Ride Warrior

About two months ago, I received a phone call from a friend just after midnight. He called to ask me if I wanted a season pass to Canada’s Wonderland [the largest and most popular amusement park in Canada]. In my head, I was thinking why he couldn’t have just texted later. Apparently, there was a special deal and there were four of us needed. He thought it’d be perfect to have him, his girlfriend, me and his close friend. All four of us are great pals so it made sense. Initially, I was reluctant. I told him I should think about it because it would be $70 to a place I haven’t been to in years… not to mention my slight “fear” of roller coasters [I’ll explain later].

He tried to convince with me, then he said he needed to know as soon as possible. Out of sheer impulse and being half asleep, I said “sure.” He was happy, he said goodnight, and I was back to sleep. But the week that followed gave me second thoughts. Because my decision was not based on reason, I kept questioning myself: was I doing the right thing to just blow $70 when I knew I needed to save money to book my trip to Europe? What was I going to do about the roller coasters? Is it too late to back out now?

Almost two months later, I don’t regret my decision at all. I admit, I was worried for a while when he set a date to go. It meant that I was coming closer to facing my “fear.” Well, I guess now is a good time to explain. It’s not a fear of heights. It’s a fear of everything crazy happening super fast that I can’t handle. You go up, you go down, you go upside down, you twist, you turn, you go reverse, you go in a tunnel, you go over water, etc. It just seemed like too much. When I see roller coasters, I think they’re cool but I also get a little scared when I picture myself on them. I used to love roller coasters when I was a very young girl, but there came a point when I was not at amusement parks or on any thrill rides for around 10 years. I love any water ride, even though I haven’t been on many. I’ve done a big drop ride before at Disney World. I’ve been on smaller fast-paced rides or smaller roller coasters [as recently as last summer]. But I could never really pin point what was holding me back from the big guys.

The day came. I was up at 7:45 a.m. which is so early for me. We arrived at the park before 10am. We waited almost 90 minutes to get into the park because of an insanely long line for season pass holders… all for a single photo for identification. While waiting in line, my friends kept making me look at the new roller coaster—Leviathan. The biggest and fastest in the park yet. The ride itself was just over top of us in line so we saw the riders passing us. I was scared shitless. The only thing that calmed me down was laughing when I saw one guy fist pumping on the ride.

So we got into the park. Rather than head to Leviathan, knowing it was going to be a long wait, they lead me to a roller coaster that was super fast, had a loop [maybe two, I don’t remember], twists, turns, the whole nine yards. Way to ease into this roller coaster thing. I kept saying I was going to cry. They said they would drag me, carry me, whatever they had to do to take me on every ride. They said “Leave no man behind” and they kept saying I would become a “ride warrior” after that day.

We didn’t wait at all to get onto the ride. Of course, I screamed. I never scream but roller coasters make me scream. In fact, even my two guy friends screamed which was kinda funny. The worst part about roller coaster rides [for me, at least] is the first drop, or any drop for that matter. You slowly ascend to the peak before diving in. It blows my mind every time. The rush feeling; everything coming at you at once. You feel like you’re floating or falling or free-falling. I can handle loops, turns and bumps, but those ups and down kill me every… single… time.

The only thing that helped me get through each roller coaster was trying to shut my eyes most of the time. I couldn’t help myself sometimes but it helped a lot. I admit, after the first one, I felt so much better. Actually, I even suggested the next roller coaster which was laying on your stomach. But the third one was Wonderland’s previous big guy, before Leviathan was constructed. BEHEMOTH. Of all of the rides, that was the longest and hardest to go through, but I admit it was an incredible thrill and I would probably do it again. One thing I was worried about was that the ride had nothing much to hold onto; no chest cover or second handlebar. Just one small one by your waist and half a meter distance between you and the person in front of you. It was that ride that made me do a sign of the cross as we took off. And the sign saying that the ride passes over water didn’t help. I felt like I was going to die and all my friend beside could do to calm me down was to point out fish in the water. Thankfully, I survived. I couldn’t have been happier. After surviving that roller coaster, I knew the rest would be easy. And with each ride we went on, it became easier and more fun. Still a little scary with those drops, but thrillingly fun nonetheless.

For the four hours we spent in the park, we went on 8 different thrill rides. Not much, considering there were so many, but enough to stay standing. Then again, three of us had headaches and tried sleeping on the way home.

After getting up super early, waiting forever in line to get in, facing and defeating the challenge of roller coasters, eating totally overpriced food [I spent $10.16 on a footlong sub at Subway that would have cost me $5.65 in a regular franchise restaurant], watching my two guy friends argue with an employee over a prize at a basketball shooting booth, watching my guy friend get told off and nearly beat up by a biker-looking dude [for saying “Shit” on a ride], and getting tanned [with a tiny sunburn], I had an amazing day with awesome friends. I can’t thank them enough for pushing me. I did something I would have never done on my own.

This is a great start to a great summer season at Wonderland. I cannot wait to go again. I hope by the end of the season, I will have gone on all of the thrill rides… not to mention all of the rides at the water park when it opens next month!

I’m proud of myself for facing my “fear” and turning it into a new way of having fun.