What do you get when you take a lumbering wooden coaster, replace the track with steel and make numerous other modifications?  In this case you get the New Texas Giant, a Rocky Mountain Construction makeover featuring that company’s famed I-Box track.  You also get a ride that’s as smooth as it is exhilarating.

With six cars seating two across for a total capacity of 24 riders, the train makes a right turn out of the loading station and ascends a 153-foot chain lift hill before dropping 147 feet at a wicked 79-degree angle.  This is followed by a double up into a 90-degree overbanked turn, drop and ascent into another overbanked turn, then guess what? - drop with ascension into a 115-degree overbanked turn.   This leads into a small hill before the mid-course brake run.  From that point the train drops sharply to the left, traverses a series of hills, speeds around turns and races through three tunnels – all of this at a maximum speed of 65 mph which feels faster - before hitting the final brake run.

From start to finish the ride is absolutely amazing.  The restraints – which consist of a lap bar and seat belt – are supremely comfortable although there’s nothing to hold onto, baby!  As if the initial drop weren’t awesome enough, the overbanked turns make for a thrilling ride.  The ride features numerous airtime hills and the airtime is glorious!  One memorable moment occurred while going into a left turn during the latter part of the ride.  I found myself fairly bouncing out of my seat.   The tunnels near the end of the ride are a blast, with small dips affording more airtime.  The New Texas Giant gives about as good a ride as I’ve had on any coaster.  5 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Six Flags Over Texas, visit www.sixflags.com/overtexas.