COASTER-PHOBES, OTHERS TAKE ON TATSU THRILLED RIDERS GIVEN PREVIEW `FLYING' ON BACK OF HUGE DRAGON.

Byline: EUGENE TONG Staff Writer

VALENCIA -- For psychologist Linda Bortell, a few minutes on a roller coaster can be a cure for the stresses of modern living.

``Some of us are working 80 hours a week,'' she said. ``There are nukes in Iran and there's war in Iraq and we could be blown away by al-Qaida tomorrow. It's important to have an outlet in your life.''

Bortell, who specializes in helping people deal with trauma and divorces and is part of Magic Mountain's promotional blitz for its new roller coaster Tatsu, is among those anticipating the ride's unveiling today.

Six Flags California's Magic Mountain's 17th white-knuckler -- the first new one in three years -- opens to the public Saturday. But a determined few got to ride the 3,602-foot-long steel dragon Tuesday at a special preview.

Angel Gladden needed to learn to breathe again, having stepped off Tatsu for the fifth time.

``You can't breathe since you're screaming so much,'' said Gladden, 28, of Santa Clarita.

Gladden's companion, Tina Balena, 29, of Valencia, agreed.

``This is one where screaming is so natural,'' she said. ``You look down, and everything's fine, then it's like you're flying.''

Designed by Switzerland's Bolliger & Mabillard, the dragon-theme Tatsu sends thrill-seekers on its back for a two-minute ride that reaches speeds of 62 mph.

With their backs to the rail and limbs dangling -- so-called ``flying'' position -- riders navigate a 111-foot plunge and a record-breaking 124-foot pretzel loop in which they come face-to-face with chest-pounding G-forces.

``I feel like I'm Superman,'' said Rodrigo Silva, 29, who was visiting from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and was allowed on the ride.

Jodi Malone, 46, a card-carrying member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts who has survived 373 roller coasters across the nation, just added one more to the list.

``It's not a clone,'' she said. ``If you really ride on the back of a dragon, it would roll, it would flip and put the wind in your hair.

``I like surrender. I like relinquishing control. It feels good when the ride has you and you're really enjoying it. It's nice to forget about life for at least two minutes.''

Park officials said Tatsu is among the largest ride investments at Magic Mountain in recent years -- an estimated $21 million, according to industry watchers. It's likely the last new thrill ride in a while for the park as parent company Six Flags Inc., under new chief executive Mark Shapiro, renews emphasis on family-friendly attractions such as parades and acrobatic shows.

From atop the park's Samurai Summit, Tatsu wraps around the base of the landmark Sky Tower and winds through the hilly terrain, dodging nearby attractions such as the Revolution roller coaster.

Malone's 10-year-old son, Josh, rode the coaster 10 times, and was in line for his 11th.

``You get air time and it's like this,'' he said, throwing his arms into the air. ``You're seeing all the hills all over. It looks like everyone are little ants on the ground.''

To promote the ride, part of Bortell's job was to work with 10 coaster-phobes. After two sessions of group workshops, breathing and visualization exercises, some were expected to take on Tatsu today.

``Their most common denominator is fear of a loss of control,'' she said. ``Some people may have had a negative experience on a coaster when they were young.

``It is a chance to face a fear, to have an adrenaline rush. The thing about a coaster, you start at a station and you arrive at a station. You return home safely.''

It's her dream gig -- the South Pasadena psychologist also is an ACE member and has been on about 70 or 80 coasters. She even has a theory: Coaster rides ``make you smarter.''

``You have a rush of adrenaline, but also you are releasing a lot of brain chemicals that flood your brain,'' she said. ``When you flood your brain, you help your brain become more elastic. You're developing more pathways through this rush.''

Any coaster survival tips?

``Don't ever close your eyes,'' Bortell said. ``Your body can't sense what's coming up next -- it could give you a little more sense of control.

``And it could be good to scream. Some people get on a coaster and try to hold their breath. When you scream, it lets air in and it can help you relax. Breathing is better than not breathing.''

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- 2 -- color; 1 -- ran in SAC edition only; 2 -- color in SAC edition only) Riders, above, try out Tatsu, the newest roller coaster at Magic Mountain, at a special preview. The new coaster, which will open to the public Saturday, allows riders to ``fly'' lying down on the coaster as it goes though high-speed turns and flips. Below, workers put the finishing touches on Tatsu.

(3 -- 4 -- ran in SAC and AV editions) Above, riders try out Tatsu. Below right, from left, Sharese Hill, 18, of Riverside, Michael Petit, 18, of Fontana, April Santana, 20, of South Gate, and Matt Morse, 23, of Lakewood ride.

(5 -- ran in SAC and AV editions) Riders try out Tatsu, the newest roller coaster at Six Flags California's Magic Mountain.

David Crane/Staff Photographer