Devin Olson, a.k.a. Blast Coaster - | |

Email: Webmaster@coaster-net.com / | AIM: BlastCoaster87

Who am I? The story of my life, my amusement park and ride interest, and the onset of a project named COASTER-net all collided eight years ago. In 1997, ten years after my life began in Manassas, Virginia, I found myself halfway across the state strapped into a train with twenty-nine others falling over a wooden cliff. That first major roller coaster, Rebel Yell at Paramount's Kings Dominion, not only launched our train over airtime hills, but also an enthusiasm in thrill rides and inherently theme parks I soon realized would last a lifetime. I also knew that this wouldn't stop at merely a personal hobby. I wanted to share my interest with the world. So, armed with a camera, an inquisitiveness to know everything there was about my subject matter, and the resolve to create an unparalleled resource for anyone remotely like myself to enjoy, I began a web site named "COASTERnet" the next year, utilizing the growing phenomenon known as the internet. Over the seven years that have followed, tough times and exhausting work have given way to a rewarding coaster organization that continues to grow at an ever-increasing pace. All it takes is the company of some of the awesome staff of COASTER-net, awesome people in the theme park industry, or a day at one of their amazing theme parks that we cover each day to see why I enjoy what I do so much.

Technical Advisers -

Matthew Rydzik, a.k.a. CoasterBGW - Server Administrator |

Email: matthewrydzik@coaster-net.com / rydzik@gmail.com | AIM: itmanct

I have been with COASTER-net for six years now and it has been the best time of my life. I hope to continue helping out with COASTER-net to bring all of our loyal viewers fast and quality content. At first I started doing the Coaster Quiz and then expanded to the Web Links. At that time I was promoted to Co-Webmaster and have worked some way on every part of the site. I got interested in roller coasters about 3 1/2 years ago after a visit to Knoebles, and when I got home I just wanted to learn all about them. Since that time I have traveled to most of the east coast going to over 15 amusements parks east of the Mississippi. So far out of all the parks that I have visited my favorite one would have to be Cedar Point; the shear magnitude of the park overwhelmed me the first time that I visited. Right now my favorite steel roller coaster would have to be Superman: Ride of Steel at Six Flags New England tied with Millennium Force at Cedar Point. My favorite wooden roller coaster would be Phoenix at Knoebles. I am 18 years old and live in the small town of Endwell, New York. I live about 3 hours from Hersheypark, Knoebles, Dorney, and Six Flags Darien Lake. I would consider Hershey my home park because I make at least 3 visits to the park a year. I don't go to parks that often because of the 3 hour drive.

Paul S., a.k.a. Coaster Sim. Fan - |

Email: pauls@coaster-net.com / | AIM: PSJS 1025

My name is Paul but most people here probably still know me as Coaster Sim. Fan (my user name) or now my abbreviation CSF. I have been fascinated with coasters for as long as I could remember, but my enthusiasm for coasters greatly grew after my 8th-grade trip to Hersheypark. My friends convinced me to go on the Great Bear and the rest of it is history you can say, ever since that day, I have been riding and researching about coasters. I would say that I came across COASTER-net about three years ago and have been coming back ever since. I decided to register in September `05 and joined the staff as a forum mod later that year. Since then, I moved up the ranks taking on new responsibilities and challenges. Now that I am up at the top, my goal like always though isn’t to just take a title and enjoy the perks of being up high but to still push myself to help make a great site even better. So while we’re at it my interests out side of coasters, which usually lead back in some way shape or form, such as my RCT3 moods, including video production / editing, computer graphics, 3D modeling, and web design. I will be entering collage in the fall pursuing degree in computer science.

Administrators -

Tyler Mains, a.k.a. ttd rox - Special Listings Webmaster | Park Gallery Webmaster | Ride Gallery Webmaster |

Email: / ttdrox@coasterwarriors.com | AIM: ttdrox

Hey! I'm Ty (ttd rox). I work on the Ride/Park Gallery, Blogs, and Special Listings. I'm the SL director. I fell in love with coasters when I was 4. Wow, that has been a while! My first coaster was Whizzer but Demon at Six Flags Great America started it all! My favorite coaster is Top Thrill Dragster, so far. I also like food, who doesn't? My homepark is Six Flags Great America but Cedar Point being my favorite theme park. I also love video games. I'm a huge Call of Duty fan. Well, I'll see you guys around the boards! Also, please feel free to AIM me about anything from questions to just a chat. God Bless -ttd rox

Managers -

Brandon Teller, a.k.a. BRTeller - Ride Gallery Webmaster | Park Gallery Webmaster | News Writer |

Email: / brandonscoasters@hotmail.com | AIM: BRTeller3

Hi, my name is Brandon Teller and I'm very active all over the coaster community. I've been doing this whole website business for about 5 going on 6 years now, and currently have my own growing site www.brandonscoasters.com. I'm respected staff at various other websites, including C-net of course. I've been obsessed with coasters before I was three, I know becuase my first coaster (that I remember) was a wacky worm at some fair. I was so excited to ride it then, and pretty sure it wasn't my first. I find it kind of cool, becuase that was my first memory, and I've never forgotten it. I even remember going to bed that night. (That was obviously my most memorable birthday.) So theirs some back history on why coasters are a huge fraction of my life, and mean so much to me. Surprisingly though (Shocking Face), I have other things I enjoy doing besides coasters. A big sport I love doing, is Snow Boarding, and having a ski resort 10 mins from my house. It's very easy for me to go and do it. I also hang out with my best friend, Tyler all the time, and we go do roller coasters all over the country every year.

Carsten Anderson, a.k.a. ohiocoasterman - | Park Gallery Webmaster | Ride Gallery Webmaster |

Email: / ohiocoasterman@aol.com | AIM: ohiocoasterman

Hi, my name is Carsten I am 22 and I live in Ohio. I have been in the roller coaster business since I was little baby. My first one I ever went on was at the now past Geauga Lake. It was Raging Wolf Bobs, and that was when I first got hooked. I am a staff member here at COASTER-net since 2003 and I take pictures at parks all over and also do video. I travel all over to get the thrill for you all to see! Talk to me on my Facebook! facebook.com/ look for Carsten Anderson

Daniel Westfall, a.k.a. Raptor1980 - Ride Gallery Webmaster | Park Gallery Webmaster | Special Listings Webmaster | Coaster Quiz Webmaster |

Email: danielwestfall@coaster-net.com / DanielW324@gmail.com | AIM: DanielW324

Hello, my name is Daniel Westfall, I am a moderator and play a large support role for COASTER-net.com both on and off the site. Though most of you may not see what I do, except for forum moderation, I assure you that I am working behind the scenes to help COASTER-net's other staff members perform to the best of their ability.

David White, a.k.a. Coasteridiot - News Writer | Coaster Quiz Webmaster |

Email: / davidwhite716@yahoo.com | AIM: DavidRobert716

Hey, I'm from Southern California and enjoy hitting California parks non-stop throughout the year, my favorites being Disneyland, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Six Flags Magic Mountain. It has become quite the hobby for me to collect as many coaster credits possible and my coaster-count is currently at 126 but is always growing. I also have a large interest in coaster photography and make a trip report nearly every time I go to an amusement park. At this time, my favorite coaster is Millennium Force and my favorite park is Cedar Point.

Jason Balinskas, a.k.a. Jason Balinskas - News Writer | Feature Writer | Ride Gallery Webmaster | Park Gallery Webmaster |

Email: / jbalinskas@gmail.com | AIM: spikedudej

Being that you're reading this, I assume you want to know a little about me. Well, you’ve come to the right place! For starters, my name is Jason Balinskas, I’m 17 and a senior at Edison High School. I was born and raised in Edison, New Jersey (It’s the exact center of NJ…so that means I’m ½ Philly and ½ New York). My home park is Six Flags Great Adventure, and no matter how many parks I go to, SFGAdv will always be my #1! I like to take pictures and videos, having fun, making people smile and laugh, improve is my passion, I <3 JESUS! I love music and movies. In a recent survey, 4 out of 5 people enjoy spending time with me; the 5th person did not know me. Josh Davidson is amazing and should be everyone’s role model…just saying. What is my view on roller coasters? Well good golly gosh…why I love them! It all started when I was tricked to go on Runaway Mine Train at SFGAdv. My dad said, “It’s just a train ride”. It wasn’t until we started going up a lift hill that I realized I wasn’t going for a “fun and simple choo choo ride”. I will go on any coaster now, no matter how big. I can’t get enough of them. It’s a natural high for me. Early 2009, I became the Northeast Correspondent for the Coastin’ East Amusement Park Podcast and that is when I found that God wants me to be in the amusement industry. My dream job is to work in Public Relations at a major theme park and I will do anything to get the job. And now, I’m a news writer and feature writer here on COASTER-net. Which I know will be a turning point in my life. Find me on AIM, Facebook, and Twitter! I want to get to know you!

Lukas Tyler, a.k.a. SamusLife - News Writer | Graphics Designer |

Email: SamusLife@Yahoo.com / LukasTyler@Charter.net | AIM:

I will fill this in better some time soon. My name is Lukas, a.k.a. SamusLife or LCTyler. I live in the Nebraska heartland of this amazing country and way too many miles from every park. I've been into coasters, parks and all rides and the history of it all since I was in my teens. For now, I just wanna say hello and that I'm happy to be a part of things around here. Thanks! My favorite steel coaster, that I've ridden, is Patriot at Worlds Of Fun in Kansas City, MO. World's of Fun is my home park that is a five hour drive from where I live. Living in Middle Earth USA is really not a favorable thing for a thrill park enthusiast. My favorite wooden coaster, that I've ridden is now Prowler at Worlds Of Fun. Such a cool woody! I highly recommend riding it for your first time in the day and then definitely ride it in the dark before closing. It's a fast and furious beast at the near closing time in the dark. ;) My second favorite wooden coaster, that I've ridden, is the original Mister Twister at the original Elitch Gardens location in Denver, CO. The new Twister 2 is a decent rebuild but, it just isn't the same in too many ways that are obvious to those who were fortunate enough to have ridden Mister Twister. As for fave coasters, that I've not yet ridden, I'd have to say for a steel coaster I find that Mantis, at Cedar Point, had my desire to ride peaked the most. What can I say? ...I love B&M coasters! Now, however, I'm finding myself also craving to ride Diamondback at King's Island even more so. As for a woody, I want to ride Son of Beast at Kings Island as well. I wish I could've ridden it before the loop was yanked. *Pause for a moment of silence and grieving.* I also would like ride Cyclone for it's history and old school intensity at Astroland in Brooklyn, NY. History is a huge part of what I love about parks and rides. I hope to also be able to share that here with everyone.

Mike Strobel, a.k.a. The BeastFan - Feature Writer | News Writer | Download Extras Webmaster |

Email: / silver2005@netzero.com | AIM: StrobeliteJz

Hey, I'm known on the forums as No1BeastFan, but my real name is Mike, or you can call me by my nickname, Strobelyte. As you guessed, I am an advid fan of the Beast at Kings Island. I will defend any and all criticizms towards it. I live in the west side of Cincinnati, Ohio, just 40 minutes from my home park, Kings Island and I go 5-10 times a year. I also attend the University of Cincinnati and I am a member of the Bearcat Marching Bands as a undecided major.

Patrick Holland, a.k.a. Hershey Chocolate Lover - Download Extras Webmaster |

Email: HCLcoasters@Gmail.com / Oldgrandpascruffy@comcast.net | AIM: HCLcoasters

Hi, my name is Patrick, but I’m better known on Coaster-net as Hershey Chocolate Lover or HCLcoasters. My house is an hour and a half drive from King’s Dominion which I am proud to call my home park. I began to get interested in roller coasters when I got the original Roller Coaster Tycoon. Eventually I got Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 as a gift, and then I got the third Roller Coaster Tycoon a couple years later. I never really had an interest in riding roller coasters during the years when I had these games, but then came the fateful day when I went to Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I had never been on a ride bigger than the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster at Disney World when I decided to go on the Griffon. I looked at it and knew I had to go on it, so that’s what I did. At the top of that 205 foot tall 90 degrees drop I knew I was hooked on coasters. Some of my other interests include camping, photoshop, and politics (which is a love hate relationship).I enjoy making coasters with No Limits Simulator, and going to theme parks of course. I'm the Download Extras director so if you need help with uploading your material just ask me about it.

Patrick Leaske, a.k.a. Cedar Point Fan - News Writer | Graphics Designer | Download Extras Webmaster |

Email: / p.leaske@gmail.com | AIM:

Hi, I'm Patrick Leaske. I joined this site to learn everything about coasters, and I think I've gotten pretty close to my goal. I also love baseball and video games. I live in Michigan, which is where many coaster fans live (how weird). By joining staff, I hope to get a step closer to knowing as much as I can about coasters. My favorite coaster is Millennium Force and my favorite park is Cedar Point. Hope to see you in the forums!

Patrick Wisniewski, a.k.a. The Patchman - Feature Writer |

Email: / mqdomain@gmail.com | AIM: epcotfreak24

I am Patrick, known as Patchman to my family and friends. I love roller coasters, and my life didn't start out that way. When I was very young, I was terrified of roller coasters. The height, speed, and the steel inversions freaked me out. I refused to go on them. I still loved Walt Disney World, and other parks. My parents excited me with too amazing trips in two weeks, Busch Gardens Williamsburg ( known as Busch Gardens Europe now) and a California trip. So we went to BGE, I didn't ride any coasters. Escape from Pompeii captured my imagination and so did everything else. So the next week we went to California, to Disney's California Adventure. The family first wanted to go on the wild mouse, Mulholland Madness. I liked it but was still scared of coasters. Then the challenge was presented to me, to ride the launch coaster known as California Screamin'. My uncle assured me, he would go on with me and my cousin. So my cousin and I strapped in and I asked my uncle, " Are you coming?". He just smiled and said, " No, have a good time.". I was scared out of my mind when we got to the part of the coaster where you prepared to launch I heard, " 3,2,1..." and away we went. That was the moment I was made a theme park enthusiast. I started loving coasters, craving coasters. After passing Carowinds on the highway everyday of my life, I craved coasters. In 2005 I went to Carowinds a total of 35 times. I have been a consultant with Creative Kingdoms LLC ( the creators of MagiQuest). I am the founder of Tocpe's MagiQuest Domain, Jeremy Corray Dojo and the upcoming Hard Rock Park Arena. I run the Round Table Group (a media group, that started from MagiQuest). I have been a small contributor on Theme Park Avenue and Hard Rock Park Blog. I am proud and honored to be a staff member on Coaster-Net! I hope that my love for coasters and writing combined as a feature writer will add more great content to this amazing site. I would like to thank the community for being so kind to me and the staff for accepting me. Remember if you see me, just call me Patchman.

Ryan Shrout, a.k.a. CoasterCrazy - News Writer | Feature Writer |

Email: / rshrout@olivet.edu | AIM: coastercrazy1990

Hey, I'm Ryan Shrout though most of you probably know me as CoasterCrazy. As you can tell if you've been on the forums at all and seen my name all over the place, I am enthralled with coasters. From my first coaster ride on the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland I was hooked. For my 15th birthday, my aunt made the mistake of buying me Roller Coaster Tycoon. In an effort to create better and more realistic rides, I began studying real life roller coasters. That search for information and knowledge led me to Coaster-net where I drank in the knowledge of those more experienced than myself. A little more than a year later, I finally decided to join. What has happened since then could accurately be called a love affair between myself and thrill rides as I learn more everyday and as my coaster and park counts continue to grow.

Stephen McCarthy, a.k.a. Irish Coaster - | News Writer | Ride Gallery Webmaster | Park Gallery Webmaster |

Email: stephenmccarthy@coaster-net.com / Irishf1@hotmail.com | AIM: Torcot54

Hello, I'm Stephen McCarthy of the Boston Area, Massachusetts and Cork, Ireland. My coaster obsession started when I was six when I got Roller Coaster Tycoon as a birthday present. Later in that amazing year that was 2000, I rode my first permanent roller coaster, the Polar Coaster in Glen, New Hampshire. After some time away from the coaster world, I renewed my coaster addiction in 2006 after an amazing ride on Apollo's Chariot. Ever since then, I'v been on coasters in France (well... kinda before then), across the Northeast, Canada, Ireland, and even visited an unknown park in Monaco. I'm currently a News Writer, Feature Writer, Ride Gallery Webmaster and Park Gallery Webmaster. I first worked for C-net in 2007, but I took a break, but as of now, I'm back on the staff and working. A just a little on my personal life. I'm a dual Irish-American citizen currently living outside of Boston and loving sailing. I hope to travel the world to compete in sailing, it would be something that I would enjoy give me more opportunities to ride coasters!

Correspondents -

Dainan Rafferty, a.k.a. CycloneMan

Email: / CoasterDainan@aol.com | AIM: CoasterDainan

Hello folks. My name is Dainan Rafferty, I've been around the web and the world, and settling down now at Coaster-net.com. Okay, so enough with the cheasy introduction. As of today (7/25/07), I've been to many theme parks in the United States, Canada and Japan. I do get around to park numerously, and I have been on 127 roller coasters. My 100th being Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highlands. I am from New York City, I was originally born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and I grew up 5 subway stops away from the Coney Island Cyclone. I've grown up in and around Coney Island since Day 1, creating this monster we'd call a roller coaster enthusiast. I have a twin brother and a little sister who are also enthusiasts. Us three run a website called, www.NorthEastCoasters.com. I am also a Disney nerd, who plans to be a Walt Disney Imagineer and I'm a mod on MouseTimes.com On that note, I will conclude my bio (or essay, you judge) by saying that I hope to bring great things to the allready great Coaster-net.com, and that if anyone is in the NYC Metro region, feel free to give me a holla! Peace out -Dainan "I think me and Josh are rivaling bios" Rafferty

John Thompson, a.k.a. TopThrill13

Email: / jthomp2@gmu.edu | AIM:

My name is John Thompson. I live in Manassas, Virginia, and I consider my home-park to be Kings Dominion. I have used COASTER-net for years but it was only 2 or 3 years ago that I realized that I lived about 5 minutes from Devin, the president of the site. We became friends and here I am a new staff member of the site. I have been a rollercoaster nut longer than I have been riding rollercoasters. I have been obsessed since 1998 when the first RollerCoaster Tycoon game came out. I rode my first rollercoaster (Anaconda) in 2001. Since then I have been on rides such as Top Thrill Dragster, Kingda Ka, El Toro, Volcano, Incredible Hulk, Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster, Griffon, Led Zeppelin, Fahrenheit, and Batwing. During the summer my girlfriend Becky and I love to travel to theme parks, and ride as many rollercoasters as we can.

Lee Sandy, a.k.a. Yeah Boii

Email: leesandy@coaster-net.com / rasandy@liberty.edu | AIM:

I am Lee Sandy, or as some of you may know, I'm also known as the "yeah boii". Born and raised in southwest Ohio, I am very much a fan of roller coasters. The Beastie @ Kings Island was my first coaster and from there I experienced the Beast, the Vortex and the All-American classic, The Racers. Of course, nothing is quite like Cedar Point! As one of COASTER-net's liaisons to Kings Island, I have yet to ride the latest addition to their thrilling fleet of coasters, the Diamondback. This is something I look forward to experiencing with my wife, Kristine and my good buddy, Devin Olson.

Patrick Andrews, a.k.a. Patrick Andrews

Email: patrickandrews@coaster-net.com / pandrew@liberty.edu | AIM:

Much like a roller coaster, my life has had many quick-turns and steep drops unlike many others' lives! After surviving a near-fatal automobile accident, coma and therapy in Lynchburg, Virginia, I did additional therapy in Texas, and finally returned to Liberty University in Virginia! Being from Texas, I grew up riding coasters at Six Flags over Texas in Arlington. Relocating to Virginia has provided me the wonderful opportunity to visit Kings Dominion and Busch Gardens Europe -- which I LOVE!!!!!!

Ryan Houtz, a.k.a. Ryan Houtz

Email: / rmhoutz@liberty.edu | AIM:

My name is Ryan Houtz. I’m from Leesburg, Virginia and have been from this area my whole life. I’m a senior at Liberty University studying film and video production. I have to say my favorite type of movie has to be horror movies. That makes September and October some of my favorite months of the year. This is the time that amusement parks around the country have one theme and one goal, to scare the crap out of you. When it comes to roller coasters and other types of attractions I like pretty much everything. I’ve been going to amusement parks ever since I was little. The first one I ever went to was Kings Dominion. I have lots of good memories of going there with my family. Other than Kings Dominion I’ve been to several other parks on the eastern coast. Most recently I spent some time in Orlando for my sister’s wedding. We had the opportunity to visit Disney World and both Universal Studios parks. They were all amazing. It made me realize my favorite parts about rides and that is themes. The thrill that you get on a roller coaster is great but when it’s accompanied with some kind of story, no matter how lame it is, it just tops off the experience.

Ryan Peake, a.k.a. AdrenalinRider

Email: / ryanj286@comcast.net | AIM:

Hey, I'm Ryan and I'm a long time Coaster enthusiast! I grew up in Virginia so I spent plenty of summer days visiting parks such as Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens, and Water Country USA and of course always loved visiting other parks when I was out of state as well. I'm absolutely crazy about rides that push the limits, so a lot of my energy when exploring parks will be devoted to these type of rides. Still, I understand that a park is more than it's biggest 2 or 3 coasters, so I make it a point to judge based on the "Whole Park Experience!" Other than that, I enjoy running, eating fine food, and learning about planes (among other things!)