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Santa Cruz Boardwalk celebrates Giant Dipper’s centennial

SANTA CRUZ — People from all over California and beyond gathered at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Saturday morning to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the iconic Giant Dipper roller coaster.

Although the main event of the birthday celebration — fireworks over the bay — wouldn’t light up the sky until 9 p.m., roller coaster enthusiasts and first-time riders from all around were just as excited Saturday morning to be in line and gathered around the centenarian structure despite the slight drizzle, especially since the first few hundred riders on the Giant Dipper were gifted a commemorative 100th-anniversary pin.

The historic coaster has thrilled more than 68 million riders since it opened May 17, 1924 when the Sentinel described it as “A wonderful kick from start to finish,” and with “aeroplane curves.” The roller coaster is the fourth oldest in the country and one of the oldest in the world, and in 1987 both the Giant Dipper and the Boardwalk’s carousel were made historic landmarks by the National Park Service. The Giant Dipper has also been featured in numerous television commercials, shows and movies such as “Us,” “Bumblebee,” “Dangerous Minds,” and the 1980s cult classic “The Lost Boys.”

Santa Cruz Vice Mayor Renee Golder, who was honoring the ride on behalf of the Santa Cruz City Council with a mayoral proclamation, was also the honorary “guest of the day.” She was absolutely stoked to be ringing in the 100th year of the red and white roller coaster Saturday and she still remembers riding it for the first time as a kid.

“I had to put stuff in my shoes to get on because I was too short,” said Golder. “It was back in the 80s when we lived in Bonny Doon. My sister and I would take the bus down to Mission and Bay and walk down here. Our parents wouldn’t pick us up until after dark. We would wander around the Boardwalk all day with our season passes.”

Golder also mentioned that her first job was at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. She and longtime Boardwalk Spokesperson Kris Reyes spoke in a short ceremony Saturday morning before the ride officially opened.

“A hundred years ago when this ride opened, there was a big gala in the Cocoanut Grove and people started lining up at 7 a.m.,” said Reyes to the many hundreds gathered in front of the ride. “The line was 200 feet long of people waiting to ride this ride at 7 a.m. and I think we have that crowd beat today. We are so thankful to have you here as part of the Boardwalk family to ride this historic wonderful wooden roller coaster — the Giant Dipper.”

After reading the mayoral proclamation to the crowd, Golder fulfilled her “guest of the day” duties by hitting the button that officially opens the Boardwalk for the day. She was also given the honor of bringing an entourage of friends and family up the exit of the Giant Dipper for the first ride of the morning and the Sentinel was invited to join them.

While waiting to board the iconic coaster, Golder’s childhood friends Andra Kavuma and Shannon McGuire-Wynn recalled their first times riding the Giant Dipper.

“I was probably with my dad,” said Kavuma. “I still like it. I brought my daughter here a couple of months ago and it still gives you that really good rush.”

After taking a double ride, the Sentinel spoke with American Coaster Enthusiasts of Northern California member Darren Besoyan, who grew up riding the Giant Dipper, which has been designated by the organization, also known as ACE, as an “ACE Roller Coaster Landmark.”

“I first rode the Giant Dipper when I was 8 years old and I have been waiting for this day for 50 years,” said Besoyan. “Roller coasters are just so much fun and this one in particular is so architecturally stunning. I like the speed. I like the drops and I am just happiest when I am on a roller coaster.”

Besoyan said that he has ridden about 700 roller coasters across the country and the Giant Dipper is still his favorite.

“The tunnel is amazing and hardly any coasters out there have tunnels and they certainly don’t have any tunnels like this,” said Besoyan. “Then you go up the lift hill and you’re next to the ocean, and at night, they have the tracer lights. And you won’t find another roller coaster that has a simulated roller coaster earthquake while you’re waiting in line. It hits the building and the whole thing shakes. There are so many things that are unique to the Giant Dipper that other coasters don’t seem to have.”

He mentioned that the coaster train is still stopped manually by an operator and when they hit the brakes a little too late, the riders get an extra go at no charge.

“When you get that free ride and they send you into the tunnel, everyone just starts cheering,” he said. “It’s a phenomenal attraction and we love the Giant Dipper.”

While waiting in line with friends, Santa Cruz resident Lexie Corfiatis said she can’t quite remember the first time she rode the Giant Dipper, but it was when she was a little kid.

“I love the style and history of it, and the nostalgia,” said Corfiatis. “It really whips you around and gives you a good rocking. It’s a classic.”

After taking a ride on the Giant Dipper, at the ride’s exit, Cheryl Jones of Orange County met up with her friend Rebecca Evans who was visiting Santa Cruz from Los Angeles County.

“Yesterday, we both rode it for the official birthday and we remembered how rough it is,” said Jones. “And today, I am riding it one more time. It was awesome and everything I remembered from when I was a kid.”

The Boardwalk will continue to commemorate the 100-year-old coaster with “Dipper Days,” which will allow patrons to ride the iconic coaster for just $1 every Wednesday from May 29 to Aug. 7. On Aug. 17, or National Rollercoaster Day, the first 100 Giant Dipper riders will receive a Boardwalk souvenir cup.

For information, visit boardwalk.com.