With its compact size, heavily oval framework and crisply bright teal hue, HangTime appears inviting, the precise vision of how we may expect a coastal coaster to look and feel. In Knott’s Boardwalk area, HangTime, with its surf-inspired language and signage, aims to be evocative of oceanic waves, and its fast movement — 57 mph — and multiple looping inversions help sell the illusion.
It’s also terrifying.
HangTime was a one-and-done for me, but I respect its slickness, briskness and unique design, which leaves a lasting impression. Be warned, however, that the lift is anxiety inducing. There is no standard coaster hill here; you will be completely vertical, unable to see the track, and any looks to the left or right will be disorienting, especially if dizziness sets in. Then, HangTime will toy with you, forcing you to linger at the crest of the hill for about six seconds. You will stare down at nothing, as the drop is set at 96 degrees, the steepest in California.
The free-falling sensation, a coaster careening straight toward concrete, is the sort of life experience that has me frantically wishing I were at home and cuddling with my cat. You will, no doubt, be frantically checking the coaster restraints, praising whatever feats of modern engineering are responsible for keeping you bolted in.
This is a thrill trend that isn’t going anywhere, but after the drop, HangTime settles in for a series of exuberantly spiraling inversions. They’re not exactly calming, but they’re not fear-inducing, either. HangTime, by this point, is done imprinting permanent scars on you.
