TTF Euro Coaster Poll 2011-12

[AstroDan]

Reminder!

The Results will be posted in the "All Other Parks And Attractions" forum in approximately 1 hour!

Keep your eyes peeled!

[AstroDan]

2011-12 TTF European Rollercoaster Poll: THE RESULTS

I am pleased to say that after a lot of maths divisions, the results of the 2011-12 poll have been completed. With over 720 votes cast in the contest this year, the results have never been more reliable!

I should point out at this stage that I have made every effort to ensure that the results are as accurate as possible, and they have been verified by TTF’s own - John! Where (in one case) a rollercoaster was tied with another, an = sign is shown prior to the position. I am sure you will agree that the new system has massively cut the number of tied rollercoaster’s - thanks go to arr Chris for all his support! I know he is looking at improvements which can be implemented for next years poll!

Last years position is shown in brackets (for top 50 only) - this will allow you to see how much impact the new, fairer system has had on results. If (WNE) is shown in brackets, this means that the coaster did not qualify for last years poll. If (NEW) is shown in brackets, this is a new-for-2012 coaster.

The results are laid out below, with my observations underneath. Many thanks for taking part - and bring on 2012-13 when we'll welcome The Swarm, Shambhala, Wodan and Oz'Iris to the battle for the best!

RESULTS:
98: Max Adventures Master Thai, Mirabilandia (Wooden Spoon Award) (NEW)

97:Booster Bike, Toverland

96: Dizz, Bobbejaanland (NEW)

95: Millennium Coaster, Fantasy Island

94: Trace du Hourra, Parc Astérix

93: Vilda Musen, Grona Lund

92: Skatteoen, Djurs Sommerland (NEW)

91: Die Schlange von Midgard, Hansa-Park (NEW)

90: Timber Drop, Fraispertuis City (NEW)

89: Drachenritt, Belantis

88: Vicky The Ride, Plopsa Coo (NEW)

87: Tornado, Parque de Attraciones

86: Tranan, Skara Sommerland

85: Evolution, Bobbejaanland

84: G'sengte Sau, Tripsdrill

83: Formule X, Dreivleit

82: Wild Train, Fantasiana

81: Steeplechase, Pleasure Beach Blackpool

80: Le Twist, Le Pal (NEW)

79: Vild-Svinet, Bon Bon Land

78: The Big One, Pleasure Beach Blackpool

77: Typhoon, Bobbejaanland

76: Falcon, Duinrell

75: Avalanche, Pleasure Beach Blackpool

74: Tarantula, Parque de Attraciones

=73. Mumbo Jumbo, Flamingoland
=73. Velocity, Flamingoland
=73. Thors Hammer, Djurs Sommerland

72: Raptor Attack, Lightwater Valley

71: Tornado, Sarkanniemi

70: Ben 10: Ultimate Mission, Drayton Manor (NEW)

69: Insane, Grona Lund

68: Dragon's Fury, Chessington World of Adventures

67: Rage, Adventure Island

66: Muntanya Rusa, Tibidabo

65: Nessie, Hansa-Park

64: Loup Garou, Walibi Belgium

63: Abismo, Parque de Attraciones

62: Schweizer Bob Bahn, Heide-Park

61: Furius Baco, PortAventura

60: Tornado, Bakken

59: Die Vliegende Hollander, Efteling

58: Vogel Rok, Efteling

57: Lynet, Farup Sommerland

56: Vampire, Chessington World of Adventures

55: Stunt Fall, Parque de Attraciones

54: Colossus, Thorpe Park

53: Freischutz, Bayern-Park (NEW)

52: Jetline, Grona Lund

51: Thundercoaster, Tusenfryd

50: Kumali (42), Flamingoland

49: Heisse Fahrt (53), Klotten

48: Poseidon (27), Europa-Park

47: Crush's Coaster (35), Walt Disney Studios Park

46: Desert Race (53), Heide-Park

45: Kanonen (WNE), Liseberg

44: Daemonen (37), Tivoli Gardens

43: Speed: No Limits (46), Oakwood

42: Speed Monster (38), Tusenfryd

41: Knightmare (30), Camelot

40: Saw - The Ride (50), Thorpe Park

39: Shock - The Steam Machine (NEW), Rainbow Magic Land

38: Rock n Roller Coaster (19), Walt Disney Studios Park

37: Anubis - The Ride (40), Plopsaland

36: Wild Mouse (24), Pleasure Beach Blackpool

35: The Ultimate (2), Lightwater Valley

34: Thunderbird (WNE), Powerland

33: Nemesis Inferno (31), Thorpe Park

32: Winjas Fear and Force (39), Phantasialand

31: Krake (NEW), Heide-Park

30: Colorado Adventure (18), Phantasialand

29: Grand National (10), Pleasure Beach Blackpool

28: Lisebergbanan (44), Liseberg

27: Space Mountain Mission 2 (16), Disneyland Park

26: Big Thunder Mountain (4), Disneyland Park

25: Eurosat (15), Europa-Park

24: Euro Mir (22), Europa-Park

23: Stealth (29), Thorpe Park

22: Tonnerre de Zeus (25), Parc Astérix

21: Joris en de Draak (20), Efteling

TOP 20:

20: Twister (NEW), Grona Lund

19: Van Helsings Factory (NEW), Movie Park Germany

18: El Toro  (45), Freizeitpark Plohn

17: Megafobia (23), Oakwood

16: Batman la Fuga (WNE), Parque Warner

15: Fluch von Novgorod (21), Hansa-Park

14: Goliath (6), Walibi Holland

13: Superman (14), Parque Warner

12: Colossos (17), Heide-Park

11: Dragon Khan (5), PortAventura

TOP 10:

10: Balder (51), Liseberg - 137 points in the final.


9: Piraten ( 8 ), Djurs Summerland - 153 points in the final.


8: Troy (13), Toverland - 189 points in the final.


7: Raptor (NEW), Gardaland - 216 points in the final.


6: Silver Star (9), Europa-Park - 219 points in the final.


5: iSpeed (34), Mirabilandia - 251 points in the final.


4: Katun (7), Mirabilandia - 276 points in the final.


3: Expedition Ge Force (12), Holiday Park - 306 points in the final.


2: Black Mamba (1), Phantasialand - 319 points in final.




WINNER 2011/12:





1: Blue Fire (3), Europa-Park - 354 points in final.

Video Link



(Total Votes in final: 44)

Observations: An All German Top 3!

Blue Fire has become the second rollercoaster to win the TTF Coaster Poll twice. Following on from its success in the 2009-10 poll (when the ride was new), it has beaten back its rival Black Mamba to take the crown.

With solid theming, an exceptional throughput, smooth ride experience, ultra cool and comfortable trains along with one of the best inversions in the business, Blue Fire is our top coaster for 2012! Congratulations go, of course, to the ever-so-lovely Europa-Park for giving us this beautiful rollercoaster, which, let us not forget, is a family/thrill coaster with a height restriction of just 1.3 metres.

You can see a video of the victory celebrations at Europa-Park HERE!

A little word also for Black Mamba, whose legacy lives on. With consistent top 5 finishes in the poll - and two previous wins - the intricately themed B&M Inverted Coaster remains a firm favourite amongst forum members and shows that TTF cares about theming which, in the case of Black Mamba, is one of the best themed in the world. Expedition Ge Force at Germany’s Holiday Park has finally engaged with the top 3 after steady rises in recent years.

Mirabilandia have two coasters inside the top 5, which is a first. ISpeed has gradually risen up the poll since it was opened a number of years ago, and Katun’s position reflects its popularity in the global Mitch Hawker rollercoaster poll.

Another park with two inside the top 10, is Europa-Park. Entering the poll for the final time as Europe’s tallest rollercoaster, Silver Star has risen several places and finished at #6.

Raptor, the worlds first B&M Wing Rider has finished strongly at #7. With The Swam opening at Thorpe Park this year, does this signal that the Wing Rider concept is one of the best new coaster types of the current era?

Troy (#8) and Balder (#10) show that Wooden coasters have a massive pull, with Troy ending up as the highest in the poll. Indeed,  6 coasters inside the top 20 (30%) are wooden - which is a fantastic achievement. Could this be set to rise next year, with Wodan opening at Europa-Park?

Piraten, the Mega Lite, ended up in 9th place this year - a slight drop.

There have been some major casualties of the new voting system this year - including The Ultimate, which has dropped from 2nd place last year to 35th this year. Space Mountain Mission 2, Big Thunder Mountain and Rock n Roller Coaster have also seen big drops, as have Eurosat, Colorado Adventure and Grand National.

The New Boys

Here is where the new-for-2012 coasters finished!

1. Raptor (in 7th place) - a brilliant position for Merlin’s big beast for 2011!
2. Van Helsing's Factory (in 19th place) - the highest ranked indoor coaster has swept aside the rest!
3. Krake (in 30th place) - a moderate placing, for the new dive machine. Will added theming help for 2012?
4. Freischutz (in 53rd place) - a lack of POV’s do not help this launched coasters cause.
5. Ben 10: Ultimate Mission (in 70th place) - respectable, for a small scale family ride.
6. Le Twist (in 80th place)
7. Vicky The Ride (in 88th place)
8. Timber Drop (in 90th place)
9. Die Schlange von Midgard (in 91st place)
10. Skatteoen (in 92nd place)
11. Dizz (in 96th place)
12. Max Adventures Master Thai (in 98th place) - WOODEN SPOOON AWARD!

WINNER HISTORY

2007/8: Black Mamba, Phantasialand
2008/9: Dragon Khan, PortAventura
2009/10: Blue Fire, Europa-Park
2010/11: Black Mamba, Phantasialand
2011/12: Blue Fire, Europa-Park

Thanks!

Thank you for taking part in the poll this year - it’s been great fun! I hope you have enjoyed it, and are now looking forward to the 2012 season!

Credits:

AstroDan - Poll Co-Ordinator
Chris - Voting system technician
John - Results verification

[BigAl]

Pfft... As if Parc St Paul's 'Formule 1' didn't make it?! [-(

[SpinballEdders]

So Max Adventures Master Thai won and Blue Fire came last? WTF?!

oh wait I'm reading it upside down :P

[Blaze]

The B&M inverts didn't win, so I'll take it.

[Joelio]

Well done Slytherin, well done Slytherin!

[darkside]

So am I right in thinking that the Jubilee Odyssey didn't come in the top 100?

[Rob L]

I fully expected Blue Fire to win. Will it live up to exceptions of it being the best coaster in Europe when I ride it in April? I highly doubt it! It is a worthy winner though, as an all round coaster it looks brilliant!

I'm delighted to see Katun finish forth this year! Its highest ranking yet in this poll if I'm not mistaken?

Massive thank you to Dan for running this poll once again. I for one really do appreciate the time and effort you put in, and it does make the closed season a lot more fun. Thanks to Chris also for the new voting system, it's worked very well!

Bring on next year's (assuming there is one!). I think The Swarm could take the crown.

[AstroDan]

I fully expected Blue Fire to win. Will it live up to exceptions of it being the best coaster in Europe when I ride it in April? I highly doubt it! It is a worthy winner though, as an all round coaster it looks brilliant!

Blue Fire isn't the "best" but it is one of the most widely appealing. It actually didn't get the most 10's in the final. However, it was consistently in nearly everyon's top 3, meaning that it won.

I think it's one of those coasters that offers the complete package - theming, reliability, comfort, enjoyment. It doesn't rip your face of, nor does it provide stacks of airtime, nor does it travel at 80mph - but it does lots of things, and lots of things really quite well.

It is, absolutely, the best family/thrill rollercoaster - hands down.

[NastyPasty]

The Swarm? Nah. It's a shame it's an Alton forum, though, as I'd like to know where Alton's babies lie along those lines...
Congratulation Blue Fire. I was hoping for Raptor but it wasn't to be. Still, a worthy winner.
Roll on 2012.

[AstroDan]

The Swarm? Nah. It's a shame it's an Alton forum, though, as I'd like to know where Alton's babies lie along those lines...
Congratulation Blue Fire. I was hoping for Raptor but it wasn't to be. Still, a worthy winner.
Roll on 2012.

Raptor was the highest new entry!

As for Alton coasters, I would imagine Nemesis would win.

[John]

Congratulations once again to Blue Fire - a very worthy winner even though it wasn't my #1 pick

I've been following the progress of the coasters throughout the poll - here's how the top 10 coasters have placed in each round:


                  F  SF R2 R1
Blue Fire       1    2 1   1
Black Mamba 2    1 3 2
EGF                3    3 2 9
Katun           4    5 8 10
iSpeed         5    4 6 14
Silver Star     6    6 4 8
Raptor           7    7 7 7
Troy               8    9 11 5
Piraten        9    8 5 13
Balder         10  10  9    3

On the whole the placings have been fairly consistent (Raptor spectacularly so).  EGF, Katun and iSpeed are the big winners compared with early rounds, with Balder, Superman (R1 - 4th) and Dragon Khan (R1 - 6th) losing ground.

Head-to-head

Two R1 results were overturned in the final - Troy was narrowly beaten by Balder (group 10) and Silver Star ever more tightly by Raptor (G9). 
iSpeed was the only other top 10 coaster not to win its 1st round group, it lost to 12th place Colossos in G4, a result which would be reversed when they were again placed in the same group in R2 and again in the semis.

The final also saw two results from R2 overturned - Black Mamba's loss to EGF (G1), and Katun's to Raptor (G3).  Again both results were very close.

Every other time two or more top 10 coasters appeared in the same group they finished in the same order as the final, including both semis.


Finally, thanks to Dan for running the poll and to Chris for the behind the scenes stuff.  With closed season over, it's time to get back on the rides and form new opinions in time for the 2012-13 poll!

[Sam]

Ha, I like how John is the returning officer! :P

I'd like to say a massive thanks to Chris, John and especially Dan. It's been another wonderful poll, it really brightens up closed season.

The new voting system has massively improved the poll, and really made the results a lot more interesting. I can't wait to see what improvements come next year! I hope also the turnout will rise next year as people become more comfortable with the new voting system.

I don't think Blue Fire is the best coaster in Europe. But putting on my fanboy hat... YAY BLOOFI!

[RyanY]

Blue fire is a deserving winner but my votes differed from the results. Nice to see how people's opinions differ.

Huge thanks for everyone who ran the poll.

[Ritadz]

Pretty glad with the results, while Blue Fire doesn't look as good as iSpeed to me, I'd say it's a worthy winner, and thanks to all those involved for running the poll.

Can't see a certain short coaster from Surrey winning the poll next year though.

[AstroDan]

Pretty glad with the results, while Blue Fire doesn't look as good as iSpeed to me, I'd say it's a worthy winner, and thanks to all those involved for running the poll.

Considering iSpeed finished 34th last year, it has done extremely well. It will also help that one or two are likely to be riding iSpeed this year!

Myself included!

[Ritadz]

Make sure you do front row. Quality.

[Cheese]

A big thank you to Dan and Chris for running this. I may have only voted in one round (having intended to do more), but I've been reading voters' opinions and the results of each round with interest.

While I respect the decision that Alton's coasters aren't included to avoid fanboy votes, is there any other reason why they shouldn't appear in next year's poll? I'd like to think that TTFers, especially the ones that take part in this, are open-minded enough to look at them objectively and sensibly compare them with coasters on the continent. Yes, even Nemesis.

[AstroDan]

A big thank you to Dan and Chris for running this. I may have only voted in one round (having intended to do more), but I've been reading voters' opinions and the results of each round with interest.

While I respect the decision that Alton's coasters aren't included to avoid fanboy votes, is there any other reason why they shouldn't appear in next year's poll? I'd like to think that TTFers, especially the ones that take part in this, are open-minded enough to look at them objectively and sensibly compare them with coasters on the continent. Yes, even Nemesis.

I am looking into it for 2012/13.

[Ritadz]

A big thank you to Dan and Chris for running this. I may have only voted in one round (having intended to do more), but I've been reading voters' opinions and the results of each round with interest.

While I respect the decision that Alton's coasters aren't included to avoid fanboy votes, is there any other reason why they shouldn't appear in next year's poll? I'd like to think that TTFers, especially the ones that take part in this, are open-minded enough to look at them objectively and sensibly compare them with coasters on the continent. Yes, even Nemesis.

I agree, and with the exception of Nemmy and possibly Oblivion I can't see any of them reaching the final.

Unless of course we just a get a load of kids joining and just carelessly voting for the AT rides, in which case I'm sure you'd be able to work round it Dan (and/or Chris).

And besides, a lot of people on TTF are bigger Europa fanboys than they are for Alton.