| Day 9 - July 20: Member Comments |
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Tom Marshall
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's helped out with these trip reports – especially
to Austin, Tony, and Phil (and anyone else I've missed) who loaned us their laptops on the various coach
journeys, and also to John Wilkes for helping out with walking the coach passing the machines around – a
real balancing act on the winding twisty roads through Norway, but the biggest THANK YOU of all has to go
to Bill Buckley who has taken the basic text and pictures, and produced these web-pages for us all to enjoy!
Anyway, today brought us three great coasters (plus one Vekoma Whirlwind) – Tornado I'd been
looking forward to since I'd read the reports from the 2001 trip – but the real surprise was Half
Pipe – spectacularly simple, but a whole lot of fun. The Jet Star was everything we know to expect
from a Schwarzkopf ride, smooth flowing turns and a well paced layout.
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Stephen Knight
It was good to finish this trip on two fantastic coasters – Half pipe and Tornado. Tornado is very
smooth, and the inline twists are a joy to ride. Half pipe is great fun, especially when it spins quickly!
Half pipe would be a great addition to many smaller parks.
Its sad to come to the end of this trip. Its definitely been one the best coaster trips I've been on,
and I'm sure that many others would agree with me. Thanks to all of those involved in making this trip
possible, and all the people on the trip who have made it most enjoyable.
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Mark Riley
So that's it. We're now on the coach and heading to the airport – boo hoo! This morning was
tremendous fun on the Tornado and Half Pipe ERS. Plus the food today was excellent. Still haven't had a
dump yet.
For me the trip has gone without a hitch, which for a 9-day tour with 60 people is saying a lot.
Much of this is thanks to Kevin O'Donovan who booked all of the flights, coach, hotels and ferry.
Thanks mate, you've done a great job. Now, how's Spain going?!!!
Thanks also to everyone on the trip for making it so much fun and for not nagging too much! A great
bunch of people.
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Eric Garcia
Hello and goodbye everyone, this is my first and last entry so I'll try to cram everything in one short
entry. First off I would like to let everybody know how much I truly enjoyed meeting, hanging out, and
riding coasters with all of you. The ECC members made a great impression on me, and am thoroughly
impressed with this organization. I had an awesome time and I wish you all the best in your future
adventures. Thanks again for the memories and I hope we meet again in some future trips. You're a great
group, with great humor and that's what made it unique. To those who played roles in organizing the trip,
I'd like to commend you on your effectiveness and organization. Everything was timed perfectly and the
trip ran extremely smooth. Thanks to Justin, Mark, Kevin, John, and the Parks! And now, I'm off to catch
some sleep, cause as you all know, thats what I do best! ZzzZzz
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Marc Cole
Well, the inevitable has happened - the end is near. It seems as though we started yesterday on this
trip. I want to thank all those who had a hand in planning and execution – Kevin (who I would like
to meet and say thank you to in person), Mark, Justin, Liz, Richard and Jim for the wonderful shirt. I
am sure I missed someone and I am sorry.
Our park today, Särkänniemi was great! The Tornado was smooth and wonderful and the Half Pipe was
unreal when we got it to spin.
Lastly, thank you to all the parks who welcomed us and showed us such wonderful hospitality. I hope
to visit all these parks again someday.
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Gordon Taylor
Many many thanks to those people and parks that made all this possible especially the ones who didn't
come (KEVIN!). It has been the most amazing trip and one of the best holidays ever. The laughs we've had
together have had me doubled up at times. Fantastic coasters, hospitality and weather. Roll(ercoaster) on
the next one...
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John Wilkes
Last comment now as I write this. The park today was great although I won't trouble the spell checker by
trying to spell it. Tornado was a shock because I didn't expect anything from it and yet it provided a
great ride. Looking back over the trip most of the best rides have been like that, where there was no
expectations. The "other coaster" Half Pipe was a cross between a Freefall tower and a spinning ride, and
a great experience also. I can imagine this sort of ride popping up everywhere. Overall the trip has been
fantastic and I don't think we have hit a bad ride all tour. It was my first time abroad with the club and
after this I will definitely be joining again. Roll on finally catching up on my sleep and after that the
next trip. Thanks to those involved, Kev, Mark, Justin and John for making the trip so good. Also thanks
to all the parks for there excellent hospitality. See you all next year in Germany!
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Chris Hull
So here we are at the end of another fantastic trip! Särkänniemi was a nice end with two great coasters.
Having the final rides of the day when we arrived gave us all a brief taster to the very different
experience these two coasters provided. An enjoyable evening out which proved that the Finnish girls are
indeed very attractive! The morning ERS on both coasters was a great way to start the day. The only
inverted coaster on the trip and a great ride! Half pipe provided a few debates with the "is it a
coaster?" but was unique and enjoyable ride.
A final huge THANKS to Kevin for working so hard to make sure all ran smoothly for the trip. Again
it's a shame when someone has spent so much time and effort organising a trip that they are not able to
attend. Hope to see you enjoying the fruits of your labour soon Kevin! Thanks again!
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Mick Fryer-Kelsey
Särkänniemi – welcomed on Saturday evening, after two hour drive, we had a surprise ERS on Tornado
and Half Pipe. We walked back to the hotel, through the city, it was heaving with people. There were
drunks everywhere, people were consuming drinks whilst walking along the pavement.
Sunday morning. ERS on Tornado and Half Pipe again. Lunch. Half Pipe was a very different ride, like a
skateboard with spinning seats, which spins according to the weight distribution of the riders, quite an
exciting ride.
Sad the trip is over, we visited some amazing parks, met some amazing people, looking forward to getting
home for a rest.
Thanks to everyone for organising the trip. Justin, Mark, Kevin and John and others and Park managers
and staff who have all made this trip the event that it has been.
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Liz Fryer-Kelsey
What a week! Thanks to everyone who had anything to do with organising the trip, especially those who
couldn't make the trip this time. All the parks were very welcoming and generous with their ERS's.
Joining a trip with the ECC is much more fun than going alone. Being able to walk lift-hills, walk
around and under coasters and have park history tours, are things the public don't get to do when they
are visiting. It's great.
It's difficult to pick out one particularly memorable moment, but seeing members hammering nails into
Balder is one that comes to mind.
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Crystal Fryer-Kelsey
Well, it's all over now, for another couple of years. Ride operators on Tornado are fab, as the larger
members have problems with the restraints, but they didn't give up and stapled me in. To ride Half Pipe
I have to thank Chris McFarlane, Richard Davis and Mick FK (dad)for helping to staple me in. Both rides
are truly fantastic.
Tornado, unlike another coaster that was new two years ago, (thundercoaster) has improved, it's very
slightly faster and well, one of my favorites.
Overall, all of the parks were great and the hotels comfy and clean. Coaches nice, no dodgy drivers.
A great trip.
Thank you to Justin, Mark, John L and Kevin O'Donovan and other behind the scenes people.
(To my friends, see you before you read this, I had fun but I'm glad to be coming home. Love you all,
missed you.)
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Steve Fagin
A final day scurrying about beneath the sweltering Scandinavian sun brings us to the close of the trip.
Finland revealed itself to have a bustling nightlife, from peroxide blondes splayed out in doorways amid
discarded beer cans, to crowds of blonds moving ant-like in and out of the busy bars and clubs.
Särkänniemi was a good way to Finnish the trip (like that, Andy?? – learnt it from you) and I can't
wait for the next big tour.
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Bobby Nagy / Stephen Wimberly (wimbo)
Tornado and half pipe ended the tour well. Goodbye Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland... Thanks for the
great memories, great parks and non air conditioned hotels. The hottest coasters and the coolest friends.
I hope to do this all again one day. Keep those dark rides and fun houses in good shape!!!
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Derek Cramarty
Half Pipe was different. Tornado—Terrific. Särkänniemi—spectacular. Accommodation—good.
Great trip. Can we top it next time?
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Chris & Claire Mcfarlane
As they say 'That's all Folk's what a brilliant trip again. Thanks Kev for hotels & coaches &
thanks to Mark, John & Justin. Can't wait to do it all again.
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Malcolm Marr
The final day of the tour took us to Särkänniemi, a lovely park with some great rides. It was good to get
a decent steelie after the woodies that have been ridden so far. Tornado is a superb inverted coaster and
Half Pipe is a nice addition which I'm sure will find it's way to other parks soon. Thanks to all the park
staff, Mark and Kevin for putting together a trip which far exceeded the expectations I had based on the
previous trip reports.
Favourite Steelie - Tornado
Favourite Woodie - Balder
Favourite Other - Bakken double shot tower.
Phrases from this trip "Stengel", "I like cheese and chips" and "Hurrah for random cheering".
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David & Susan Ellis
Well, the trip is all over, and what an amazing time we had! Särkänniemi was a lovely park to finish the
trip, although we would have liked more time to do the other rides etc. Thanks to Kevin for his great
efforts and to all the trips monkies for their hard work…we really appreciated it. Roll on the next time!
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Ian Mansfield
What can I say, simply the best coaster trip I've ever been on. Everything has been perfect, the parks,
the coasters and the weather! Best of all, I've made so many new friends. Big thanks to Kev and all the
team for making this trip a dream come true.
Home now for some well earned sleep!
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Jack Holmes
Finnish parks were real surprise…had no Idea of these. Half Pipe was a total Delight, and my first Intamin
inverter, Tornado, was very intense, yet smoothe…or should I say creamy? Sad that trip has to end, but it
was one hot Cool trip.
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Andy Costin
Another day, another park. And what a park! Särkänniemi had 2 wonderful coasters – Half Pipe, which
was a whole lot of fun! fun! fun-fun-fun!!! and Tornado, one of the smoothest suspended rides ever!
{Vekona—take note.} Hospitality was great, with good food, and free stuff. Unfortunately we had to
leave at 1:30pm for the flight home {boo-hoo}, but I hope to be back!
I would like to say a big thank you, danke schon, kiitos, tack, and merci to all who organised the
trip, coaches, hotels,etc without whom all this would be just a dream {yes the trip was a dream—a
very real one!}. And thanks to him up there for the wonderful weather! Now back to cold, rainy Blighty!
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Derek Shaw
Oh No – the last day at the Fun Factory!! Särkänniemi was nice and less rainy this time than in 2001.
Tornado was as fun as last time. Half Pipe, while quite odd and unusual, was incredibly fun! Riding Jet
Star 1 was fun with that great first drop with steep banking. Too bad our time in the park was so short.
Kevin O'Donovan did a fantastic job at arranging the travel and accommodations. (Even though the
Finland bus was more cramped than the other bus and we never seemed to have rooms with air conditioning
that worked - who would have thought that we would have a Scandinavian heat wave!) It was a difficult task
that was handled quite admirably!
I'm sad to be leaving our journey, however I look forward to future ones. The ECC runs a quality trip
– I was glad to have been a part of it!
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Olov Lundell
Särkänniemi, the last park on this trip. Two very nice coasters. Tornado is short but full of loops,
twists and turns. Half Pipe was fun fun fun! With some spin guys (Giijs) on board it can spin pretty much
and it's even more fun. The rest of the park was cool too with rapids, a good log flume, Schwarzkopf Jet
Star and a Frisbee!
Now a summary of this Hottest Coaster Tour: Tivoli, beautiful at night. BonBon Land, the craziest park
ever. Bakken with the most brutal (brutal=great/amazing/airtime and fun) scenic railway. Liseberg,
Lisebergbanan and Balder, do I need to say anymore? Tusenfryd, location, location, location. GrönaLund,
wildest mouse on earth, Gerstlauer did it again! Linnanmäki, Nice park and a wet (very wet) water coaster.
Särkänniemi, two Intamin wonders.
And I also want to thank every one who made this trip possible, (especially Kevin who fixed the extra
rooms and seats) and the people on the trip that made this week so fun, amazing, crazy, wonderful and the
best week I've had for a looong time.
I can't wait for my next ECC trip!
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Austin Rathe
Särkänniemi, the best names park of the tour. Another cracker, you become somewhat spoiled by all the
great parks, and it is hard for one to stand out. However, this one had a fantastic inverted (Stengel
again!) and the first half pipe, which was a great ride, so they managed it. A great end to the trip,
and a big thanks to everyone who helped organise it, in particular John and Kevin who couldn't be here!
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Tim Galvelis
Last day, boohoo! The trip was great, hot, and loads of fun. Minus a few unsavoury elements. Särkänniemi
was a short stop, but well worth it. Half Pipe made one heck of an impression for a prototype coaster.
Tornado was fantastic with its zero rollover through the station. NO MORE REPORTS AFTER TODAY! Goodbye
Gloria.
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Steve Brett
Well, that's it then. It's all over (Boo hoo!). What a fabulous trip, great to see old friends again, and
make some new ones. Thanks to all the organisers for there hard work(ones that are here, and specially
those that aren't). Back to work for a rest now!
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Rich Foster
wow Wow WOW! Loved Särkänniemi. Very stylish park — all greys and blacks. Tornado a terrific ride,
can Intamin do no wrong? I have a stinking cold, bruises, sore feet and a big smile. I've no idea what
can better this. Kev – well done mate. Now I know what you're good at!
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Rebecca Harper
Loved Särkänniemi – the half-pipe (or U-bend as I prefer to call it) is great fun, and I'd love to
see one in the UK. Tornado, the Intamin inverter was my "surprise" coaster of the trip, I absolutely
adored it. I have never ridden such a smooth inverter, and wished we had one nearer home. Many, many
thanks to everyone involved in organising such a superb trip; can't wait for Spain!
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Elaine Harper
Särkänniemi was a great park - loved Half Pipe, and Tornado was very smooth J Could just ride it again
and again! Overall the trip has been amazing – thanks to Kev, and the rest of the team for all
their hard work. Roll on the next trip!
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Phil Coates & Helen Young
There are some great coasters in these Scandinavian countries and very nice parks, some need more time to
explore in full.
Thanks to all concerned for another great trip.
Roll on September for Spain!!!
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Lindsey & Daren Hoy
What a great trip and great final day. Half pipe was a superb coaster, more novelty value than coastering,
but great still the same. Tornado was very special, being Darren's 300th coaster.
Thanks to Kevin O'Donovan for doing such a great job on organising such a large part of trip!
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Lisa Scheinin
I thought it would be hard to top the first Coolest Coaster Tour, but somehow, Mark, Justin and Kevin did
it. This was a super trip from start to finish. If we do another trip (I sure hope so), maybe they
should call it the HOTTEST (!) Coaster Tour. I can't wait!!!
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Martin Valt
Another beautiful park in a beautiful location. Half Pipe is an entirely novel take on the LIM launch
coaster. Great fun. Can we have one nearer home please? Tornado was my first Intamin inverter, but it's
now my third favourite just behind Nemesis and PGA's Top Gun. Can't believe it's almost over. Many many
thanks to Mark, Kevin, Justin and everyone else involved in organising a fantastic trip and awesome
weather.
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Jim Terneborg
This has been the best week in my life, many great ERS, new friends. Thanks to every one who has arranged
the whole trip! And thanks to all the friendly staff at the parks.
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Stuart Milton
Another day, another park, but what a great one! Every park should come to Särkänniemi to ride Tornado,
if only all SLC's were so smooth, pure quality. Thank you Intamin. Also a huge thank you to all involved
with planning the trip, Mark, Kevin and Justin for allowing us all the opportunity. Excellent trip, till
next time...
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Tony Pycroft
Särkänniemi is a great park. Half Pipe is a real fun ride that makes you want just want to ride and ride.
You come off smiling and run back around for more. The whole trip has been the best the ECC has ever run,
even better than Scandi 2001. Well done and thank you to the entire team for all their hard work
especially Kevin O'Donovan for the coaches and hotels, Cheers Mate. Roll on Scandi 2006!!!!!
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Mike & Kammy Sislofsky
We rushed through Särkänniemi today and sampled what they have to offer. The two Intamin coasters,
Tornado and Half Pipe, are wonderful rides. Tornado is very smooth in any seat and has a very nice
layout. Half Pipe makes you feel free in your seat like you're flying. The rest of the park is nice
too. We had fun on their rapids ride and their log flume. The tour is now over, and we had a great
time at every park. Best of all, we met a lot of great people and made some great friends. We give
many, many thanks to Mark and Justin, and to Kevin for allowing us Americans to attend the event. We
can't wait for our next ECC event! Maybe we'll see you in Germany...
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Terry Jarvis
Loved Half Pipe, spinned you very well. Also enjoyed Tornado, a great smooth ride. To summarise the trip,
had a great time, made lots of friends, the highlight was Balder with its airtime.
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