I was so pissed about this at the time. I was like, "Who the hell said that crap?! Save the Whizzer?! Really?! Save that piece of crap family ride over Shockwave?! You guys can't be serious!!" But apparently they were, SMH. Because they took down my beloved Shockwave instead of that ancient dud of a ride Whizzer for Superman Ulrimate Flight. A ride I was definitely looking forward to and still love today. But when it came to building it, Six Flags should of just went with tearing down Whizzer instead of Shockwave. IMO this was a big mistake by SFGAm and still pisses me off whenever this comes to mind to be honest!!
The Whizzer was kept because of it's uniqueness and history, which resulted in it being given ACE Landmark status. Additionally, Shockwave was plagued with mechanical breakdowns (wheels failing on the trains and the track had a fracture on the first loop because of the intense force) and was aging poorly leading to an increasingly rough ride.
While I had been to Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ with my family, once I was old enough to drive, I had to make the drive with a friend from Baltimore to ride Shockwave's twin, Great American Scream Machine. Unfortunately, my dad's brand new Dodge Aries broke down on me, and we wound up having to stay overnight in NJ. I still remember the cab driver being surprised that we would travel that far for a coaster. That really cemented by start of being a hardcore enthusiast.
I forget if it was Batman or Shockwave, which was the first real roller coaster I ever rode but yeah it definitely stinks that Shockwave has been gone...and for almost 20 years now!
@@skippythealien9627 I went to Six flags the first time when I was 10 years old and this ride was so intimidating that I didn’t ride it. The next year it got removed and Superman took it place. I still regret not riding it.
My buddy who was completely heartbroken when they tore this down was amazed when I told him there’s another Shockwave out in Cali known as Viper. It’s the last 7 inversion Arrow looper standing. Gotta get out there to ride it!
@@chrisanderson1809 yea it definitely was a rough coaster that jarred and slammed your head side to side. My dad almost passed out because it smacks you around so much. Though it was fun.
I think this was the best ride I ever went on at Great America. Haven't been there in years though. I can't believe you held on to the camera. I also can't believe the camera didn't break.
Eric Ellis you should come back! I was like you stayed away a long time....and coming back was pretty amazing! The raging bull, the batsman! You gotta try xflight and Goliath I am sure you'll love it
What I wouldn’t give to ride this again. My Dad’s company picnic one year rented out Six Flags. We rode Shockwave and Iron Wolf until my recently pierced ears started to bleed. Lost Dad in 2014.
You can come visit Iron Wolf at Six Flags America just outside of DC as that's where it got relocated to. One thing they did change however last year was that they changed from standup trains to sitdown floorless ones.
This just gave me ptsd. Back in 7th grade, we went on a class trip to six flags. I had already been feeling crappy on the bus ride there, but once we arrived and I puked up my breakfast that wasn't agreeing with me, I was feeling OK. First thing my friends wanted to go on? Shockwave. Not wanting to be the wussy, I went along with it. Big mistake. I didn't puke on the ride, surprisingly, but it did enough to my head and stomach that my day was done. I spent the rest of the day following hanging out with one of my friends mom and lying down on benches whenever I had the chance. I haven't gone a roller coaster since. That was in 1992.
This was the first roller coaster I ever rode. My dad got me on it. I was so freaked waiting in line in anticipation of it but after that, I've ridden the biggest and fastest coasters in several parks since then. Thanks dad!
The first and last big roller-coaster I ever rode. When we arrived at six flags it was the biggest and first ride we saw. And yes it was a head banger!
So much cooler and engaging than a superman ultimate flight can ever be. Should've been fixed up and preserved, same happened to it's sister mirrored model in NJ "Great American Scream Machine" but at least this park still has "Demon." Calling these places so great but tossing away huge epic arrow coasters for smaller gimmicky B&M's, including X-Flight of bad vest restraints. We want REAL COASTERS BACK! Thank you S&S and Vekoma for trying (Steel Curtain is so awesome) despite lack of getting into the USA enough with the bigger stuff!
I don't know why S&S can't get Steel Curtain working right, but it's had a lot of downtime. There's nothing complicated about it either. It goes up a chain lift hill, and it goes throughout the rest of the ride with gravity. Simple.
My dad worked for prairie concrete and poured some of the foundations for this ride. I rode it at least three times every trip to the park. I miss this place so much. All the good rides are gone now. Well except eagle demon and whizzer, think those are the only original ones left.
Why did they take this down? This one was my favorite, I remember bein sick on the bench after riding it 3 times in a row after the whole day of coasters. Thank you for the awesome nostalgia!
It was loaded with structural and maintenance issues that began showing just several years after it opened. Also the ride quality grew harsher over the year and was losing favor to the public. It was only in operation for 14 seasons.
I remember as a kid seeing this coaster and hearing the screams from the parking lot and walking up to the entrance to get tickets. It was very intimidating.
Great coaster! Still a favorite of mine all these years later I still find myself wishing it was still there. Now sadly there's just Superman the Ride which is 30 seconds long, takes 2 hours in line to board and is just MEH from start to finish.
I miss Shockwave so much. I am so blessed to have experienced her in my lifetime. What a savage and satisfying ride she was! It was a sad sad moment in history when she was taken down.
the two rides from Six Flags i miss the most are definitely Shockwave and the Sky Whirl haha. I wish i got a chance to go on Orbit too before they took that down since those Enterprise-model flat rides barely exist these days
offensivejerk If it hurt your head then you didn't know how to ride it. You have to keep your head against the headrest otherwise yeah, of course it'll hurt.
A friend of mine and I rode it in 1992, we were in the front, at the top of the hill he spits into the air, it hits someone a few rows back, as we heard the person.
when parks used to have real steel coasters. At least Demon is still running, or Blue Hawk at SF Over Georgia, and Viper at SFMM. Is there any actual real steel coasters running at any six flags parks besides these? (not counting mine trains from arrow even if they are technically the same design of sorts). Between the B&M wing, and arrow looper Demon, Great America has won out over the country for my next six flags park visit.
Looks like it was pre-boomerang turn... Right? How did he ever hold on to the camera!? Thanks for sharing, this was my kind of coaster and I miss it dearly. It's hard to find such a brutal coaster these days. Superman is a wimpy proof of concept. The one after that will be great, I hope.
I wish this coaster was still around looks super fun but then whizzer would be gone but i would rather that happend but i wish they just canceled super man and kept both because i think both rides would have been better than superman because supermans layout is pretty boring except for the pretzel knot or loop
Drumdudeexplosives I wish you had gotten to. The Shockwave was one of the best coasters in the park, probably the best before the Raging Bull came out.
Colin Breen most definitely in fact I think if it was still in the park maybe I would like it better than raging bull....it's really hard to say because even though I rode the shockwave countless times and I loved it I still kinda don't remember what it feels like but the raging bull I been riding it pretty regularly the past two years and I love it.....one day i rode it 4 times back to back and decided 3 times is actually the best number per trip and riding on the outside car is the best....I'll see raging bull in a few weeks
This vid brings back great memories! Shock Wave was the first coaster that really scared me. For me, the worst (and the best) part of the ride can be seen at 1:01. That little pause before the drop always got to me. Thanks taking me back!
Shockwave had to go as it was a maintenance headache and it was declining in ridership. As cool as this coaster was, it’s high speed and forces pulled was putting too much stress on the structure and track causing it to pull itself apart slowly in which it needed re-welding quite often which was costly and complicated.
I wonder if this will start a mini war with Kings Island over trying to rebuild Son of Beast with Rocky Mountain Construction so hopefully the wood hypercoaster can be revived...
Hi8 camcorder. The smaller tapes, not full size VHS. I was able hide the camcorder under my shirt. I was surprised they did not see it. I tried it on the stand up Superman roller coaster, and they took it away from me. I retrieved it after the ride.
Loved this ride! Thanks for sharing this. Miss it every day while reminiscing my childhood at SFGA. While I very much love Great America, they did this awesome ride dirty by not ever giving it proper landscaping for the entire duration of it's existence. Then freaking Superman comes flying in and gets a red carpet royal treatment in all things themed and landscaped? Boo Hiss😠
My middle school teacher Mr. W has been visiting Six Flags Great America. One of the coasters he went on was Shockwave. He told me that the coaster was rough.
I love Arrow coasters (especially Magnum XL-200). This looked awesome. The only Arrow 7-inversion coaster is Viper, and it's at SFMM, which is on the other side of the country for me. I live in Ohio, which doesn't suck because my home park is Cedar Point. SFMM lovers and Cedar Point haters, come to Ohio, ride Magnum, it's better than X2 and Viper.
If only Magic Mountain and Cedar Point fanboys stop debating why their park is better and just enjoy the roller coasters will we finally settle this once and for all... Besides, I fanboy the Fairly Odd Coaster at Mall of America and still respect the Millennium Force and X2 fanboys' opinions because both have their unique selling points for the 48" class: (MF=Tallest, fastest for its height restriction class; X2=One of only 2 4Ds in the US)
I've always been a big fan of Arrow coasters. They were in business for so long and they spent a lot of their time constantly at the cutting edge and breaking records. I really hate the fact they went bankrupt. If they were still in business now, I bet they would still be edging out the competition. They had a lot of bad luck though, but I've never seen another manufacture that could really stick their neck out like Arrow.
Jeremy Wissel What Arrow was good at was *Innovating*. They formed what the theme park industry is today. It would be completely different if they had never come around
Out of the trilogy I only was able to ride Viper at Magic Mountain. I wonder if the other versions rode any differently, either rougher or smoother. Anyone know?
Jim I have only ever ridden Shockwave at Gurnee so I can't speak for the other coasters but I can tell you that this ride was a headbanger. It was/still is one of my favorite coasters of all time and I couldn't even begin to guess how many times I've ridden it, but it was B.R.U.T.A.L. as others have mentioned. (Not only that but it was kind of a weird layout with those shape curves before and after the loops, then slowing down almost to a stop before going into the corkscrews.) I have to believe that Viper would ride the same way as the layout is the same and manufacturer.
As much as I loved Shockwave, and find Superman to be boring, I understand why they removed it. It was high maintenance and was not very popular. Demon is too iconic to the park - its been there since 1976! It you kept up with things, you would know that Iron Wolf has been relocated to Six Flags America (Maryland). The truly sad thing is that Shockwave was never relocated to another park, no one wanted it.
1:26 this is my favorite part lmao I like how one frame you’re banked like 50 degrees left and then the next frame you’re wings-level WITH NO HEARTLINING 😂😂😂
My brother and I rode the 'Gulf Coaster' in 1976, as a joke on the grand opening weekend when it was "Marriot's" Great America in Gurnee. The Shockwave was by far the best coaster of them all, the kiddie "Gulf Coaster", the worst, but I can say I rode almost all of them over a 30 year period.
I was desperate for them to replace shockwave with a custom B&M floorless. Matching the 170' with a steep curving drop like dominator and seven inversions with some interesting transitions and banked mischief. Shockwave Reloaded was my dream. Big bright and blue and gorgeous. Superman is SO tame and overrated. I could have lived without shockwave reloaded if superman hadn't turned out to be so basic.
They used to fix the wheels on the shockwave trains everyday because that drop & that first loop didn't mix. But I loved it, despite the headaches and bruises, that hill was amazingly intimidating, every time!
They said that one of the main reasons this was taken down was because the ride had maintenance problems. I wonder if they could just remodel or fix the parts of the ride that were wearing out.
They did have to take out parts of the loops on its twin in NJ and replace them with new sections, but the layout remained the same. Once B&M came around, people were won over by their smoother designs. Arrows didn't seem so sexy anymore.
omg remember seeing this on the way in and being little like OMG! and then i went on it finally...Was an awesome ride, even if you head and neck hurt the rest of the day lmao.
So this is where the movie term shaky cam came from! We've come so far since then. Who would've ever thought they would've been able to create a video camera as small as a GoPro that features almost perfect stabilization.
When I was a kid this ride had me momentarily blacking out. Was the most brutal coaster I've ever been on. People were crying when the train came back to the station and as kids you're like "oh shit yo"
Watching this coaster in motion pulling into the parking was just classic. Man I miss those days smh rough ride tho 😂 it really lived up to its name but it’s was also a fun coaster at the same time.
This is an accurate representation of the experience.
This thing always looked so cool from the highway.
Yes it did!!
Didn't it? Especially when you drove pass six flags on grand.
I miss this coaster so damn much.
jonnda me too
jonnda me too it was the best
the last three arrow mega looper is in six flags magic mountain called the viper
so much cooler looking when you pulled into the parking lot than superman
It got taken down for Superman but also for safety purposes.
They said save the whizzer and the shockwave became chopped liver.
Steph Heffner Lol thats it’s gravestone for Fright Fest.
Lol, but the whizzer is actually still here.
The whizzer is only around for novelty I don’t think anyone actually enjoys it, should’ve remove whizzer for xflight, Goliath, or Superman
I was so pissed about this at the time. I was like, "Who the hell said that crap?! Save the Whizzer?! Really?! Save that piece of crap family ride over Shockwave?! You guys can't be serious!!" But apparently they were, SMH. Because they took down my beloved Shockwave instead of that ancient dud of a ride Whizzer for Superman Ulrimate Flight. A ride I was definitely looking forward to and still love today. But when it came to building it, Six Flags should of just went with tearing down Whizzer instead of Shockwave. IMO this was a big mistake by SFGAm and still pisses me off whenever this comes to mind to be honest!!
The Whizzer was kept because of it's uniqueness and history, which resulted in it being given ACE Landmark status. Additionally, Shockwave was plagued with mechanical breakdowns (wheels failing on the trains and the track had a fracture on the first loop because of the intense force) and was aging poorly leading to an increasingly rough ride.
May I use this footage in a video on Six Flags Great America's history? I will give you full credit.
Yes you may.
Who cares
@@ArrowThrills two years before you commented get a life
@@ArrowThrills Because you don't steal other people's content? Fucking dumbass.
@@ArrowThrills Moron, get some manners before joining online social media.
A big piece of my childhood died when they took down this coaster. Watching this is nostalgia at it's finest. Thank you for sharing.
Right! Same here!!
Me too!
This is the coaster that made me into a complete coaster fanatic - what a rush! It sucks that it's gone now.
While I had been to Six Flags Great Adventure in NJ with my family, once I was old enough to drive, I had to make the drive with a friend from Baltimore to ride Shockwave's twin, Great American Scream Machine. Unfortunately, my dad's brand new Dodge Aries broke down on me, and we wound up having to stay overnight in NJ. I still remember the cab driver being surprised that we would travel that far for a coaster. That really cemented by start of being a hardcore enthusiast.
Same
Ya Superman Ultimate Fligth took its place
I forget if it was Batman or Shockwave, which was the first real roller coaster I ever rode but yeah it definitely stinks that Shockwave has been gone...and for almost 20 years now!
@@skippythealien9627 I went to Six flags the first time when I was 10 years old and this ride was so intimidating that I didn’t ride it. The next year it got removed and Superman took it place. I still regret not riding it.
My buddy who was completely heartbroken when they tore this down was amazed when I told him there’s another Shockwave out in Cali known as Viper. It’s the last 7 inversion Arrow looper standing. Gotta get out there to ride it!
Lol that one turn at 1:26... so brutal. Felt like getting punched in the face. Made no sense. This coaster was so rough.
Yeah it was. Maybe it was just me but I always sat in the back like a moron - That thing damn near knocked me out a few times.
That turn knocked out a loose tooth I had when I was a kid.
Just watching this video, you can feel the headache. Still loved the ride though.
U can experience it at sfmm rn lol
@@chrisanderson1809 yea it definitely was a rough coaster that jarred and slammed your head side to side. My dad almost passed out because it smacks you around so much. Though it was fun.
This ride would beat you the hell up.
One of the first rides I ever went on as a kid, I was terrified lol. I miss it so much
I think this was the best ride I ever went on at Great America. Haven't been there in years though. I can't believe you held on to the camera. I also can't believe the camera didn't break.
Yes. It used to be the park's greatest thrill ride before Raging Bull appeared.
If it were still here, what would you rate this out of ten, with ten being the best?
Rocky Tuck I would rate this an 8.
Eric Ellis you should come back! I was like you stayed away a long time....and coming back was pretty amazing! The raging bull, the batsman! You gotta try xflight and Goliath I am sure you'll love it
Long before GoPro's!
What I wouldn’t give to ride this again. My Dad’s company picnic one year rented out Six Flags. We rode Shockwave and Iron Wolf until my recently pierced ears started to bleed. Lost Dad in 2014.
Damn, RIP to your dad.
You can come visit Iron Wolf at Six Flags America just outside of DC as that's where it got relocated to. One thing they did change however last year was that they changed from standup trains to sitdown floorless ones.
That is the shockwave for sure. I have ridden it at least 50 times and will never forget that track layout
Same as Great American Scream Machine
most underrated megalooper.
Well, it had a twin in NJ, so I'm not sure how accurate that statement is.
Thanks for posting this! Shockwave was the first coaster I rode at SFGAm, and was also my first big coaster ever.
This just gave me ptsd.
Back in 7th grade, we went on a class trip to six flags. I had already been feeling crappy on the bus ride there, but once we arrived and I puked up my breakfast that wasn't agreeing with me, I was feeling OK.
First thing my friends wanted to go on? Shockwave. Not wanting to be the wussy, I went along with it. Big mistake. I didn't puke on the ride, surprisingly, but it did enough to my head and stomach that my day was done.
I spent the rest of the day following hanging out with one of my friends mom and lying down on benches whenever I had the chance.
I haven't gone a roller coaster since. That was in 1992.
This was the first roller coaster I ever rode. My dad got me on it. I was so freaked waiting in line in anticipation of it but after that, I've ridden the biggest and fastest coasters in several parks since then. Thanks dad!
The Shockwave was one of the best. RIP
The first looping roller coaster I ever rode was the Shockwave. RIP Shockwave, you are missed
The first and last big roller-coaster I ever rode. When we arrived at six flags it was the biggest and first ride we saw. And yes it was a head banger!
May I use this footage in a video on Six Flags Great America's history? I will give you full credit.
So much cooler and engaging than a superman ultimate flight can ever be. Should've been fixed up and preserved, same happened to it's sister mirrored model in NJ "Great American Scream Machine" but at least this park still has "Demon." Calling these places so great but tossing away huge epic arrow coasters for smaller gimmicky B&M's, including X-Flight of bad vest restraints. We want REAL COASTERS BACK! Thank you S&S and Vekoma for trying (Steel Curtain is so awesome) despite lack of getting into the USA enough with the bigger stuff!
I don't know why S&S can't get Steel Curtain working right, but it's had a lot of downtime. There's nothing complicated about it either. It goes up a chain lift hill, and it goes throughout the rest of the ride with gravity. Simple.
My dad worked for prairie concrete and poured some of the foundations for this ride. I rode it at least three times every trip to the park. I miss this place so much. All the good rides are gone now. Well except eagle demon and whizzer, think those are the only original ones left.
Eagle was not an original, but yes, so many good rides are gone.
I remember having to jam my head in the left corner in order to not get knocked around.
I miss Shockwave... And the headaches it gave me in the air
Come to 6 Flags Magic Mountain. We still have Viper!
Why did they take this down?
This one was my favorite, I remember bein sick on the bench after riding it 3 times in a row after the whole day of coasters.
Thank you for the awesome nostalgia!
They had to either take whizzer or this down for superman. The public wanted whizzer to stay so this went
Maintenance issues
It was loaded with structural and maintenance issues that began showing just several years after it opened. Also the ride quality grew harsher over the year and was losing favor to the public. It was only in operation for 14 seasons.
It gave people migraines because it was a headbanger
@@blainewilliams394 Came here to say this. That hard left after the third loop was a killer
the headache was worth the rush. I think my record was 5 times in a row near closing when the lines were short. By far my favorite at Great America
I miss that ride so much
First coaster with 7 inversions
Thanks for sharing this! I remember it gave me a headache. :)
Superman was a downgrade from this. Should have gotten rid of Whizzer
I remember as a kid seeing this coaster and hearing the screams from the parking lot and walking up to the entrance to get tickets. It was very intimidating.
hahaha yeah definitely
now that experience has been replaced by both Superman and Maxx Force
This was the best and the first coaster you saw coming , and the last you saw leaving.
never got to ride this one 😟 but at least whizzer is still there and it is still beloved and one of the last of its kind
i love amusement parks
i vist six flags cedar point indiana beach i love beein outside
😄😃😀😊😊
Great coaster! Still a favorite of mine all these years later I still find myself wishing it was still there. Now sadly there's just Superman the Ride which is 30 seconds long, takes 2 hours in line to board and is just MEH from start to finish.
Wolfchacer Shockwave suffered too many maintenance issues and it lost ridership due to how unbearable the ride was.
The only good part of Superman is the Pretzel loop imo. The rest is really lame.
I even sat up front the last time I rode it. That first hill... wow but what a rush!
I remember this ride hurt my neck and I just wanted to see if I was alone on that from the comments I realize I'm not lol
I miss Shockwave so much. I am so blessed to have experienced her in my lifetime. What a savage and satisfying ride she was! It was a sad sad moment in history when she was taken down.
Last time I checked roller coasters don’t have genders
@@doritosauce6632 ikr shockwave isn’t a boat
i thought it was an f-77 supreme military fighter jet
the two rides from Six Flags i miss the most are definitely Shockwave and the Sky Whirl haha. I wish i got a chance to go on Orbit too before they took that down since those Enterprise-model flat rides barely exist these days
I didn't know RCCA also made steel looping coasters
This was smooth compared to the old school woodies coming from the predator, mean streak the comet anything steel feels great
I miss Shockwave. Still one of the very best rides ever there; I am still very upset that it was demolished instead of Whizzer. I LOVED Shockwave!!
Well, I wished to ride it too, but they still have the Viper there. I agree. Why Shockwave and not whizzer??
James Campbell cause after riding wizzer, you don't have a concussion, unlike after riding shockwave...
James Campbell well the whizzer is a landmark and is actually fun
dippindotz This ride hurt my head!!!!
offensivejerk If it hurt your head then you didn't know how to ride it. You have to keep your head against the headrest otherwise yeah, of course it'll hurt.
Piece of history thanks so much for this video
A friend of mine and I rode it in 1992, we were in the front, at the top of the hill he spits into the air, it hits someone a few rows back, as we heard the person.
when parks used to have real steel coasters. At least Demon is still running, or Blue Hawk at SF Over Georgia, and Viper at SFMM. Is there any actual real steel coasters running at any six flags parks besides these? (not counting mine trains from arrow even if they are technically the same design of sorts). Between the B&M wing, and arrow looper Demon, Great America has won out over the country for my next six flags park visit.
There are lots of "real" steel coasters operating at Six Flags parks across the country. Let the Roller Coaster Database be your guide.
Nostalgia! :'(
Looks like it was pre-boomerang turn... Right? How did he ever hold on to the camera!? Thanks for sharing, this was my kind of coaster and I miss it dearly. It's hard to find such a brutal coaster these days. Superman is a wimpy proof of concept. The one after that will be great, I hope.
1:36 you can hear everyone groan with concern as they slammed into those inversions. So classic aero
This brings back some great memories. What a great ride. It pissed me off when they took it down. It's so much better than Superman.
I wish this coaster was still around looks super fun but then whizzer would be gone but i would rather that happend but i wish they just canceled super man and kept both because i think both rides would have been better than superman because supermans layout is pretty boring except for the pretzel knot or loop
I never got to ride this :( at least they still have the demon, now THATS a fun ride right there
Drumdudeexplosives I wish you had gotten to. The Shockwave was one of the best coasters in the park, probably the best before the Raging Bull came out.
Colin Breen most definitely in fact I think if it was still in the park maybe I would like it better than raging bull....it's really hard to say because even though I rode the shockwave countless times and I loved it I still kinda don't remember what it feels like but the raging bull I been riding it pretty regularly the past two years and I love it.....one day i rode it 4 times back to back and decided 3 times is actually the best number per trip and riding on the outside car is the best....I'll see raging bull in a few weeks
Dev-Deh_13 demon sucks it hurts you're head to much
Dev-Deh_13 demons the worst roller coaster in the park
Shockwave was rougher than Demon. And there are worse arrow loopers. out there
My home park :D
This vid brings back great memories! Shock Wave was the first coaster that really scared me. For me, the worst (and the best) part of the ride can be seen at 1:01. That little pause before the drop always got to me. Thanks taking me back!
Yeah and just like the Great American Scream Machine. The other sister of the Shockwave. And true, Superman is VERY boring . It was a waste
The most interesting part of Superman is during the lift, when you can check out everyones bubble gum..
Shockwave had to go as it was a maintenance headache and it was declining in ridership.
As cool as this coaster was, it’s high speed and forces pulled was putting too much stress on the structure and track causing it to pull itself apart slowly in which it needed re-welding quite often which was costly and complicated.
Eh yo. Anybody remember vengaboys and the 6 flags dancing old man commercial lolz
I don't even remember this one:( Looks fun, though....anyone else excited for the new goliath ride coming to the Gurnee Six Flags?
I wonder if this will start a mini war with Kings Island over trying to rebuild Son of Beast with Rocky Mountain Construction so hopefully the wood hypercoaster can be revived...
Already rode it.
@@SarahPToadstool unfortunately banshee replaced son of beast
@@SarahPToadstool It's so interesting reading this comment six years later. You would've never predicted Steel Vengeance back then at Cedar Point.
You probably lost your memory riding it
Who else didn’t ride this because they were too scared and then they removed it
Brings back great memories. I miss Shockwave.
It looks identical to six flags great adventures great American scream machine.
@@Kevinb1821 and viper at SF Magic Mountain
what happen to shockwave and change into what new safe ride?
wow, look how much times have changed.
loved that coaster - thanks for sharing
Used to be my favorite! Never a wait, so many re-rides
They said save the whizzer and shockwave became chopped liver
Lol you actually got that from it’s gravestone at Fright Fest.
What camera did you use? last time I checked the cameras in 1993 where pretty big. I'm surprised they allowed you to bring it on.
Hi8 camcorder. The smaller tapes, not full size VHS. I was able hide the camcorder under my shirt. I was surprised they did not see it. I tried it on the stand up Superman roller coaster, and they took it away from me. I retrieved it after the ride.
I was with a group of people and we all road it at the same time. All of us blacked out on the 3rd loop and woke at the corkscrew.
Ah this brings back memories. Also my ears hurt
They should bring it back
Shockwave was "the shit." best damn roller coaster at Six Flags Great America in the 90's!
Loved this ride! Thanks for sharing this. Miss it every day while reminiscing my childhood at SFGA. While I very much love Great America, they did this awesome ride dirty by not ever giving it proper landscaping for the entire duration of it's existence. Then freaking Superman comes flying in and gets a red carpet royal treatment in all things themed and landscaped? Boo Hiss😠
It would ahve been so cool to go on this.... Only reason why I wish I was born earlier
haha *violently slams into mcbr*
Wheels wither on shockwave
Yeah your right....the wheels on this things trains wore out quickly and they had to replace them frequently.
When they told u to keep your head back on this coaster they weren't kidding. This would beat the shit out of your noggin
My middle school teacher Mr. W has been visiting Six Flags Great America. One of the coasters he went on was Shockwave. He told me that the coaster was rough.
My mom worked on this coaster
The original parking lot coaster
I love Arrow coasters (especially Magnum XL-200). This looked awesome. The only Arrow 7-inversion coaster is Viper, and it's at SFMM, which is on the other side of the country for me. I live in Ohio, which doesn't suck because my home park is Cedar Point. SFMM lovers and Cedar Point haters, come to Ohio, ride Magnum, it's better than X2 and Viper.
If only Magic Mountain and Cedar Point fanboys stop debating why their park is better and just enjoy the roller coasters will we finally settle this once and for all...
Besides, I fanboy the Fairly Odd Coaster at Mall of America and still respect the Millennium Force and X2 fanboys' opinions because both have their unique selling points for the 48" class: (MF=Tallest, fastest for its height restriction class; X2=One of only 2 4Ds in the US)
I've always been a big fan of Arrow coasters. They were in business for so long and they spent a lot of their time constantly at the cutting edge and breaking records. I really hate the fact they went bankrupt. If they were still in business now, I bet they would still be edging out the competition. They had a lot of bad luck though, but I've never seen another manufacture that could really stick their neck out like Arrow.
Magnum better than X2? HELL NAHHHHHH!
Also, why would you say Magnum is better even though you haven't even been to SFMM?
Jeremy Wissel What Arrow was good at was *Innovating*. They formed what the theme park industry is today. It would be completely different if they had never come around
Out of the trilogy I only was able to ride Viper at Magic Mountain. I wonder if the other versions rode any differently, either rougher or smoother. Anyone know?
Jim I have only ever ridden Shockwave at Gurnee so I can't speak for the other coasters but I can tell you that this ride was a headbanger. It was/still is one of my favorite coasters of all time and I couldn't even begin to guess how many times I've ridden it, but it was B.R.U.T.A.L. as others have mentioned. (Not only that but it was kind of a weird layout with those shape curves before and after the loops, then slowing down almost to a stop before going into the corkscrews.) I have to believe that Viper would ride the same way as the layout is the same and manufacturer.
When Shockwave was token down, the replaced it with Superman Ultimate Flight.
Antoinette Brilz that’s correct.
Superman is much more reliable and fun.
As much as I loved Shockwave, and find Superman to be boring, I understand why they removed it.
It was high maintenance and was not very popular.
Demon is too iconic to the park - its been there since 1976!
It you kept up with things, you would know that Iron Wolf has been relocated to Six Flags America (Maryland).
The truly sad thing is that Shockwave was never relocated to another park, no one wanted it.
United States 🇺🇸
1:26 this is my favorite part lmao
I like how one frame you’re banked like 50 degrees left and then the next frame you’re wings-level WITH NO HEARTLINING 😂😂😂
So basically THE DEMON was kind of similar as it had One loop ? and Head rattling
My brother and I rode the 'Gulf Coaster' in 1976, as a joke on the grand opening weekend when it was "Marriot's" Great America in Gurnee. The Shockwave was by far the best coaster of them all, the kiddie "Gulf Coaster", the worst, but I can say I rode almost all of them over a 30 year period.
I was desperate for them to replace shockwave with a custom B&M floorless. Matching the 170' with a steep curving drop like dominator and seven inversions with some interesting transitions and banked mischief. Shockwave Reloaded was my dream. Big bright and blue and gorgeous. Superman is SO tame and overrated. I could have lived without shockwave reloaded if superman hadn't turned out to be so basic.
MY 1ST ROLLER COASTER
rip shockwave
They used to fix the wheels on the shockwave trains everyday because that drop & that first loop didn't mix. But I loved it, despite the headaches and bruises, that hill was amazingly intimidating, every time!
It was a sad day when they took this down.
This thing was PAINFUL
OLD SCHOOL POV !!
They said that one of the main reasons this was taken down was because the ride had maintenance problems. I wonder if they could just remodel or fix the parts of the ride that were wearing out.
They still could have kept it
These maintenance issues weren't the only problems that caused Shockwave's demise, but it was so rough and painful.
They did have to take out parts of the loops on its twin in NJ and replace them with new sections, but the layout remained the same. Once B&M came around, people were won over by their smoother designs. Arrows didn't seem so sexy anymore.
omg remember seeing this on the way in and being little like OMG! and then i went on it finally...Was an awesome ride, even if you head and neck hurt the rest of the day lmao.
It’s identical to scream machine
So this is where the movie term shaky cam came from! We've come so far since then. Who would've ever thought they would've been able to create a video camera as small as a GoPro that features almost perfect stabilization.
I think this is the same layout as Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure.
When I was a kid this ride had me momentarily blacking out. Was the most brutal coaster I've ever been on. People were crying when the train came back to the station and as kids you're like "oh shit yo"
Watching this coaster in motion pulling into the parking was just classic. Man I miss those days smh rough ride tho 😂 it really lived up to its name but it’s was also a fun coaster at the same time.