I don’t really get nervous anymore on rollercoasters. Blue Fire at Europa-Park has heart rate monitor built in the lap bars, kind of funny to see my pulse at a normal resting level and your neighbour’s heartrate at 150. Funnily enough, I still get absolutely terrified on any drop tower even if I have ridden it many times.

Personally, I found that getting comfortable with coasters came with time as I rode more coasters. The more coasters you ride, the better you’re able to anticipate what a new coaster will feel like even before you’ve ridden it, this takes away the fear of the unknown making it easier to relax and enjoy the ride.

Another tip I’d give (especially if you’re feeling nervous about the safety aspect) is to research how coasters are made and all of the engineering and testing that goes into every rollercoaster.

It depends on the ride. On something smooth and comfortable like a B&M hyper I can definitely relax. For example, Candymonium at Hersheypark is a great ride to practically ragdoll on. Also, putting hands up is a good start even if you’re tensed up. When you realize on some level that holding on isn’t doing anything but letting you tense your muscles unnecessarily you’ll start to feel more freedom on rides. Also, as you become more familiar with ride forces, you can better predict how upcoming elements will feel and you can brace for them in a more relaxed way, rather than trying to stay totally rigid in your seat

Not a coaster, but on an S&S screamin’ swing I notice that I tense up totally involuntarily. Something to do with the amount of airtime and the feeling of the restraint. It really depends on the ride.

It’s easier to relax when going faster vs hanging upside down like in that POV. I tense up when hanging upside down but otherwise I’m relaxed on rides.

Honestly the only way you can really truly accomplish this is to not be anxious but that’s kind of the point of roller coasters – they are designed to scare you and that’s what makes them fun. Many of us who have been riding coasters for a long time actually kind of wish we could get that back.

It’s an ongoing battle between your rational mind and your subconscious. I have been taking my niece and nephew on coasters for years now but I still have that fight in my own mind. My nephew is really small even though he’s reached the height… I logically know everything is safe but I still can’t help pushing his restraint down a little more and fighting the subconscious doubts but it gets easier the more we ride together.

Yeah man. If you hold on to whatever you’re essentially negating the forces. I pretty much go full limp ragdoll mode. (except for holding my hands up). Wooden coasters that are a little more textured I will hold on, but for the majority of rides yes.

Orion, Nitro, and Diamondback are three rollercoasters I find so relaxing I actually could fall asleep in them if they were longer. What these rides have in common is that they are steel, with long undulating non-inverting layouts, and are made by Bollinger & Mabillard. The rocking motion instantly relaxes my body and makes me drowsy. Some might even say these rides are Boring & Mild :)

Key to not being afraid is to let go of everything, like complete surrender. Even if it’s pretending, you have to do it to yourself to get into that state, and then it happens. you let go. Used to be terrified of heights, but once I let go, it felt like an out of body experience, pretty placid way to react. This worked for me.

If I were to take it the thrill route, my heart would have probably thumped 2x leaving me petrified.

I let the coaster take me. Especially on Velocicoaster. If that’s how I go, that’s how I go. I’m pretty much a rag doll on iron gwazi too.