Rougarou- dangling feet and a werewolf

topey@sanduskyregister.comRougarou howled Friday morning at Cedar Point.The new French folklore Cajun werewolf themed coaster was stalked by hundreds of guests to the park.One of those was Kyle Pearce, of Hudson, Ohio, who was in the park with his 15-year old son Ryan.Kyle was in the park in 1996 to be one of the first riders of Mantis. He was back on Friday to ride Rougarou."Its a much more dynamic ride, much more enjoyable," Kyle Pearce said.The two rode the front, middle and back trains. Both preferred the front train."You see your feet. There is nothing in front of you," Ryan Pearce said.Rougarou is the reinvented stand up Mantis roller coaster that debuted at the park in 1996. It was popular when it first arrived at the park but after the novelty wore off it fell out of favor of riders because of its rough ride that often boxed people's head. Cedar Point announced last fall Mantis was giving its last ride.Officials soon announced the ride would be transformed to a seated floorless coaster, the parks first floorless coaster. Ride designers, Bolliger & Mabillard, left the track intact, having faith the bones of the coaster was a good ride. They added three new, 32-seat floorless trains for the ride.The ride's lagoons, the fog, the sound of the Rougarou's cry and the swampy character itself all create the feel of Rougarou, said Cedar Point general manager Jason McClure.Then there is the ride."We have more than 100 coaster enthusiasts here. They love Rougarou." said Cedar Point spokesman Bryan Edwards."I challenge you to find a straight portion of the track."There are inversions, loops and spins everywhere."You are sitting down low in the seat, looking at the track below you, feet dangling," said Cedar Fair Vice President of Planning and Design Rob Decker.The question for 2016—is will it be a dive or a dark coaster."We are always planning something spectacular. Every year we come out with something fantastic everyone will love," Decker said.First ride auctionLater on Friday night children from the LeBron James Family Foundation will be on hand to ride Rougarou along with the winners of the first-ride auction of Rougarou.Rougarou By The NumbersTrack Length: 3,900 feet 119-foot-tall vertical loopLift Hill Height: 145 feet 103-foot high dive loopVertical Drop: 137 feet Heavily banked 360 degree turnSpeed: About 60 miles per hour 360-degree flat spinTime: About 2 minutes, 15 seconds 83-foot tall inclined loopCapacity 1,800 riders per hour Fiberglass and steel coaches with shoulder restraintsRegister photo/ANGELA WILHELM Ryan Pearce, 15, of Hudson, raises his arms while riding the Rougarou in the front row Friday. It was his 11th time on the ride that day.Register photo/ANGELA WILHELM The train from the Rougarou approaches it's decent at Cedar Point Friday.Register photo/ANGELA WILHELM Cedar Point's Rougarou, an updated version of the Mantis.Register photo/ANGELA WILHELM Cedar Point guests enjoy a ride on the new Rougarou Friday.