Canada’s Wonderland rider says he’s ridden the Yukon striker 1,000 times and here’s why

Would you descend 1,000 times on the highest, fastest and longest diving roller coaster in the world? Well, this runner from Canada’s Wonderland says he did just that and told Narcity all about it.

On May 14, around 7 p.m., Keith Watson said he had completed his 1,000th dive Yukon Forwardand while the count isn’t as big as having fun going down it, Watson said it would be great if he could get an extra 1,000 roller coaster dives.

“I have no idea how many times I’m going to ride,” Watson said.

According to Watson, the crew of the Yukon Striker were the first to notice it, and some immediately took an interest in what it was doing and wanted to know if there was a specific number it was aiming for.

“From time to time they would ask me what the count was and encourage me when I hit a milestone,” Watson said.

Although this is an unofficial count, a spokesperson for Canada’s Wonderland still applauded Watson’s accomplishment.

“We congratulate him on his achievement and certainly appreciate his love and enthusiasm for Yukon Striker!” Grace Peacock, the director of communications, said.

So how did this all start?

Watson’s first dive on the roller coaster came early in the morning the day after Canada Day in 2019, shortly after the ride opened at the park.

“There were only a few of us in the one-rider queue, so I continued because it was quick to go back,” Watson said, sharing how his love for roller coasters has begun.

Watson only rode one roller coaster that day and destroyed the Yukon Striker 12 times.

“I kept riding for the rest of the day, then I did it again the next time I came. And again,” Watson said, and added that one of his favorite parts was of trying to get that “perfect drop” during the 245 – 90 degree foot drop.

“If done right, I can float through the vertical portion of the fall and not feel the restraint or the seat holding me in place even though it keeps me secure.”

What is your favorite place on the course?

Watson shared that there is no “best seat” on Yukon Striker, as every seat is different. Although he doesn’t complain about where he is told to sit, there is one seat he prefers more.

“It took me hundreds of dives to learn the differences between all the seats and their features,” Watson said.

“My favorite is seat number three in any row because it experiences virtually no lateral G-forces, has the best floating zero gravity through second inversion, negative G roll, and is the smoothest seat in the ‘one of the three rows.’

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.