Saturday, March 31, 2007
NORTHEAST AND INTERNATIONAL BRACKET VOTING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED
Voting will officially open in the Northeast bracket sometime tomorrow or Monday and remain open until at least 11:59pm EDT on Thursday, April 12. Voting will officially open in the International bracket sometime on Wednesday or Thursday and remain open until at least 11:59pm EDT on Saturday, April 14.
Voting will officially open in the Northeast bracket sometime tomorrow or Monday and remain open until at least 11:59pm EDT on Thursday, April 12. Voting will officially open in the International bracket sometime on Wednesday or Thursday and remain open until at least 11:59pm EDT on Saturday, April 14.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
WEST BRACKET NOW OPEN FOR VOTING!
The West bracket is now officially open for voting and will remain open until at least 11:59pm EDT on Tuesday, April 10. If you already know the voting procedure, click here (link deactivated due to voting now being closed) to pick your favorites in those West match-ups you're qualified to vote on. If not, scroll down for more information.
The tournament started strong with some 60 votes in the first 24 hours in the Midwest / South bracket, but since then only five additional votes have come in. I'd like to see those numbers rocket up (after all, if Mitch's poll can get several hundred voters, this one should be able to pull at least 150 per ballot). So . . . if you're qualified to vote in even just one match-up, please do so. Also, if you're a member of a coaster-related board where information about this tournament hasn't been posted, I encourage you to spread the word there. Every contribution helps!
Feedback is still being sought on how to handle the International bracket. Should I implement the proposed revision or leave it alone? What little input I have received suggests that I should go with the revised International bracket, so if you have an opinion on the matter (pro or con) I'd appreciate hearing it.
That's all for now. Get voting!
The West bracket is now officially open for voting and will remain open until at least 11:59pm EDT on Tuesday, April 10. If you already know the voting procedure, click here (link deactivated due to voting now being closed) to pick your favorites in those West match-ups you're qualified to vote on. If not, scroll down for more information.
The tournament started strong with some 60 votes in the first 24 hours in the Midwest / South bracket, but since then only five additional votes have come in. I'd like to see those numbers rocket up (after all, if Mitch's poll can get several hundred voters, this one should be able to pull at least 150 per ballot). So . . . if you're qualified to vote in even just one match-up, please do so. Also, if you're a member of a coaster-related board where information about this tournament hasn't been posted, I encourage you to spread the word there. Every contribution helps!
Feedback is still being sought on how to handle the International bracket. Should I implement the proposed revision or leave it alone? What little input I have received suggests that I should go with the revised International bracket, so if you have an opinion on the matter (pro or con) I'd appreciate hearing it.
That's all for now. Get voting!
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
PROPOSED REVISION TO THE INTERNATIONAL BRACKET
(Note: Scroll to the third post down for introductory information.)
IF the International bracket were to be rearranged, it would look something like this:
1. Balder, Liseberg, Sweden
23. Vuoristorata, Linnamaki Park, Finland
9. Falken, Farup Sommerland, Denmark
15. Rutschebanen, Bakken, Denmark
8. Thundercoaster, Tusenfryd, Norway
17. Rutschebanen, Tivoli Gardens, Denmark
4. Megafobia, Oakwood, Wales
29. Scenic Railway, Dreamland, England
16. King Solomons Mines, Pleasureland Southport, England
20. Roller Coaster, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
5. Grand National, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
31. Runaway Coaster, Rotunda, England
11. Wild Mouse, Blackpool Pleaure Beach, England
22. Roller Coaster, Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, England
18. Big Dipper, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
25. Cyclone, Pleasureland Southport, England
6. Colossos, Heide Park, Germany
32. Sierra Tonante, Mirabilandia Park, Italy
10. Loup Garou, Walibi Belgium, Belgium
13. Robin Hood, Walibi World, Netherlands
7. Tonnerre de Zeus, Parc Asterix, France
30. Hochschaubahn, Prater Park, Austria
12. Stampida, Port Aventura, Spain
21. Le Monstre, La Ronde, Canada
3. Coaster, PNE Fairgrounds/Playland, Canada
27. Mighty Canadian Mine Buster, Canada's Wonderland, Canada
19. Serpiente de Fuego, La Feria, Mexico
24. Wilde Beast, Canada's Wonderland, Canada
14. Regina, Tobu Zoo, Japan
26. Elf, Hirakata Park, Japan
2. Aska, Nara Dreamland, Japan
28. White Cyclone, Nagashima Spaland, Japan
So what does everyone think? Leave it as originally arranged or implement this change?
(Note: Scroll to the third post down for introductory information.)
IF the International bracket were to be rearranged, it would look something like this:
1. Balder, Liseberg, Sweden
23. Vuoristorata, Linnamaki Park, Finland
9. Falken, Farup Sommerland, Denmark
15. Rutschebanen, Bakken, Denmark
8. Thundercoaster, Tusenfryd, Norway
17. Rutschebanen, Tivoli Gardens, Denmark
4. Megafobia, Oakwood, Wales
29. Scenic Railway, Dreamland, England
16. King Solomons Mines, Pleasureland Southport, England
20. Roller Coaster, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
5. Grand National, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
31. Runaway Coaster, Rotunda, England
11. Wild Mouse, Blackpool Pleaure Beach, England
22. Roller Coaster, Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, England
18. Big Dipper, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
25. Cyclone, Pleasureland Southport, England
6. Colossos, Heide Park, Germany
32. Sierra Tonante, Mirabilandia Park, Italy
10. Loup Garou, Walibi Belgium, Belgium
13. Robin Hood, Walibi World, Netherlands
7. Tonnerre de Zeus, Parc Asterix, France
30. Hochschaubahn, Prater Park, Austria
12. Stampida, Port Aventura, Spain
21. Le Monstre, La Ronde, Canada
3. Coaster, PNE Fairgrounds/Playland, Canada
27. Mighty Canadian Mine Buster, Canada's Wonderland, Canada
19. Serpiente de Fuego, La Feria, Mexico
24. Wilde Beast, Canada's Wonderland, Canada
14. Regina, Tobu Zoo, Japan
26. Elf, Hirakata Park, Japan
2. Aska, Nara Dreamland, Japan
28. White Cyclone, Nagashima Spaland, Japan
So what does everyone think? Leave it as originally arranged or implement this change?
AND SO IT BEGINS . . .
Well, we've been up and running for less than 24 hours and there have already been more than three dozen votes cast. Assuming this momentum can keep up through the next week, I'm very encouraged by the rate of participation.
I know there are some folks who are not qualified to participate in any of the match-ups. Sorry about that, but if you've not ridden many wood coasters, no poll of this nature will likely be fun for you. Indeed, when too many inexperienced riders participate in a "standard" poll (i.e. Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards, where it's 10 points for first, 9 points for second, etc.), it can skew results unfairly. For instance, if all you've ridden is GhostRider and the two Magic Mountain woodies (well, one former and one current, that is) then that's all you have to rank, which in a "standard" points poll means that two relatively "lame" rides are going to get points simply because they're the only things you've ridden. But, once you've ridden just 10 or 20 more coasters, one, two, or perhaps even all three of those rides will likely drop out of your top ten, making the results a little better rounded. Mitch's poll and this "tournament" eliminate the bias of inexperience by forcing/allowing (respectively) people to pass on match-ups they're not qualified to participate in.
That said, even if you're only qualified to vote in one match-up in the entire first round, you should still do so. Vote on the one you know and pass on the other 15. As of when I started to write this posting, there are two match-ups that are tied, and two more where just half a dozen votes would swing things the other way. If you happen to be qualified to vote in one of those match-ups, your vote could well be the deciding vote!
Another issue that has come up is with the International bracket. It seems that the seeding happens to present a geographically diverse field, making it difficult to find voters who have ridden both rides featured in any given match-up. I could rearrange the International bracket and throw out the seeding, but I suspect that sooner or later, there will be no way of getting around the fact that, by definition, this bracket will be a geographical challenge for many. So the question is should I just leave it alone and hope that the voting makes for better match-ups down the road or should I juggle it around knowing full well that it'll get complicated again as we get towards the final rounds of voting in this bracket? If you have feedback on the issue, leave a comment for this posting.
Well, we've been up and running for less than 24 hours and there have already been more than three dozen votes cast. Assuming this momentum can keep up through the next week, I'm very encouraged by the rate of participation.
I know there are some folks who are not qualified to participate in any of the match-ups. Sorry about that, but if you've not ridden many wood coasters, no poll of this nature will likely be fun for you. Indeed, when too many inexperienced riders participate in a "standard" poll (i.e. Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards, where it's 10 points for first, 9 points for second, etc.), it can skew results unfairly. For instance, if all you've ridden is GhostRider and the two Magic Mountain woodies (well, one former and one current, that is) then that's all you have to rank, which in a "standard" points poll means that two relatively "lame" rides are going to get points simply because they're the only things you've ridden. But, once you've ridden just 10 or 20 more coasters, one, two, or perhaps even all three of those rides will likely drop out of your top ten, making the results a little better rounded. Mitch's poll and this "tournament" eliminate the bias of inexperience by forcing/allowing (respectively) people to pass on match-ups they're not qualified to participate in.
That said, even if you're only qualified to vote in one match-up in the entire first round, you should still do so. Vote on the one you know and pass on the other 15. As of when I started to write this posting, there are two match-ups that are tied, and two more where just half a dozen votes would swing things the other way. If you happen to be qualified to vote in one of those match-ups, your vote could well be the deciding vote!
Another issue that has come up is with the International bracket. It seems that the seeding happens to present a geographically diverse field, making it difficult to find voters who have ridden both rides featured in any given match-up. I could rearrange the International bracket and throw out the seeding, but I suspect that sooner or later, there will be no way of getting around the fact that, by definition, this bracket will be a geographical challenge for many. So the question is should I just leave it alone and hope that the voting makes for better match-ups down the road or should I juggle it around knowing full well that it'll get complicated again as we get towards the final rounds of voting in this bracket? If you have feedback on the issue, leave a comment for this posting.
WELCOME TO WOOD COASTER MADNESS!
Inspired by www.bandmadness.net, which in turn was inspired by that college basketball tournament thingy, I present Wood Coaster Madness. 128 wood coasters will compete for bragging rights for best in their region and best on earth!
Coasters are seeded predominantly based upon how they placed in the 2006 Internet Wood Roller Coaster Poll conducted by Mitch Hawker. Some mild "nudging" of the seeding was subjectively provided by me in order to reflect some of my own opinions as well as to make for (potentially) more dramatic match-ups. Coasters that had less than 10 riders in Mitch's poll were eliminated from consideration in this "tournament." Also, rides like Gwazi and Twisted Twins are one ride for the purposes of this tournament. If you believe there's a significant difference between tracks on rides like these, pick your favorite side and evaluate it against whichever ride it's up against.
I know some are asking, "Why bother with this tournament if we already have Mitch's poll?" Well, the difference is that Mitch's poll is scientific and relatively mathematically sound. Here, the seeding methodology was guessed "on a wing and a prayer." This is just for fun to get us through the tail end of the off-season and the start of the "weekend-only" season. Additionally, in Mitch's poll, for a coaster to be number one, it has to beat every other coaster out there. In this tournament, the winning coaster will have beaten just seven other coasters to claim the title of champion . . . the catch -- one loss and a ride is done. Will the top seeds earn their position or will there be some major upsets? Only your votes can determine that.
I think this venture may, in the end, serve as a tool to enhance the accuracy of Mitch's poll in the future. I mean, let's face it . . . those of us who have ridden a lot of coasters know the top 20 or 30 that we really like and the bottom 10 or so that we really dislike, but how much thought do we put into the middle of the pack? Having to actually look at some of these match-ups and vote on them may help to crystallize our thoughts for future polls. For those of us who don't participate in Mitch's poll, this format may be especially appealing. You don't have to fill out a long ballot and try to sort out where dozens of different coasters fit in relation to each other . . . it's all one match-up at a time, with no more than 16 match-ups to consider in any one sitting. Mitch's poll takes minutes, if not hours to fill out. This silly little tournament can be voted on when you have two or three spare minutes at work when the boss isn't looking at your computer. :)
Here's how to vote: When you get to the ballot page, you'll see a list of seeded match-ups with the name, seed, and location of each coaster as well as an option that says "I'm not qualified to vote in this match-up." For each match-up in which you've ridden BOTH coasters, pick the one you like better. This is not necessarily the one that's seeded higher or that you're "supposed to" like better, but the one you'd actually prefer to ride on any given day. If you've not ridden both coasters in a match-up you should choose the "I'm not qualified to vote in this match-up" option. If you've ridden one but not the other, you should probably also pass on casting a vote. The exception to this might be if you're extremely fond of the one you've ridden and it's in a high-seed position. A 3 vs. 30 seed where you love the 3-seeded ride and have never ridden the 30-seeded ride, for example, is probably safe to cast a vote on. When in doubt, though, always choose the "I'm not qualified to vote in this match-up" option. That option would also apply in cases where you genuinely have no opinion as well as in cases where's it's just too tough for you to choose between them (whether they be two really beloved or two genuinely hated rides). Choose one of the three options for all the match-ups on the ballot page, hit submit, and you're done (until voting opens on the next bracket). Quick and simple, no fuss no muss.
In the event of a tied vote in a match-up at the close of any given voting session prior to "the sweet 16," the higher-seeded ride will advance. Once into the sweet 16 (and beyond), voting will remain open FOR THE MATCH-UP(S) IN QUESTION ONLY for at least an additional 24 hours (any votes cast in other match-ups will not be counted, as the votes will have already been recorded in match-ups that had a clear winner at the regular close of voting) in the hope of finding a winner. If at the end of 24 hours there is still a tie, I will determine who advances. I may do this by my choice of personal preference, automatic advancement of the higher-seeded ride, coin flip, or best two out of three of the aforementioned methods.
There are four brackets of 32 coasters, divided into regions. The four brackets are Northeast (U.S. states in New England plus NJ, NY, PA, MD, and WV), Midwest / South (which is actually the remainder of the eastern third or so of the U.S.), West (the rest of the U.S.), and International (the world outside the U.S.). Round one in the Midwest / South bracket is open for voting immediately! Click here to go directly to the Midwest / South ballot page (link deactivated as voting is now closed in this bracket). So as to allow time to get the word out, voting will remain open in this bracket until AT LEAST 11:59pm EDT on Monday, April 9 (after that, you're voting at the risk that I may have already recorded the results, rendering your vote meaningless).
Voting will open in the West bracket sometime on Thursday or Friday and remain open until AT LEAST 11:59 EDT on Tuesday, April 10 (same deal . . . after that time, your vote may be for naught).
These first two brackets are the test for this venture. If enough people participate, voting will open in the Northeast bracket and then, finally, the International bracket (last to open to allow for greater lead-time in spreading the word to all your well-traveled and/or foreign friends) at a time and date to be announced. I'd say if at least 200 people cast votes (even if they can only vote in a couple of match-ups), we'll continue. If we're between 50 and 200, I'll think about continuing. Less than 50, and I'll probably shut 'er down since, even just for fun, it'll be difficult to get any meaningful results.
I think that pretty much explains the concept and how to participate, so there's nothing left for you to do but to vote. Updates, announcements, and results will be posted here. Check back regularly!
Inspired by www.bandmadness.net, which in turn was inspired by that college basketball tournament thingy, I present Wood Coaster Madness. 128 wood coasters will compete for bragging rights for best in their region and best on earth!
Coasters are seeded predominantly based upon how they placed in the 2006 Internet Wood Roller Coaster Poll conducted by Mitch Hawker. Some mild "nudging" of the seeding was subjectively provided by me in order to reflect some of my own opinions as well as to make for (potentially) more dramatic match-ups. Coasters that had less than 10 riders in Mitch's poll were eliminated from consideration in this "tournament." Also, rides like Gwazi and Twisted Twins are one ride for the purposes of this tournament. If you believe there's a significant difference between tracks on rides like these, pick your favorite side and evaluate it against whichever ride it's up against.
I know some are asking, "Why bother with this tournament if we already have Mitch's poll?" Well, the difference is that Mitch's poll is scientific and relatively mathematically sound. Here, the seeding methodology was guessed "on a wing and a prayer." This is just for fun to get us through the tail end of the off-season and the start of the "weekend-only" season. Additionally, in Mitch's poll, for a coaster to be number one, it has to beat every other coaster out there. In this tournament, the winning coaster will have beaten just seven other coasters to claim the title of champion . . . the catch -- one loss and a ride is done. Will the top seeds earn their position or will there be some major upsets? Only your votes can determine that.
I think this venture may, in the end, serve as a tool to enhance the accuracy of Mitch's poll in the future. I mean, let's face it . . . those of us who have ridden a lot of coasters know the top 20 or 30 that we really like and the bottom 10 or so that we really dislike, but how much thought do we put into the middle of the pack? Having to actually look at some of these match-ups and vote on them may help to crystallize our thoughts for future polls. For those of us who don't participate in Mitch's poll, this format may be especially appealing. You don't have to fill out a long ballot and try to sort out where dozens of different coasters fit in relation to each other . . . it's all one match-up at a time, with no more than 16 match-ups to consider in any one sitting. Mitch's poll takes minutes, if not hours to fill out. This silly little tournament can be voted on when you have two or three spare minutes at work when the boss isn't looking at your computer. :)
Here's how to vote: When you get to the ballot page, you'll see a list of seeded match-ups with the name, seed, and location of each coaster as well as an option that says "I'm not qualified to vote in this match-up." For each match-up in which you've ridden BOTH coasters, pick the one you like better. This is not necessarily the one that's seeded higher or that you're "supposed to" like better, but the one you'd actually prefer to ride on any given day. If you've not ridden both coasters in a match-up you should choose the "I'm not qualified to vote in this match-up" option. If you've ridden one but not the other, you should probably also pass on casting a vote. The exception to this might be if you're extremely fond of the one you've ridden and it's in a high-seed position. A 3 vs. 30 seed where you love the 3-seeded ride and have never ridden the 30-seeded ride, for example, is probably safe to cast a vote on. When in doubt, though, always choose the "I'm not qualified to vote in this match-up" option. That option would also apply in cases where you genuinely have no opinion as well as in cases where's it's just too tough for you to choose between them (whether they be two really beloved or two genuinely hated rides). Choose one of the three options for all the match-ups on the ballot page, hit submit, and you're done (until voting opens on the next bracket). Quick and simple, no fuss no muss.
In the event of a tied vote in a match-up at the close of any given voting session prior to "the sweet 16," the higher-seeded ride will advance. Once into the sweet 16 (and beyond), voting will remain open FOR THE MATCH-UP(S) IN QUESTION ONLY for at least an additional 24 hours (any votes cast in other match-ups will not be counted, as the votes will have already been recorded in match-ups that had a clear winner at the regular close of voting) in the hope of finding a winner. If at the end of 24 hours there is still a tie, I will determine who advances. I may do this by my choice of personal preference, automatic advancement of the higher-seeded ride, coin flip, or best two out of three of the aforementioned methods.
There are four brackets of 32 coasters, divided into regions. The four brackets are Northeast (U.S. states in New England plus NJ, NY, PA, MD, and WV), Midwest / South (which is actually the remainder of the eastern third or so of the U.S.), West (the rest of the U.S.), and International (the world outside the U.S.). Round one in the Midwest / South bracket is open for voting immediately! Click here to go directly to the Midwest / South ballot page (link deactivated as voting is now closed in this bracket). So as to allow time to get the word out, voting will remain open in this bracket until AT LEAST 11:59pm EDT on Monday, April 9 (after that, you're voting at the risk that I may have already recorded the results, rendering your vote meaningless).
Voting will open in the West bracket sometime on Thursday or Friday and remain open until AT LEAST 11:59 EDT on Tuesday, April 10 (same deal . . . after that time, your vote may be for naught).
These first two brackets are the test for this venture. If enough people participate, voting will open in the Northeast bracket and then, finally, the International bracket (last to open to allow for greater lead-time in spreading the word to all your well-traveled and/or foreign friends) at a time and date to be announced. I'd say if at least 200 people cast votes (even if they can only vote in a couple of match-ups), we'll continue. If we're between 50 and 200, I'll think about continuing. Less than 50, and I'll probably shut 'er down since, even just for fun, it'll be difficult to get any meaningful results.
I think that pretty much explains the concept and how to participate, so there's nothing left for you to do but to vote. Updates, announcements, and results will be posted here. Check back regularly!
THE MATCH-UPS
Here is a complete list of all the Round 1 match-ups in all the brackets so that you can start thinking about what you might want to vote for:
MIDWEST / SOUTH (Includes most of the eastern U.S. except for states in the Northeast bracket)
1. The Voyage, Holiday World, IN
32. Twisted Twins, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, KY
16. Gwazi, Busch Gardens-Tampa, FL
17. Blue Streak, Cedar Point, OH
5. Rampage, Visionland, AL
28. Rebel Yell, Kings Dominion, VA
9. Screechin' Eagle, LeSourdsville Lake, OH
24. Starliner, Miracle Strip, FL
4. Raven, Holiday World, IN
29. Hurler, Kings Dominion, VA
13. The Grizzly, Kings Dominion, VA
20. Swamp Fox, Family Kingdom, SC
10. Cornball Express, Indiana Beach, IN
23. Great American Scream Machine, Six Flags Over Georgia, GA
6. Kentucky Rumbler, Beech Bend, KY
27. Racer, Kings Island, OH
8. The Legend, Holiday World, IN
25. The Villain, Geauga Lake, OH
3. Thunderhead, Dollywood, TN
30. American Eagle, Six Flags Great America, IL
14. Thunder Run, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, KY
19. Hoosier Hurricane, Indiana Beach, IN
12. Georgia Cyclone, Six Flags Over Georgia, GA
21. Cannonball, Lake Winnepesaukah, GA
11. Viper, Six Flags Great America, IL
22. Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain, Indiana Beach, IN
7. Dania Beach Hurricane, Boomers, FL
26. Tornado, Stricker's Grove, OH
15. The Beast, Kings Island, OH
18. Big Dipper, Geauga Lake, OH
2. Shivering Timbers, Michigan's Adventure, MI
31. Thunder Road, Carowinds, NC
WEST (Extends from the west coast of the U.S. to as far east as Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana)
1. Tremors, Silverwood, ID
32. Wildcat, Frontier City, OK
16. Mega Zeph, Six Flags New Orleans, LA
17. Outlaw, Adventureland, IA
5. Timber Terror, Silverwood, ID
28. High Roller, Valleyfair!, MN
9. Giant Dipper, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, CA
24. Arkansas Twister, Magic Springs, AR
4. Ozark Wildcat, Celebration City, MO
29. Timberhawk, Enchanted Village, WA
13. Roar, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, CA
20. Giant Dipper, Belmont Park, CA
10. Cyclops, Mount Olympus, WI
23. Judge Roy Scream, Six Flags Over Texas, TX
6. New Mexico Rattler, Cliff's, NM
27. Zippin' Pippin, Libertyland, TN
8. Cyclone, Lakeside, CO
25. Tornado, Adventureland, IA
3. Avalanche, Timber Falls, WI
30. Roller Coaster, Lagoon, UT
14. The Legend, Arnolds Park, IA
19. Timber Wolf, Worlds of Fun, MO
12. Roller Coaster, Puyallup/Western Washington Fair, WA
21. Screamin' Eagle, Six Flags St. Louis, MO
11. Texas Giant, Six Flags Over Texas, TX
22. The Boss, Six Flags St. Louis, MO
7. GhostRider, Knott's Berry Farm, CA
26. Roller Coaster, Joyland, KS
15. Zingo, Bell's, OK
18. Zeus, Mount Olympus, WI
2. Hades, Mount Olympus, WI
31. Rattler, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, TX
NORTHEAST (U.S. states in New England plus NJ, NY, PA, MD, and WV)
1. Boulder Dash, Lake Compounce, CT
32. Dragon Coaster, (Rye) Playland, NY
16. Wildcat, Hersheypark, PA
17. Roar, Six Flags America, MD
5. J2, Clementon Lake, NJ
28. Jack Rabbit, Seabreeze, NY
9. Twister, Knoebel's, PA
24. Comet, Hersheypark, PA
4. Comet, Great Escape, NY
29. Sky Princess, Dutch Wonderland, PA
13. Jack Rabbit, Kennywood, PA
20. Cyclone, Six Flags New England, MA
10. Silver Comet, Martin's Fantasy Island, NY
23. Thunderbolt, Six Flags New England, MA
6. Lightning Racer, Hersheypark, PA
27. Rollo Coaster, Idlewild, PA
8. Wild One, Six Flags America, MD
25. Leap the Dips, Lakemont, PA
3. Phoenix, Knoebel's, PA
30. Big Dipper, Camden Park, WV
14. Yankee Cannonball, Canobie Lake Park, NH
19. Racer, Kennywood, PA
12. Excalibur, Funtown/Splashtown USA, ME
21. Skyliner, Lakemont, PA
11. Thunderbolt, Kennywood, PA
22. Thunderhawk, Dorney Park, PA
7. Cyclone, Astroland, NY
26. Wildcat, Lake Compounce, CT
15. Blue Streak, Conneaut Lake Park, PA
18. Great White, Morey’s Piers, NJ
2. El Toro, Six Flags Great Adventure, NJ
31. Cyclone, Williams Grove, PA
INTERNATIONAL (Rides located outside of the U.S. Match-ups have been amended from regular seeding to allow for greater participation in the early rounds of voting.)
1. Balder, Liseberg, Sweden
23. Vuoristorata, Linnamaki Park, Finland
9. Falken, Farup Sommerland, Denmark
15. Rutschebanen, Bakken, Denmark
8. Thundercoaster, Tusenfryd, Norway
17. Rutschebanen, Tivoli Gardens, Denmark
4. Megafobia, Oakwood, Wales
29. Scenic Railway, Dreamland, England
16. King Solomons Mines, Pleasureland Southport, England
20. Roller Coaster, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
5. Grand National, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
31. Runaway Coaster, Rotunda, England
11. Wild Mouse, Blackpool Pleaure Beach, England
22. Roller Coaster, Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, England
18. Big Dipper, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
25. Cyclone, Pleasureland Southport, England
6. Colossos, Heide Park, Germany
32. Sierra Tonante, Mirabilandia Park, Italy
10. Loup Garou, Walibi Belgium, Belgium
13. Robin Hood, Walibi World, Netherlands
7. Tonnerre de Zeus, Parc Asterix, France
30. Hochschaubahn, Prater Park, Austria
12. Stampida, Port Aventura, Spain
21. Le Monstre, La Ronde, Canada
3. Coaster, PNE Fairgrounds/Playland, Canada
27. Mighty Canadian Mine Buster, Canada's Wonderland, Canada
19. Serpiente de Fuego, La Feria, Mexico
24. Wilde Beast, Canada's Wonderland, Canada
14. Regina, Tobu Zoo, Japan
26. Elf, Hirakata Park, Japan
2. Aska, Nara Dreamland, Japan
28. White Cyclone, Nagashima Spaland, Japan
Here is a complete list of all the Round 1 match-ups in all the brackets so that you can start thinking about what you might want to vote for:
MIDWEST / SOUTH (Includes most of the eastern U.S. except for states in the Northeast bracket)
1. The Voyage, Holiday World, IN
32. Twisted Twins, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, KY
16. Gwazi, Busch Gardens-Tampa, FL
17. Blue Streak, Cedar Point, OH
5. Rampage, Visionland, AL
28. Rebel Yell, Kings Dominion, VA
9. Screechin' Eagle, LeSourdsville Lake, OH
24. Starliner, Miracle Strip, FL
4. Raven, Holiday World, IN
29. Hurler, Kings Dominion, VA
13. The Grizzly, Kings Dominion, VA
20. Swamp Fox, Family Kingdom, SC
10. Cornball Express, Indiana Beach, IN
23. Great American Scream Machine, Six Flags Over Georgia, GA
6. Kentucky Rumbler, Beech Bend, KY
27. Racer, Kings Island, OH
8. The Legend, Holiday World, IN
25. The Villain, Geauga Lake, OH
3. Thunderhead, Dollywood, TN
30. American Eagle, Six Flags Great America, IL
14. Thunder Run, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom, KY
19. Hoosier Hurricane, Indiana Beach, IN
12. Georgia Cyclone, Six Flags Over Georgia, GA
21. Cannonball, Lake Winnepesaukah, GA
11. Viper, Six Flags Great America, IL
22. Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain, Indiana Beach, IN
7. Dania Beach Hurricane, Boomers, FL
26. Tornado, Stricker's Grove, OH
15. The Beast, Kings Island, OH
18. Big Dipper, Geauga Lake, OH
2. Shivering Timbers, Michigan's Adventure, MI
31. Thunder Road, Carowinds, NC
WEST (Extends from the west coast of the U.S. to as far east as Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana)
1. Tremors, Silverwood, ID
32. Wildcat, Frontier City, OK
16. Mega Zeph, Six Flags New Orleans, LA
17. Outlaw, Adventureland, IA
5. Timber Terror, Silverwood, ID
28. High Roller, Valleyfair!, MN
9. Giant Dipper, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, CA
24. Arkansas Twister, Magic Springs, AR
4. Ozark Wildcat, Celebration City, MO
29. Timberhawk, Enchanted Village, WA
13. Roar, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, CA
20. Giant Dipper, Belmont Park, CA
10. Cyclops, Mount Olympus, WI
23. Judge Roy Scream, Six Flags Over Texas, TX
6. New Mexico Rattler, Cliff's, NM
27. Zippin' Pippin, Libertyland, TN
8. Cyclone, Lakeside, CO
25. Tornado, Adventureland, IA
3. Avalanche, Timber Falls, WI
30. Roller Coaster, Lagoon, UT
14. The Legend, Arnolds Park, IA
19. Timber Wolf, Worlds of Fun, MO
12. Roller Coaster, Puyallup/Western Washington Fair, WA
21. Screamin' Eagle, Six Flags St. Louis, MO
11. Texas Giant, Six Flags Over Texas, TX
22. The Boss, Six Flags St. Louis, MO
7. GhostRider, Knott's Berry Farm, CA
26. Roller Coaster, Joyland, KS
15. Zingo, Bell's, OK
18. Zeus, Mount Olympus, WI
2. Hades, Mount Olympus, WI
31. Rattler, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, TX
NORTHEAST (U.S. states in New England plus NJ, NY, PA, MD, and WV)
1. Boulder Dash, Lake Compounce, CT
32. Dragon Coaster, (Rye) Playland, NY
16. Wildcat, Hersheypark, PA
17. Roar, Six Flags America, MD
5. J2, Clementon Lake, NJ
28. Jack Rabbit, Seabreeze, NY
9. Twister, Knoebel's, PA
24. Comet, Hersheypark, PA
4. Comet, Great Escape, NY
29. Sky Princess, Dutch Wonderland, PA
13. Jack Rabbit, Kennywood, PA
20. Cyclone, Six Flags New England, MA
10. Silver Comet, Martin's Fantasy Island, NY
23. Thunderbolt, Six Flags New England, MA
6. Lightning Racer, Hersheypark, PA
27. Rollo Coaster, Idlewild, PA
8. Wild One, Six Flags America, MD
25. Leap the Dips, Lakemont, PA
3. Phoenix, Knoebel's, PA
30. Big Dipper, Camden Park, WV
14. Yankee Cannonball, Canobie Lake Park, NH
19. Racer, Kennywood, PA
12. Excalibur, Funtown/Splashtown USA, ME
21. Skyliner, Lakemont, PA
11. Thunderbolt, Kennywood, PA
22. Thunderhawk, Dorney Park, PA
7. Cyclone, Astroland, NY
26. Wildcat, Lake Compounce, CT
15. Blue Streak, Conneaut Lake Park, PA
18. Great White, Morey’s Piers, NJ
2. El Toro, Six Flags Great Adventure, NJ
31. Cyclone, Williams Grove, PA
INTERNATIONAL (Rides located outside of the U.S. Match-ups have been amended from regular seeding to allow for greater participation in the early rounds of voting.)
1. Balder, Liseberg, Sweden
23. Vuoristorata, Linnamaki Park, Finland
9. Falken, Farup Sommerland, Denmark
15. Rutschebanen, Bakken, Denmark
8. Thundercoaster, Tusenfryd, Norway
17. Rutschebanen, Tivoli Gardens, Denmark
4. Megafobia, Oakwood, Wales
29. Scenic Railway, Dreamland, England
16. King Solomons Mines, Pleasureland Southport, England
20. Roller Coaster, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
5. Grand National, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
31. Runaway Coaster, Rotunda, England
11. Wild Mouse, Blackpool Pleaure Beach, England
22. Roller Coaster, Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, England
18. Big Dipper, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, England
25. Cyclone, Pleasureland Southport, England
6. Colossos, Heide Park, Germany
32. Sierra Tonante, Mirabilandia Park, Italy
10. Loup Garou, Walibi Belgium, Belgium
13. Robin Hood, Walibi World, Netherlands
7. Tonnerre de Zeus, Parc Asterix, France
30. Hochschaubahn, Prater Park, Austria
12. Stampida, Port Aventura, Spain
21. Le Monstre, La Ronde, Canada
3. Coaster, PNE Fairgrounds/Playland, Canada
27. Mighty Canadian Mine Buster, Canada's Wonderland, Canada
19. Serpiente de Fuego, La Feria, Mexico
24. Wilde Beast, Canada's Wonderland, Canada
14. Regina, Tobu Zoo, Japan
26. Elf, Hirakata Park, Japan
2. Aska, Nara Dreamland, Japan
28. White Cyclone, Nagashima Spaland, Japan
