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Coastin' the next generation

By BRANDI BARHITE
brandibarhite@sanduskyregister.com

SANDUSKY - Three-year-old Kyle Hawkins isn't a coaster enthusiast, but he will be soon, his grandfather promises.

"He can ride Woodstock Express, and prefers that over the Junior Gemini," said Ken Hawkins.

The extended Hawkins family was among more than 1,000 coaster enthusiasts at Cedar Point on Friday for the 17th annual CoasterMania Day. It was young Hawkins' third time attending the daylong event of special ride times and camaraderie among the enthused crowd.

Hilary Rademacher and her boyfriend, Richard Romero, both of Elyria, relax Friday at Cedar Point in front of Raptor, Romero's favorite coaster. The couple, along with 1,000 other coaster enthusiasts, attended Cedar Point's 17th annual CoasterMania Day. Participants began riding at 6 a.m.

Although a 3-year-old among adult coaster nuts may seem unusual, with many first-generation coaster enthusiast becoming parents and grandparents -- the reality is that a new set of younger coaster enthusiasts are springing up, park officials said.

Katie Eisterhold, 15, Allen Park, Mich., was one of those playing hooky from school Friday, but that is fine with her mother, Barb, who was also a member of American Coaster Enthusiasts.

Katie said she had to bring her books in the car so she can study for her exams on the way back home. But it's worth it, she said.

"It has the best rides," Eisterhold said of Cedar Point.

CoasterMania attracts members, and their guests, from ACE, Great Ohio Coaster Club, Western New York Coaster Club, Coaster Zombies, Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain and National Amusement Park Historical Association. Some will continue riding coasters at Cedar Point's sister park, Geauga Lake, today.

For the first time, Geauga Lake is having its own version of CoasterMania called CoasterEXT, "the extreme extension."

Vince and Tami Damron, ACE and GOCC members, brought their 2-year-old son Dylan to CoasterMania Day. Eventually, he will become a member, too.

"It is good clean fun for a family," Vince Damron said. "There is a lot of variety. You can ride rides, watch the shows or just sit down and watch people."

Rose Harden of Columbus dropped out of ACE after becoming a mother, but, now that her 8-year-old son Marcus is big enough to get on coasters, she is considering getting her membership again.

Harden and her son came as guests with her brother, Edwin Molina, of Pittsburgh, who has been an ACE member since 1988.

"I picked him up from school Thursday and came here," Harden said about her son.

The Slesinger family of Berea, Ohio, are so dedicated to CoasterMania Day that they came even though 13-year-old Hillarie had to be driven home at about 3 p.m. for cheerleading.

"We became coaster enthusiasts in 1999 and the kids came along," said father Kurt Slesinger. "We like -- love -- roller coasters."

FunCoast.com is your online guide to summer fun for Cedar Point, the LakeErie Islands and Sandusky area. Our site offers up-to-date information on area attractions, restaurants, hotels, gasoline prices, ferry schedules, swimming, birding and fishing, along with a complete listing of events happening in the Sandusky/Cedar Point area. To use our Webcam and zoom in on Cedar Point's rollercoasters, go to http://funcam.funcoast.com