Some people aspire to climb a mountain like Mount Everest.
Others set more modest goals like running a half marathon or learning to whistle.
And then there are those who dream up offbeat endurance challenges.
With all the hoopla over America’s 250th birthday, a Cincinnati man set out to see just how many times he could ride his favorite Cedar Point roller coaster.
So on the Fourth of July, Gannon Klaber made the trek to Sandusky to see just how many times he could ride the Magnum XL-200 in a single day.
Starting at 10 a.m. with his trusty Fast Pass in hand, Klaber started his marathon.
“What’s more American than riding the All-American original hyper coaster?” the 24-year-old asked.
The Fast Pass helped him rack up the rides throughout the day.
He would only stop to eat and use the restroom.
For his quick breaks for food, Klaber said, he picked the BackBeatQue. The food is pretty good, he said, and it’s situated right next to the exit and entrance of the roller coaster.
He took his first break to eat after 30 rides and noshed on smoked sausage.
The second food run came after 80 rides, and he ate some chicken.
After that, Klaber admits it “was pretty brutal.”
Going on the ride over and over already isn’t for the faint of heart, or stomach. So as the number of rides on the coaster continued on, the breaks became more frequent.
Toward the end, Klaber said, he was taking a break every 10 rides or so to catch his breath and grab a drink of water.
“Marathoning a ride and staying hydrated is not fun,” he said.
Although his home park is Kings Island in Mason, Klaber said his favorite coaster is the Magnum at Cedar Point.
“There’s just not another ride like it in the world,” he said. “That’s what makes it special.”
And the little bit of unexpected fly-off-your-seat “airtime” toward the back of the train makes the coaster even more memorable.
When the Magnum XL-200 opened in 1989, it was the first hyper-coaster and the first to top 200 feet.
The ride was also the fastest and steepest complete-circuit coaster in the world at the time.
Situated near the Lake Erie shoreline, the coaster reaches a top speed of some 72 miles per hour.
The ride lasts some 1 minute and 42 seconds.
And after the final “Riders, how was the ride?” Klaber rode the coaster 124 times over the course of the day.
He has had marathon rides on the coaster before, but never as many rides as he did on the Fourth.
It got to the point, Klaber said, that the ride operators and other riders were like, “oh, you’re back again.”
Park spokesman Tony Clark said it’s not uncommon for guests to have a personal favorite ride that keeps them coming back for more.
“Guests attempting personal achievements is something we’re very used to at the park,” he said. “Many guests have a single favorite, and they only ride that attraction each time they visit.
“It’s a lot of fun.”
Klaber said he’s not sure what’s next.
“I have no idea what’s next,” he said. “This was kind of a flying in the moment kind of thing.”
Aside from a bit of stiffness the next day, Klaber said, he has no regrets.
“I might be a little crazy,” he said. “But I’m not insane. I’ll tell you that much.”
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cincinnati man rides Cedar Point’s Magnum coaster 124 times on July 4th
Reporting by Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Craig Webb, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
