SANDUSKY — Gavriel Baker has forged a place in roller coaster history.
The ironworker was a member of the Top Thrill 2 steel erection team with Adena Corporation, where he was hired last year.
Baker, a 2023 graduate of Madison Career Technical Education’s welding program, worked at heights up to 420 feet in the air at Cedar Point’s record-breaking coaster.
“If you asked me a year ago what I’d be doing, I definitely wouldn’t have guessed record-breaking roller coasters,” he said. “It’s definitely a surreal experience.”
Top Thrill 2 is the tallest roller coaster in Cedar Point and the second tallest in the United States. Top Thrill Dragster was the tallest roller coaster in the world from 2003 to 2005.
The tallest and fastest triple-launch strata coaster is currently the third tallest coaster worldwide, eclipsed only by Falcon’s Flight in Saudi Arabia and Kingda Ka in New Jersey.
Baker said this was his first experience working at 400 feet in the air while on the Adena team, but that he enjoyed the challenge.
“I’m glad to have lots of experienced people around me, everyone on the crew has all been a great help,” the 19-year-old said. “Chris (Smith) has taught me the vast majority of what I know now.”
Chris Smith, a steel foreman for Adena, said there were about seven Adena employees working at Cedar Point this summer.
Smith is responsible for planning work for the team and solving any problems that arise. He said the Top Thrill 2 ironworkers were on site from about August through mid-December assembling the coaster.
“Our job is to unload the beams and put them up,” he said.
“And to stay out of the way of the electrical and concrete teams because we’re operating heavy equipment.”
‘Gavriel always stood out’
Karen Von Stein, career exploration counselor at Madison Career Tech, said Baker was always a good student.
“Gavriel always stood out,” she said. “He served in multiple capacities with Skills USA and was just so thrilled that he got that opportunity.
“We have so many students achieving amazing success, and it’s a real honor to see all their hard work pay off.”
Jake Grove, director of career-technical education for Madison Local Schools, said 70% of the Madison Comprehensive High School senior class is enrolled in career tech classes.
The welding program has space for about 14 students each year, which Grove said is usually at capacity.
“Mr. Don Maxey has done an outstanding job preparing those students for the workforce if they choose the welding field,” Grove said.
“Our teaching staff is top-notch. It makes us proud to see the cool things Gavriel and lots of other students are doing and to know they came from here.”
Smith said he has seen Baker improve his skills since starting with Adena about a year ago.
“I was impressed with Gavriel going up to about 400 feet on one of the first jobs he was on,” the foreman said. “He was great.”
Smith said the first roller coaster he personally helped construct was Maverick in 2006.
The Adena team has also helped with MaXair, Skyhawk, Gatekeeper, Valravn and other roller coasters across the country.
“Weather’s usually your main problem working at those heights,” Smith said. “You can’t go up with strong winds, and there’s a temperature difference up that high too.
“The days can be long especially with the drive, but it’s definitely something to hang your hat on.”
Baker said he plans to visit Cedar Point this summer to try the coaster he helped construct.
The original Top Thrill Dragster was 17 seconds long, with Top Thrill 2 lasting two minutes. It has three different launch points, sending riders forward, backward and forward again. Its top speed is 120 miles per hour.
Cedar Point’s opening day for the 2024 season is May 4 — the first day the general public will be able to ride Top Thrill 2.
