Six Flags Offers Roller Coaster Workshop

VALENCIA, Calif. (LA Times) – Bearded and with brightly colored tattoos on both his calves, Jon Shiner looks tough, but he admits he has struggled with heights his whole life. "If I have to stand on a chair I get nervous, so anything up in the air pretty much freaks me out," the 29-year-old said. But on a recent Saturday morning, Shiner decided to face his phobia when he attended a free class at Six Flags Magic Mountain on conquering the fear of riding roller coasters. The amusement park was hosting the course in conjunction with its promotion of Tatsu, a new dragon-themed coaster that officially begins running Saturday. Riding Tatsu is supposed to simulate flight, the marketing materials say. Riders are strapped into a car standing up, with a shoulder harness and two calf harnesses. Once the car leaves the station, it tilts 90 degrees forward so that riders are "flying" around the track – arms stretched forward, feet trailing behind – Superman-style. No wonder the park turned to Linda Bortell – a cheerful clinical psychologist whose areas of expertise include "thrills and terror" – to facilitate the experimental three-week class held over consecutive Saturdays. Bortell introduced herself to the 10 adult participants, who were recruited by park employees, telling them she is a roller coaster enthusiast who sometimes drives to Magic Mountain for a quick ride on Viper before going to her office in South Pasadena. After everyone in the room had a chance to introduce themselves and state their specific fears, Bortell led the class outside to take a look at Tatsu itself, which the participants are to ride on their third and final class this Saturday. "If you ride coasters enough, you learn that there are different types of screams," Bortell said, as the group walked into the park. "There is the 'I'm here with my cute boyfriend and I'm screaming so I can hang onto him' scream, and then there are screams of fun, and some screams of fear. My husband starts screaming the second the coaster leaves the loading dock. He says it's part of the experience."