Back In The Game!
Hey everyone, just wanted to share a little story on this dreary Thursday afternoon.
I'm a Diamond Elite member with Six Flags and my local park (as some of you may know by now), Six Flags Great Adventure.
A friend of mine, Tom, who I've known for years, has never come with me and our other shared friends to SFGAdv, or any other park for that matter. We couldn't recall, but we had to have asked him at some point, but he hasn't liked coasters ever, so it would be no surprise that he would have declined if we asked him before.
Fast forward to this year, and Tom had a rare day off, and went with me and my other hardcore coaster buddy to Great Adventure, and well...he went on coasters! and now his life has now changed forever.
I've been in and out of the coaster game the last couple years. I traveled a lot from 2010-2014, riding as much as I could in my early 20's, however these past couple years it's more regional stuff, or hoping for multiple visits to the home park.
Well after that first day of getting Tom on some coasters, he's ignited a hunger in me for coasters that I just can't satisfy!
We haven't traveled anywhere really this year, it's just been many, MANY, visits to Great Adventure, but it's awesome to have another member of the group to share in the awesome times that become stories for years to come.
Tom is closing in on 100 rides on Nitro in his first season, and we somehow rode it 31 times in one day together. Not in a row however, but still impressive in my book! Him knowing exactly when he's gonna hit 100 makes me jealous, because who knows how many times I've been on it! (couple thousand?!)
It's just been an awesome ride if you will, to share the coaster/park interest with someone who's so new to it all. Now we have a joint spreadsheet on parks we need to hit next year, what RMC's we want to ride, all that fun stuff!
This year isn't over, I'll be at Great Adventure at least 2 more times this year. However I already can't wait for 2020!
157 Coasters -- Favorite Coaster -- Nitro (SFGAdv)
117 Steel -- 40 Wood -- Home Park: SFGADv

My wife has a bad neck that pretty much keeps her from riding any coasters and some other ride types as well. And the kids- one is on their own, and the other is usually busy or dealing with health issues, so I end up solo on rides a lot more often now. That's fun sometimes, but not as a regular thing.
And when you can get someone that has just had the passion lit? start planning some great trips now. They're going to keep you busy for a while.

SirWillow said:
Always so much more fun when you have a coaster riding buddy! I kind of miss that a bit.
My wife has a bad neck that pretty much keeps her from riding any coasters and some other ride types as well. And the kids- one is on their own, and the other is usually busy or dealing with health issues, so I end up solo on rides a lot more often now. That's fun sometimes, but not as a regular thing.And when you can get someone that has just had the passion lit? start planning some great trips now. They're going to keep you busy for a while.
I hear you on the neck thing, I hurt mine early last season and it was terrible.
Also we just made plans to head to Kings Dominion on Saturday haha. So yup, he's gonna keep me busy!
157 Coasters -- Favorite Coaster -- Nitro (SFGAdv)
117 Steel -- 40 Wood -- Home Park: SFGADv