A thrill-seeker attempting to ride every roller coaster in the UK within 16 days has seen his ambitious plans derailed by Storm Floris. However, Dean Stokes could still break a world record despite the weather setback.
The 36-year-old from Brighton originally planned to tackle 120 roller coasters across 32 theme parks in just over two weeks. He embarked on the challenge alongside his friend and former colleague Simon Fasolo, 44, documenting their journey on social media.
Storm disrupts ambitious plans
Stokes, who previously worked as UK head of Google for Education for five years, left the corporate world to set up his own technology training business. He grew tired of being unable to try new things and believes people should be encouraged to pursue what they love.
The challenge hit major obstacles when Storm Floris forced several theme parks to close rides for safety reasons. This happened less than a third of the way through his planned journey, significantly disrupting his carefully planned route.
Guinness World Records shows interest
Despite the setbacks, Guinness World Records has contacted Stokes about potentially setting a new record. The organisation believes there may still be opportunities to achieve recognition despite the modified plans.
"We were scuppered by Storm Floris, as two of the parks we visited did not have coasters operating because of wind and rain," Stokes said. "The day I was in north Devon, we were meant to get on eight roller coasters, but I only managed one."
Social media support grows
Most rides were shut down for safety reasons, which Stokes acknowledged was understandable but frustrating. He originally hadn't contacted Guinness World Records as he was focused on planning the trip and doing it for fun rather than record-breaking.
"But two days ago, they emailed me asking if I'm interested in it, and I said yes - I would love to hang a world record at my office and have it in the background of my video calls," he explained. The record might be adjusted to something like most roller coasters ridden in a week.
Fellow enthusiasts join the journey
Stokes has been overwhelmed by support both online and at theme parks. He and Fasolo have been recognised by fellow thrill-seekers and ride operators throughout their journey.
One particularly memorable moment came at Flamingo Park in Hastings, East Sussex, where a follower named Jack and his family changed their plans to join Stokes for his first ride on the Pinball X. "I was so surprised when I turned up and there was someone there - he said 'I'm here to ride this with you'," Stokes recalled.
Building momentum for final stop
The pair have been going live on TikTok during their travels, with Stokes often streaming whilst driving between parks. A crowd is starting to build for their planned final stop at Thorpe Park.
"We're starting to build a bit of a crowd for Thorpe Park, which would be the last park of the trip - I think we're going to get a little bit of a group together to ride my last ride together which is fun," he said.
Encouraging others to follow passions
Stokes maintains that the bigger purpose behind his challenge is encouraging people to pursue their passions without worrying about others' opinions. He believes too many people feel embarrassed about things they want to do or avoid pushing themselves due to fear of judgment.
"In fact, being confident to go out and do what you want is super important," he said. The former Google executive hopes his journey will inspire others to step outside their comfort zones and embrace what they love.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
