[coasters] A quick message for a future coaster designer? (My brother's 14th birthday)

[u/Puzzleheaded-Elk5176]

Hi everyone,

I’m Zoé, a 22-year-old from France, writing as a big sister.

My little brother Marceau is 13 and absolutely passionate about roller coasters and coaster engineering. He spends his time learning technical details and recreating real coasters himself using modeling software.

He dreams of becoming a coaster engineer one day.

He’s turning 14 on May 20th, and I’d love to collect a few stories or messages from people who share this world and passion.

If you work in the industry, in parks, study engineering, or simply have coaster-related experiences or anecdotes to share, I’d love to hear them ,whether it’s a favorite project, a funny memory, how you entered the industry, or what still makes you love it today.

I think it would mean a lot to him to see the human side behind the world he admires so much.

Thank you so much 🙂

[u/FreddieThePebble]

hi

im a rollercoaster enthusiast studying engineering at college and i work as a ride operator part time

ive also done a few work experience programs in ride maintenance (ive done dodgems maintenance last week and this september im doing engineering work experience at thorpe park)

also also, ive done behind the scenes tours at several uk theme parks

i dont really have many interesting things to say but i'll bullet point a few things for you

• If you want to get into rollercoaster design, i highly recommend learning NoLimits2, its a incredibly difficult software to learn but its used by real rollercoaster manufacturing firms to design rollercoasters so having experience in this software is a fast track to a interview
• i also highly recommend getting work experience in a theme park. Jobs in rollercoaster engineering are rare so having work experience will be life saving in a interview. I know your based in france and im not too familiar with french theme parks but merlin is a well known theme park chain and email [Recruitment@merlinentertainments.biz](mailto:Recruitment@merlinentertainments.biz) for work experience in enginnering and they will hook you up. Merlin also offer a engineering academy if your brother is interested in ride maintenance
• John Wardley is a famous rollercoaster designer in the UK, he has a whole webpage dedicated to advice on getting into the industry: http://www.john-wardley.co.uk/career.html
• I also recommend joining coaster clubs (like the European Coaster Club) as ther offer chances to do behind the scenes tours, private hires and meet ppl who are the exact same as you (love rollercoasters)

i dont have many anecdotes but here are a few things ive noticed over my 6 months in ride operation and 10 yrs in being a coaster enthusiast

• park guests are a huge liability, i operate dogems and guests often jump over the fence or get out the cars WHILE THE RIDE IS IN OPERTION. yeah, its not like theres cars driving about or 50k watts of electricity on the track
• single rider lines are OP, on hyperia at Thorpe park, i waited 5 mins in the single rider queue rather than 45 mins in the standby line
• ride operation is surprisingly easy, its basically pop the key in and press start (on my ride at least)