While writing the first installment of the Influential Coasters of My Childhood series, I began to insert a “modern take” section at the conclusion of the blog. The more I thought about it, the more I decided I wanted that portion to be its own blog as well. So here you have my modern takes on those coasters I once loved as a child. Have my views changed? Find out…
Related Article: “Influential Coasters of My Childhood – Vekoma Boomerangs” – February 5, 2021
Opinions change and people fall out of love with things they once adored. As a child, three Vekoma Boomerangs, Sea Serpent at Morey’s Piers, Tidal Wave at Trimper Rides, and Sidewinder at Hersheypark were badass rollercoasters that I couldn’t wait to ride. As I grew older and larger, all three rides became headache inducing experience, mostly due to the over the shoulder restraints. Those coasters became skippable and for a decade plus, I didn’t ride a single one.
Fast forward to 2020 when We Were Inverted launched. On a regular basis I’m now out visiting parks with the likes of Sam, Greg, Renee, and Kaylee, helping them get credits they need. Among those credits, Sidewinder and Sea Serpent. While Tidal Wave is still a credit Sam needs, it is one we have yet to ride together. As a matter of fact, my last rides on the coaster came in the early 2000’s and the last photos I took of the ride came in 2009 while visiting friends. I did not ride the coaster during that trip. This means I will be unable to comment on this ride or showcase more recent photos in this Modern Take follow up. As for Sea Serpent and Sidewinder, let’s delve into my present day opinions on both and how those have changed multiple times.
A Strange Journey of Discovery
Readers of my trip reports know how often I visit Hersheypark. I’m guessing a lot of you probably think my first experience with Vekoma’s updated trains came in 2011 with Sidewinder. Well, that’s not the case at all. That first experience came in 2013 during a visit to Carowinds with James when we rode Carolina Cobras, now known as Flying Cobras. We both noticed that the ride ran better than Boomerangs we were used to, but I didn’t think much more about it about it much after riding it.
Now, if you think means Sidewinder was the second coaster I’d ride featuring those newer trains, you’d be wrong again. That came six years later at Six Flags Over Georgia’s (SFOG) on Blue Hawk. I was visiting with Mindy and her kids, Mailyn and Dominik. At this point I was well aware of these trains and the improvements other enthusiasts claim they made their rides. Getting a decent ride on Blue Hawk, it made me realize why Carolina Cobras rode better than expected in 2013. It also made me realize that I’d have to give Sidewinder deserved a re-ride.
Sidewinder Doesn't Suck!
After skipping out on Sidewinder for many years, I gave it another try in 2020 while at Hersheypark with Renee. It was a slow day and we were making the rounds. After walking past Storm Runner, which was closed that entire year, we saw Sidewinder. It was a walk on so we decided to give it a go. Here is a recap of that ride, along with it’s fun header, from the trip report, “Hersheypark – A Great Day with Renee.”
Oh Sh*t, Sidewinder is Good Now
Renee and I walked right up to the front row and I quickly noticed the restraints. No more headbangers! I pulled down the vest/bar and got ready to see how much better things could actually be. We went forward and then went backward and Renee and I couldn’t shut up about how much better Sidewinder is with these restraints. She kept comparing it to Tidal Wave at Trimper’s Rides. It’s been years since I had enough courage to ride that boomerang as well. It’s too bad with that amazing view of Ocean City during the climb. It’s one of the best you’ll find on any coaster. Yup, one of the best views, in my opinion, is on a Vekoma Boomerang from 1986. I’d say go find out for yourself, but unless they replace their trains/restraints with what’s on Sidewinder, I couldn't be that cruel.
While I am not going to proclaim the newer trains launched Sidewinder to the top of Hersheypark’s coaster lineup, I can’t deny that it made an improvement. I have since jumped on the coaster several more times throughout 2020 and 2021. It’s certainly not a must ride, but if there is no line and it’s a slow day at the park, I give it a go. And now it looks like I’ll have an all new reason why I need to ride it. More improvements.
Speaking of Sidewinder Improvements...
In October 2021 I visited Hersheypark to capture some footage of the various coaster repaints taking place around the park. Classics Sooperdooperlooper and Comet were featured, but the star of my blog/vlog combo was easily, Sidewinder. It wasn’t too long before I visited Hershey that enthusiasts began to report green and teal paint being applied to the ride. During my visit, I saw some of the earliest glimpses of the purple and captured it in my vlog (above, left). Some black track stull remained, but it wasn’t going to stick around for long.
Speculation of a Jolly Rancher retheme surfaced almost immediately. For months the community seemed to know the worst kept secret in all the industry, one Hersheypark confirmed just last week. Ladies and gentleman, Sidewinder is now Jolly Rancher Remix. Check out Hersheypark’s official Jolly Rancher Remix Announcement for more details, which also shows an all-new flat ride called Mix’d.
What are my thoughts on this rebrand? Well, that’s something I want to save for when I visit the park and experience it for myself. I do suggest checking out a video from Hersheypark Enthusiast on YouTube (above, right). He gives his thoughts and opinions on the ride and has done a follow up since speculating on other future rethemes at the park. Maybe one day the two of us will catch up at Hershey. I always like meeting other enthusiasts and content producers.
Sea Serpent is Even Better!
In June 2021, Sam, Greg, Renee, and I took a trip to the Jersey shore to visit several oceanfront parks including Gillian’s Wonderland Pier and Playland’s Castaway Cove in Ocean City and of course, Morey’s Piers in Wildwood. If you’d like to read about that awesome day, I’ll leave some links to those blogs below. Here I will be focused entirely upon our single night ride on Sea Serpent.
- Jersey Days, Pt. 1 – Funplex Mt. Laurel
- Jersey Days, Pt. 2 – Morey’s Piers
- Jersey Days, Pt. 3 – Gillian’s Wonderland
- Jersey Days, Pt. 4 – Playland’s Castaway Cove
Bouncing back and forth between those parks, we saw Sea Serpent testing during the day when we first arrived. We were unable to ride the coaster or enjoy the views from the top while the sun was still overhead, but when we came back at night, we were treated to an amazing ride surrounded by lots of vibrant light packages. Just look at the photo above! I’ve always been a huge fan of parks at night, especially boardwalk parks. The lights and atmosphere are second to none.
Even after all these years, Sea Serpent still draws a crowd. We went to the park on a Thursday and had a 20 minute wait. It was worth it too. From the large dragon at the ride’s queue entrance all the way to the station where we first saw the trains up close for the first time, we were in awe. And speaking of the trains, the attention to detail with the artwork on each and every car was great.
Once we rode the coaster, all four of us declared it the best Boomerang we’ve ridden. Its smoothness coupled with its theming gave it the edge over Sidewinder. We will see if this Jolly Rancher Remix version changes that here in 2022.
Opinion Still Out on Tidal Wave
It’s been a number of years since my last visit to Ocean City, Md. Sam and I have been wanting to go since she still needs all the credits from Trimper Rides and the two Jolly Roger locations. Our aim is to do that this year. Until then, I can’t comment on Tidal Wave. As far I know, it still runs with the older style trains and restraints, but I don’t know if any other types of improvements have been made.
On a funny note, to date Sam has only ridden three standard Vekoma Boomerang installations – Sidewinder, Sea Serpent, and Flying Cobras. She has yet to experience one with the older trains and I’m looking forward to being there when she does. Either Tidal Wave will surprise me and ride better than expected, or it will be the headache inducing version I remember it to be and I’ll get to see Sam hate every minute of the ride. I’ll be sure we pack some Advil, just in case.
When I am able to visit Trimper Rides again, I will include my feelings on Tidal Wave in the corresponding trip report. I will also come back and add in a link to that here for future readers. If you’re reading this last paragraph, know that this visit has yet to take place.
A Love/Hate/Like Relationship
Among every coaster to be featured as part of this blog series, none have gone through as much change in personal opinion as these three Vekoma Boomerangs. I went from a love to hate relationship with all three rides. In recent times, two of them have shifted back in the opposite way, but not all the way to what I’d classify as love. Let’s say, I like them? They’re coasters that I enjoy, but none are anywhere close to being among my favorites.
Since the 80’s and 90’s when I first experienced Sea Serpent, Tidal Wave, and Sidewinder, I have gone on to experience many other coasters – both new and old. While these three Boomerangs were once coasters that blew me away as a child, even with their improvements, that is no longer the case. I am glad that places like Morey’s Piers and Hersheypark have invested in their Boomerangs to give them a longer life and make them a more enjoyable experience. Maybe, just maybe there will be some kids out there who ride Sea Serpent or Tidal Wave while at the beach, or the new Jolly Rancher Remix retheme and they have a blast. Maybe, just maybe they’ll go back to their friends and brag all about how the ride not only goes forward, but it goes backward too. Maybe, just maybe one of these Boomerangs will mean as much to them as these three did to me when I was a kid.
Bonus Gallery: Vekoma Boomerangs
I have managed to capture photos of every single standard Vekoma Boomerang I have experienced in my life. I decided to share them with you as part of this Modern Take. I excluded the Invertigo and Giant Boomerang models since those were not the models I experienced as a child.
