Wicked Review, Lagoon Zierer Tower Coaster | The Original Vertical Launch Coaster

[@CivilianSatellite]

It's kind of funny how Utah got a "Wicked" roller coaster before Massachusetts. Even with the lackluster second half, the first half does a great job of making the ride standout from all other coasters, launched or otherwise.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It is ironic.

[@Cray2TheZ]

Non-American here. Why is it ironic? Thanks!

[@CivilianSatellite]

@@Cray2TheZ In the US, the state of Massachusetts (particularly the Boston area) is known for the word “Wicked” being a regular part of its residents’ vernacular. Lagoon’s “Wicked” roller coaster opened 8 years before Massachusetts got their own coaster with “Wicked” in the name.

[@Cray2TheZ]

@@CivilianSatellite Ohhhhhh, got it! Thanks for taking the time to explain things to this humble Internet stranger, I really appreciate it! Cheers from Switzerland!

[@FanThemePark]

I liked Wicked a lot when I visited! Cannibal still reigns supreme at the park but Wicked is a nice second coaster to have right behind it.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I prefer Cannibal too.

[@willt6970]

Everything you said is pretty much exactly how I feel about Wicked; the first half is probably a 9/10 but the second half is more like a 4/10. That zero-g roll is one of the best elements in the park, but the meandering 2nd half make Bombora look intense. I'd love if more parks (especially smaller ones where eurofighters might fit) gave Zierer some consideration, especially since they've shown this vertical launch tower can work really well.

[@andyroman8223]

The tophat and zero g roll are the two best elements at the park, and the zero g roll is in my top 3 favorite inversions of all time.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wonder if the cost is the big deterrent since this ride supposedly cost $10 million per RCDB.

[@roxynano]

​@@CanobieCoasterGranted many euro fighters also cost more than $10 million recently but it could be due to inflation/specific construction costs. SpongeBob Rock Bottom Plunge was $2 million to build but maybe having the ride entirely enclosed is a bonus since it doesn't need to worry about weather damages, so that is probably why they installed that one so cheaply. Still, I would love to see more tower launch coasters.

[@gemmachaos]

Interesting how Gerstlauer Eurofighters are a dime a dozen but the Zierer version is so rare. Seems like Zierer does a better job on the smoothness, at least. Vertical launches have a lot of potential and I'm exited that more manufacturers are giving it a shot. Wicked always struck me as a coaster that walks so others can run. Is this the future of Dragster, maybe?

[@CanobieCoaster]

This was pretty costly at $10 million, so maybe that's why.

[@eekedout]

Lagoon being my home park, I am far too familiar with Wicked and my kids and I scored the last ride of the season this year. YES!!! Wicked is the worlds first vertical launch coaster and for myself, the preferred method of going up a tower coaster. First, the restraints. Horrid!!! For having the same design as Cannibal, the shin restraints CRUSH your shins on Wicked but not on Cannibal and needs fixed. As for the ride… the tower launch and the zero g roll are the only good things about it and sucks everywhere else. Maybe I always get a bad train but get rattled to bits after the mid course. Very good video sir.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'm thankful Cannibal has better shin guards. You have more clearance so you don't really notice them.

[@ScottyMania313]

I feel that they could add a little bit of pop to the ending if the tunnel at the end of Wicked had some sweet lights like Demon or some smoke or loud music or a jump scare noise to add a tiny shock to the rider. Lagoon Park gives me the Euro Park feel with the surrounding scenery; those mountains are just so photogenic. Question - Do you prefer to go on rides alone or with a friend? During this video, I saw the part about the single-rider line and I was like, "I'm a fan". I have a thing about buffer space in smaller areas like coaster carts and I get a ton of flack, especially at the ballpark when there are empty seats.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish they added a second inversion there. The more the merrier for cars being full.

[@Thrills_And_Chills_WQAQ]

Earlier this week I was looking for a wicked review, and you come to the rescue.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@Thrills_And_Chills_WQAQ]

@@CanobieCoaster very much did like all your reviews, also quick question, are you open to doing interviews?

[@rcfreakeagle]

I truly want them to redesign the second half of Wicked. Use the same footers as what's there, but change the layout to help give it some more "oomph." Having a steeper drop off the brake run and keeping things lower with some bunny hops and sharper turns would make it so much better! Lagoon would be able to do it themselves and it wouldn't be costly. They could also get new trains from ART. Knoebels has done so with Impulse, and Lagoon already has a great relationship with them.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish they could redo the 2nd half.

[@mackenziefritz8169]

Wicked's layout reminds me a lot like Sky Rocket's at Kennywood, especially the first half. You have: that launch into a straight top hat, an overbank/cutback, a zero-g roll, and then a turn up into a harsh midcourse.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It does have some similarities, not all good.

[@walterandclaude]

You have the best reviews by far. The backround you give to coaters you review makes all the difference. After riding Impulse at Knoebels for the first time in 10 years yesteray, I've been wondering why only two of these have been built. It has been down for me on most of my visits and it broke down yesterday with a cherry picker working at the top of the lift. Your info about the welds give some clues as to why. Solid coaster though. Which one do you prefer? Wicked or Impulse? I haven't ridden wicked yet. The zero g roll looks better than any element on Impulse, but that break run combined with the pointless banked turns seems likes it kills the ride.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks, I prefer Impulse entirely for the start.

[@andyroman8223]

Hot take, but I think the drop off the tophat is better than the drops on Skyrush, Cannibal, and Twisted Colossus, and the zero g roll is better than any inversion on twisted colossus or twisted timbers. IMO on RMC zero g rolls, you only get weak floater, but on wicked, you get some strong and sustained flojector airtime. Also, this is my home park, and I didn't know half the information you mentioned, you did some amazing research.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I prefer the drops you said, but Wicked's drop is still great.

[@Kaleidoscope69699]

I believe I saw you while you were at lagoon, I was the ride operator on the air gate side earlier in the morning, anyways, this review was great and had some awesome information!

[@CanobieCoaster]

That would make sense. This was my second ride in the morning. Your crew was sending trains fast!

[@coasterconquistador2517]

Nice video! Zierer is an interesting manufacturer. Intamin’s new model looks solid, but eerily reminiscent of the tower coaster model from Zierer. One has already been installed called storm coaster.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Storm looks pretty cool.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

I still haven't been to Lagoon, but I would love to experience that vertical launch. I imagine that I'll like Wicked more than Impulse.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I prefer Wicked primarily because of the launch.

[@iveseentoomuch]

When did you ride this cause I always felt like the inversion was rather snappy. That might be due to the fact all my rides throughout this past summer were in above 90F temps.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I've only been to Lagoon during Frightmares.

[@potatojuiceultra]

Rode this a few days ago, its a great ride. The second half sucks but the good parts are easily worth it. My first ride was way better than my second, I hit my head on the seat a lot. I would definitely recommend leaning forward or way back on the launch, the forces are really weird and hard to prepare for. That being said, the drop off the top hat gives amazing airtime, and the zero g roll is one of my favorite inversions I've ever experienced. Also, something funny I noticed is that there is a track diagram visible from the queue, and the first overbank is labelled as an Immelmann.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I agree the first half keeps bringing me back.

[@clairefunnell8481]

Really looks like fun. Great name for it. Certainly looks Wicked.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It is!

[@mateoalvira3514]

At Lagoon, what would you rate Wicked? And what would you rate Colossus the Fire Dragon?

[@CanobieCoaster]

I made separate reviews for those.

[@madawg3010]

I love Lagoon, and I have been on this ride maybe about 20 times over the years, but I will not be riding it again. I'm 6"1" and a skinny dude. The restraints pinch on my shins/legs as soon as it launches to make it painful and uncomfortable the rest of the ride for me. I get off of the ride, wondering if my legs are still okay. If they upgrade the restraints, I will ride again, but until then, I'm sticking to cannibal.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Oh no!

[@maxhagenauer24]

It's a kinda short and pretty lackluster layout after the mid corse, but that first half is absolutely insane. Vertical launches are just now becoming a thing again but this is the old school. The restraints give much room and the airtime must be insane over the top. Also very fast operations, I could marathon this thing all day.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I wish the second half did more.

[@Kittyhat]

As a 6'7 dude I can only ride this 2-4 times a day before I get nasty shin bruises lmao. Worth it for that god tier zero g roll though

[@Kittyhat]

Also i gotta say I prefer this straight vertical drop to the eurofighter beyond vertical drops, you get that stomach drop sensation more than almost any coaster I can think of

[@CanobieCoaster]

Oh my. I can see how those restraints would be even worse if you're taller.

[@arkitect156]

I think lagoon is like a larger knoebels in some ways, the in-house designs, urge to be as original and unique as possible. It's amazing. Makes me wonder what Knoebels could do with more land/investment

[@CanobieCoaster]

It does have a lot of similarities.

[@mateoalvira3514]

Was Wicked the only coaster at Lagoon do you know with shin guards?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Cannibal has them too.

[@halenarouzer9257]

I agree, I'm just saying this out loud, but I say if begins in the tunnel and launches you out, then why it can't end that way too? you know, like a loop.

[@CanobieCoaster]

So it launches into an inversion?

[@jaimelubin]

I was not expecting a musical reference in this review! Are you secretly a theatre kid at heart? :)

[@CanobieCoaster]

Not really. It's my fiancee's favorite musical though, which is why I'm familiar with it.

[@jaimelubin]

@@CanobieCoaster She's got excellent taste! 😊

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

This coaster makes me want to see the Intamin Vertical Launch Coaster concept in America

[@CanobieCoaster]

Me too.

[@askjeevescosby2928]

I'm sure intamin created the vlc just as replacements for their tall excelerstors like dragster. I'm sure after cedar point successfully changes dragster over the other parks will follow suit. I guarantee six flags will have the same thing done with king da ka as what they are doing to dragster. What ever it ends up being.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I'm excited to see what happens with Dragster.

[@mateoalvira3514]

How many coasters do you know with shin guards? See Wicked at Lagoon. And see Coast Rider at Knott's Berry Farm. See the two and how would you think to ride again? Seeing in photos and videos, I think there are shin guards on both.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes those rides have shin guards.

[@trillcamino2419]

one of my fav coasters

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice!

[@SunshineStateCoasters]

I found something interesting on RCDB. Apparently Cannibal and Bombora are now being listed under the manufacturer ART Engineering GmbH. And on ART’s website Cannibal and Bombora are there. I know they made the trains for those 2 coasters, I just find it weird now RCDB no longer considers them built in house.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

Interesting

[@CanobieCoaster]

I believe Lagoon outsourced the job to them, but they basically handled everything internally.

[@UwePieper]

You used it like this before… but doesn‘t an overbanked turn have banking over 90 degrees?

[@CanobieCoaster]

That's fair.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

What do you think about the shin guards on Wicked at Lagoon, the shin guards on Steel Vengeance at Cedar Point, the shin guards on Force One at Schwaben Park, the shin guards on Electric Eel at SeaWorld San Diego, and the shin guards on Coast Rider at Knott's Berry Farm?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Coast Rider's are brutal. The ones on Electric Eel aren't great. Can tolerate the others.

[@mgloven9533]

You used to be able to walk straight into the single rider lines on wicked and cannibal, but Lagoon had to change it because it was severely abused by large groups going into the single rider line thinking it would be faster

[@CanobieCoaster]

I have no problem with large groups using the single rider line as long as they know they're getting split up.

[@mgloven9533]

@@CanobieCoaster Lagoon's problem was the single rider line often became so large it often took longer than the regular queue. It would sometimes take 20-30 mins to get through a group and that produced a lot of guest complaints.

[@littleBugC]

If you go to lagoon on the right day and time you can alot of rides. It might be my most riden rollercoaster disregarding Colossus.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Nice! I've only been for Frightmares which I know gets busy.

[@jtwoolley]

I have ridden this. It is AWESOME. I LOVE it.

[@CanobieCoaster]

I love the start.

[@teddym2808]

It's not really Zierer's fault here, the park can dial down that mid course trim any time they like.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The question is whether that trim was the park or Zierer's choice.

[@teddym2808]

@@CanobieCoaster It can still be adjusted, surely.

[@mateoalvira3514]

And see Wildcat's Revenge at Hersheypark, asking you about the shin guards there, how would you compare them to: Superman: Ride of Steel at Six Flags America Electric Eel at SeaWorld San Diego Wicked at Lagoon Coast Rider at Knott's Berry Farm

[@CanobieCoaster]

The ones on RMCs don't bother me. They're roomier than the 4 examples you gave.

[@JulianDale94]

I like to call the inversion the Wicked twister

[@CanobieCoaster]

A good name for it.

[@mateoalvira7826]

How many coasters in the world use shin guards?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Not sure. A lot do.

[@TheGuyFromUtah]

Btw this year lagoon fixed the restraints now they don’t go down any further on the ride

[@CanobieCoaster]

Good to hear!

[@ChannelMan434]

I loved Wicked on the ride I got. 2nd half definitely disappointing but the 1st half would still be 2nd at the park if the ride ended there IMO.

[@CanobieCoaster]

The first half makes it.

[@mateoalvira3514]

If I ask you, look at the shin guards on Wicked at Lagoon, but Wicked was not placed in your video of top 25 worst roller coasters in the world (2020), but Coast Rider at Knott's Berry Farm was there. So if I ask you, why?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Coast Rider's shin guards hurt and ruin the ride.

[@BottedBlake]

Amazing video mate!

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks a lot!

[@BottedBlake]

@@CanobieCoaster No Problem! 🙌

[@upsidedown_]

This ride has been leaked for the legoland in Charleroi, it looks like fun but it sucks the second half looks bad Also for the single rider? Can't you ask the persons in queue to pass and tell them your a single rider? Or a member off staff?

[@CanobieCoaster]

I tried that for Cannibal, but they said no. Wicked doesn't have an employee at the main entrance. You have to get through those few switchbacks to reach them.

[@upsidedown_]

@@CanobieCoaster That does suck and kills the purpose off single rider lines :P

[@johnwoolley3239]

For next review, please review colossus the fire dragon.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That one is coming up soon. Want to review that and the park before Lagoon opens for the year.

[@jtwoolley]

the second half needs improvement. Maybe another inversion or another zero g roll.

[@CanobieCoaster]

That would have helped.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

What are the differences between the shin guards on Wicked at Lagoon and the shin guards on Coast Rider at Knott's Berry Farm? What do you think?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Coast Rider's dig into the shins of most guests. The ones on Wicked wrap around shins.

[@mateoalvira3514]

Imagine the shin guards on: Wicked at Lagoon Wicked Cyclone at Six Flags New England Coast Rider at Knott's Berry Farm See your video of top 25 worst roller coasters in the world (2020). Of those three coasters, Coast Rider was placed there. See that, but there were no placements for Wicked and Wicked Cyclone in that video. So if I ask you, why?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Coast Rider's shin guards hurt and ruin the ride.

[@teddym2808]

I still can not for the life of me understand why that trim is so strong on the mid course.. totally destroys the drop off it and the entire second half. It's actually senseless in this case to have such a strong trim, and because of this I only rode it twice, as I much preferred Cannibal. PS I got no airtime off the MCBR drop, but I can only imagine how GREAT the airtime would have been if the trims were not so ridiculously over done. I do not understand why they have done this on a thrill coaster.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It's an awkward finale. I prefer Cannibal as well, but I always ride Wicked a few times for that launch and start.

[@poABC123]

went on it for the first time yesterday wow it was wild

[@CanobieCoaster]

It is.

[@Wolf_Tycoons]

Yeah, it annoys me that Intamin kinda used false advertising there.

[@CanobieCoaster]

It is a bit odd they don't count this as a launch.

[@Bulgarian_mapping]

👍 😊 great job

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks!

[@jtwoolley]

Cool.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Sure is.

[@themeparknewz5533]

It’s so annoying that intamin came out and said it is the first of its kind. Wicked has been around for 15 years now.

[@CanobieCoaster]

They said this is a boost, not a launch. But it feels like a launch to me.

[@themeparknewz5533]

@@CanobieCoaster ya we’ll either way it is the first roller coaster to have vertical lsms

[@mateoalvira3514]

How many coasters do you know with shin guards? See Wicked at Lagoon. And see Coast Rider at Knott's Berry Farm. See the two and how would you think to ride again? Seeing in photos and videos, I think there are shin guards on both. But I was asking you, Wicked at Lagoon was not placed in your video of top 25 worst roller coasters in the world (2020), but Coast Rider was. So why?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Wicked isn't painful. There are many coasters with shin guards.

[@rushiscool]

Awesome video also second

[@CanobieCoaster]

Thanks!

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

And imagine riding again those coasters: Wicked at Lagoon Storm Chaser at Kentucky Kingdom Superman - Ride of Steel at Six Flags America Hype at Särkänniemi Coast Rider at Knott's Berry Farm I think they have shin guards, but how would you think about the shin guards on all those coasters? I saw in photos that the shin guards on all those coasters are put on and look tolerable.

[@CanobieCoaster]

Coast Rider's are atrocious. I don't love the ones on Hype or Superman, but I can deal with them.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Do you know roller coasters with shin guards from Vekoma? Examples:

[@CanobieCoaster]

Their family boomerangs.

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

Would you like to go again to Lagoon?

[@CanobieCoaster]

Yes

[@cliquet3scliquet3s96]

See Wicked at Lagoon, with the shin guards, Wicked was not placed in your video of top 25 worst roller coasters in the world (2020). Canobie Coaster would say: Wicked isn't...

[@CanobieCoaster]

uncomfortable.