This year, Hades, the monstrous wooden roller coaster that opened at Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin won the Amusement Today Golden Ticket Award for Best New Ride in 2005.

Riders were amazed by it's steep drop (140-feet at a 65-degree angle), two underground tunnels (one of which was the longest underground tunnel on a roller coaster ever), and the extreme 90-degree banked turn. The ride was designed by The Gravity Group.

One of the most anticipated rides for 2006 is The Voyage at Holiday World and Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana. This wooden coaster will thrill park-goers with a 154-foot drop at 66-degrees, five underground tunnels, three 90-degree banked turns and a total of 24.2 seconds of airtime. This ride was also designed by The Gravity Group.

So, it goes without saying that the designers at this young company are pushing the evolution of wooden roller coasters. We're happy to welcome GG designers Korey Kiepert and Chad Miller to CoasterRadio.com this week.

We'll talk to the guys about their design philosophies and how they are trying to take the development and technology of the wooden roller coaster to new heights. We'll also talk about the pressures of designing a roller coaster in the age of the internet, where hype knows no bounds. Korey and Chad will also tell us some behind-the-scenes stories about Hades, The Voyage and other projects that they have worked on during their careers.
After the show, join us in our forums to talk about your opinions. You can also record your thoughts on the CoasterRadio.com Voicemail Line at 206-339-RIDE (206-339-7433).

Also, don't forget to check out our CoasterRadio.com Holiday Gift Guide. It's filled with ideas to find the perfect gift for the theme park enthusiast in your life. We've searched the internet for the most interesting toys, gadgets, DVDs, books, calendars, posters and other gifts that are made specifically for a fan of theme parks. We'll also found some outrageously expensive stuff that you can buy to bring the theme park experience into your home.

Thanks for listening to the show. Let us know what you think by e-mailing us at feedback@coasterradio.com.