Toronto Star

Today's the day to conquer a fear. Katrina Clarke took her fear of roller coasters and and went on the Leviathan at Canada's Wonderland. Come along on this incredible 360 video. To watch on your mobile phone, download the YouTube app. This technology is supported by a Chrome browser- other browsers may not work.

Here is an expert from Katrina Clarke's article in the Toronto Star:

I am 7 years old, strapped into a kiddie roller-coaster, alone. I don’t want to do this, but it’s too late. The ride lurches forward and jerks downward, flipping my stomach and sending me into hysterics.

The ride ends but my crippling fear of roller-coasters is just beginning.

Next, I am 11 years old on a family trip to Walt Disney World. Riding the first roller-coaster of the day brings back a rush of bad memories and uncomfortable sensations. It is my last.

Then, I am 13 years old at Canada’s Wonderland. My friends ride roller-coasters. I watch them enviously, but my knees still shake. I hold their bags.

Now, I am 28 years old. The thought of riding a roller-coaster gives me heart palpitations and sweaty palms.

Roller-coasters terrify me. Something about the height, the loss of control, the floating feeling in my stomach and the possibility of injury makes me want to throw up or run away. Psychologists say this fear can be traced back to childhood trauma, fear of heights or parental fears that rubbed off on me as a kid. I check all three boxes.

But my editors asked me to face a fear, so off I go to Canada’s Wonderland.

I arrive on a Tuesday morning with colleague Jonathan Forani — a roller-coaster enthusiast — by my side. My plan is to ride the small ones until I can face my real terrors, but when I pull in, photographer Randy Risling tells me he’s setting up at “the green one” — Leviathan, Canada’s tallest and fastest roller-coaster.

My gut churns.

To find out what happens check out the video or read the full story here:
http://on.thestar.com/2bYlrNd Show less