[RiDeWaRrIoR]

Uh oh looks like its our windseeker's turn...

CHARLOTTE--The Windseeker reopened to the public Sunday afternoon after the ride malfunctioned Saturday, leaving dozens of passengers stranded above the park for more than two hours.

According to a statement from Carowinds, mechanical teams made a minor adjustment to the sensitivity of the safety brake and tested the ride, without riders, for the remainder of the day Saturday.

The statement also said that all rides are inspected daily before the public is allowed in the park.

No one was hurt during Saturday's mishap.

The Windseeker is the tallest ride ever built at Carowinds.

I dont think I would want to sit there for 2 hrs .... that's kind of ridiculous. its a good thing it was 104* Saturday...

[Picklesthedrummer]

I am still amazed with some people after watching the video. Some of the people interviewed after riding the ride would never ride it again because the feel it's not safe. Sorry but you were closer to a near death experience driving to the park than being stuck on Windseeker for 2 hours.

[RollerBee]

My truck broke down the other day...machines breakdown, how it is news. I bet Carowinds had already planned for it since Windseeker was running yesterday. Do I want to be struck on any ride for hours, no; will I ride the rides again, yes.

[gabed]

I am still amazed with some people after watching the video. Some of the people interviewed after riding the ride would never ride it again because the feel it's not safe. Sorry but you were closer to a near death experience driving to the park than being stuck on Windseeker for 2 hours.

Amen, I mean really, think about it. They wouldn't build it if it wasn't safe!

[Wormy]

Of course, the damn thing is safe as houses. You're not going to get hurt or killed, but you can get stuck for two hours. The question is, do you really want to ride it in the first place, knowing the risk? No, everyone I know that rides these generic Mondials is unimpressed, while parks and the manufacturer scratch their heads working out the kinks. Cedar Fair deserves every bit of bad press with these 'investments' (especially the shoddy reporting from the local news that this incident received). Go ride the Skytwower instead, it's sturdy, only a few yards away, you'll see the exact same view, and can you use your camera. Stupid Windsucker.

[Jay]

Thanks for cleaning that up for the forums, even though your facebook rant was more entertaining.

[tylerSC]

Big rides are operated by computers, and computers occaisonally malfunction or have glitches. But these rides have backup safety measures in place, so this incident was more of a major inconvenience rather than a safety hazzard. The people on this ride were not dangling or falling, they were just regretably stuck up there.

[Picklesthedrummer]

It seems like all the Windseekers are getting a ton of attention when they break down. News flash, rides do break down. Carolina Cobra is having much worse troubles than Windseeker right now, yet you don't hear about it. The media just wants something to babble about.

[Wormy]

'News flash'. These rides should get the negative attention they deserve. Doing my part:

After a mechanical malfunction caused nearly 30 people to be stranded on the WindSeeker ride at Carowinds Saturday, NewsChannel 36 has discovered a similar incident on the same ride at Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio.

Carowinds said a safety sensor triggered Saturday’s incident, which left passengers dangling for two-and-half hours. No one was hurt.

Chad Kistler of Mooresville was on the WindSeeker when it malfunctioned.

“All the sudden it stopped. Everyone was looking at each other like, ‘Is this part of the ride?’ and I’m like ‘No, it’s not,’” Kistler told NewsChannel 36, the Observer’s news partner. “After about three minutes, everyone started freaking out. People wondering if they were going to die.”

Kistler claimed to get a sunburn while waiting, but said no one was actually injured. He added that Carowinds officials did check on the riders once on the ground, but never offered any refund.

In June, a different mechanical problem caused a similar outcome on the WindSeeker at the park in Sandusky, Ohio. According to published reports, a few dozen people were stuck on the ride for about an hour. Both parks are owned by Cedar Fair.

A quick internet search suggests a number of issues on the various WindSeekers across the country. The manufacturer, Mondial, didn’t respond to emails.

On Monday, Carowinds officials canceled a television interview with NewsChannel 36, but promised all proper tests were done to make sure the ride was safe. The park reopened the ride Sunday.

A Carowinds spokesperson said the ride never had “previous extended down time.”

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/0 ... rylink=cpy

[Picklesthedrummer]

I read the article too, but what's your point? It kind of proves my point of how the media just wants something to talk about. So when a new ride malfunctions like this, they are all over it.

[Wormy]

Oh, you have a lot of points, and there is such a thing as overposting. Go back and read between the lines. I think I made myself clear.

It's the media's job; don't blame them for the current malfunctions. They've been reporting on similar incidents for years longer than you've likely been paying attention.

[Picklesthedrummer]

That is my point. The fact the media does report on stuff like this to make it bigger than it actually is. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe we both agree on that. This isn't the first time I have seen something like this happen.

[Picklesthedrummer]

That is my point though. I would say we both agree that the media makes situations like these much bigger than they actually are, correct?

[Wormy]

I know what you mean, but I don't agree, and that's fine. You're tying to make a broad generalization about the media trying to sensationalize everything. While this may often be case, I don't feel this is true with the local media's relationship with the park. The media needs stories, and USUALLY only report the facts. The park needs the local media for advertising and promotion. In my observation, neither party has abused that necessity.

You've made your point. Over and over again. On every topic on this forum.

[RollerBee]

Sounds like Wormy has a vendetta against Windseeker. It isnt the best ride in the park but it isnt the worst either, I still miss the Whirling Dervish. Things break down, Windseeker is new...Saturator broke every 15 minutes its first season. BORG was the same or worst for awhile in 2004.