobieCoaster]

That is the Swedish pronunciation.

[@askjeevescosby2928]

All coasters are avilable if you have the money

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's fair.

[@thebestdecepticonSoundwave]

dang!

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's imposing.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Canobie Coaster would say: Then comes the second spike. There's a slight hitch as the train engages the catch car. Then you're smoothly pulled to the top as you stare into the sky. Hopefully it's not a sunny day. If I ask you, but why did you say "Hopefully it's not a sunny day"? What do you think?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Because you're staring at the sky and possibly the sun.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Imagine installing unique coasters and giving them a 6, a 6.5, and a 7. What are the differences between the three? What do you think? 6 is... 6.5 is... 7 is...

[@CanobieCoaster]

Decent to good.