ADRENALINE junkies, meet your creator: The tallest roller coaster in the world (and the fastest in the country) might be just the thing for you.

Even though it took me a whole day and there was a two-hour delay, I was determined to conquer Kingda Ka, a hydraulic launch roller coaster at Six Flag Great Adventure in New Jersey.

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The attraction has inspired awe and fear among thrill seekers everywhere, as it has remained the fastest and tallest roller coaster in North America since its opening in 2005.

Given its rapid takeoff, which takes passengers from 0 to 206 km/h in just three and a half seconds, it’s no wonder that Kingda Ka’s reputation precedes it.

And as a self-proclaimed amusement park desperado, I had to try it out.

SYSTEM SHUTDOWN

However, on my journey it only brought me trouble, because despite many attempts to go for a spin, fate seemed to be against me.

When I arrived at Six Flags, my friend and I headed straight for the attraction, which was immediately discontinued for unknown reasons.

Kingda Ka is notorious for its frequent breakdowns, so although we were disappointed, we were not discouraged.

To wait for the closure, we queued up for the El Toro roller coaster.

But after waiting for thirty minutes, it unexpectedly started pouring with rain and – you guessed it – El Toro had to close.

Two hours after entering the park, we were soaked and disappointed and hadn’t been on a single ride.

However, the skies soon cleared and we were able to stroll through the park while we waited for Kingka Ka to reopen.

Since we still had plenty of time before the park closed, we headed to the main event and purchased Fast Passes specifically for Kingda Ka to avoid what the park attendant said was an hour-long wait.

To my horror, while standing in line directly behind the barrier, I heard an announcement that the attraction was being closed again due to technical problems.

The confused passengers whose carriages were returning from the platform were equally angry.

“Ayo, who’s the boss here? I’ve been waiting for this all day. Is it the orange vest or the green vest?” shouted an angry but cheerful passenger who was being pushed out of the attraction.

“Just tell me who I need to talk to!”

YOU WON’T KILL ME!

While the huge crowd dispersed within 15 minutes because it was not certain when the ride would be repaired, I was determined to get my turn.

For me, a trip to Six Flags was not complete without a ride on the tallest roller coaster in the world.

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We waited patiently together with ten other stubborn people (and our helpful ride attendant Shane M!).

Two hours later we were finally back.

Strapped tightly into my seat, I mumbled something about how it would be better it’s worth it before our car flew off the tracks.

LET’S GO…

On our first ride, I barely had time to blink and the screaming and shouting passed in a flash. The fast.

In just 50 seconds, passengers are taken to a record-breaking 206 km/h and then shot at a rigid 90-degree angle to a terrifying height of 149 m.

Once we reached the top, we immediately plunged headfirst into a 270-degree spiral – without a single moment’s buffer.

A minute after I got on the train and returned to the platform, I felt like the air had been squeezed out of my lungs.

Needless to say, we jumped at the opportunity for a second ride, and this time I made sure to keep my eyes wide open to take in the incredible panoramic views of New Jersey and New York from the summit.

Although Kingda Ka didn’t end up being our favorite coaster of the day (that honor goes to the fun and crazy Nitro), it made the top three list alongside El Toro and is an absolute must-do for any thrill-seeker.

Believe us – it’s worth the wait.

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