He’s buckled in for a wild ride. Sean Evans, a professional roller coaster rider and YouTube content creator, revealed he makes six figures from his daredevil lifestyle despite being afraid of heights. “I’m always there shaking and trembling. I always get butterflies in my stomach … but as soon as that roller coaster goes down its first drop, the fear kind of washes away in that moment,” the UK resident told PA Real Life. “But approaching a new ride, I’m back to square one, nervous again.”

Evans, 33, confessed his fear of rides started when he went on his first roller coaster, the Corkscrew at Alton Towers Resort, during a school field trip. The thrill of the roller coaster wasn’t enough to convince him to do it again, so he avoided the amusement park ride for years.

However, during the pandemic, he found himself binge-watching tons of theme park videos, which piqued his interest in roller coasters. “In lockdown, all we knew was the inside of our house, so I was watching people who had traveled abroad, gone to theme parks and attractions, and I realized the escapism that a theme park brings,” Sean said.

The content creator started a YouTube channel called “Lift Hills and Thrills” focused on his adventures exploring theme parks around the UK. The channel has more than 20,000 subscribers. “It’s not necessarily the ride itself, but the fact you can walk into a themed environment and be completely whisked away,” he confessed.

Evans embarked on his new thrill-seeking journey, which required him to try different amusement park rides like roller coasters, despite vertigo in May 2021. Vertigo “causes dizziness and makes you feel like you’re spinning when you’re not,” explained Cleveland Clinic.

Since then, the UK resident has visited around 50 theme parks, riding about 130 roller coasters, and set a park record by riding Nemesis at Alton Towers 64 times in six hours. He even conquered Europe’s tallest roller coaster, Red Force, over 367 feet high, in PortAventura World, Spain. “I wanted to do something that would make my channel stand out, being a new channel, and someone had previously ridden Nemesis all day and got 63 laps, so I did 64,” he said. “I basically turned a hobby into a full-time job, and I get paid quite well for traveling and enjoying myself, which many would say is living the dream,” he added.

Evans, who works between 9 a.m. and 3 a.m., claims he’s “living the dream” and that his job “doesn’t feel like work” because he’s doing something he loves. One of his most-watched videos, featuring him on the Velocity ride at Flamingo Land Resort in England, made him around $4,000.

Before going to theme parks, he does extensive research on the rides to compare heights and bends and prepare himself for what to expect. Even with his research and experience of riding the coasters, fear still overtakes him when it’s time to ride the beast. “I think it’s always worse in your head, so I tried to mentally prepare myself,” Evans said. “I was talking randomly about how scared I was or swearing to the person next to me, as it’s just my coping mechanism.”

Although the theme park expert has traveled across the UK, taking on as many roller coasters as his vertigo can handle, he’s ready to expand his exploration abroad to visit Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida and Universal Studios Singapore. “I’m talking about things I’m passionate about, sharing what means a lot to me,” Evans said about his hobby turned career. He encourages others to conquer their fears and remember they can get through them. “Have a mental conversation with yourself, try to compose yourself, and know that you will be ok,” he added.

Conquering the Fear

Sean Evans, from Stoke-on-Trent, is living the dream by sharing his roller coaster adventures on YouTube. He makes a six-figure salary from his channel, “Lift Hills and Thrills”, despite his fear of heights and vertigo. He’s been on more than 100 rollercoaster rides, and he’s not slowing down. Evans, who has been terrified of heights since childhood, has always been the first to close the blinds on the plane during family holidays. He once even avoided roller coasters for years after a school trip to Alton Towers left him petrified.

He launched his YouTube channel during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspired by the escapism he felt while watching theme park videos. He has amassed more than 7.2 million views on his channel and has become a source of inspiration for others who also want to conquer their fears. Evans has learned to manage his vertigo by focusing on the thrill of the ride and the escape it provides.

How He Made it Happen

Evans’s journey to becoming a professional roller coaster rider began in 2021, when he decided to confront his fear of heights. He rode Nemesis at Alton Towers 64 times in six hours, setting a park record. The experience gave him the confidence to pursue his passion for roller coasters. He started traveling to theme parks all over the UK and eventually abroad, sharing his experiences with his viewers. His channel has grown rapidly, and he now makes a six-figure salary from his work.

A Rollercoaster Ride to Success

Evans’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue your passions, even if they seem daunting or even terrifying. With hard work and dedication, anything is possible. He has shown that it is possible to overcome your fears and turn your passion into a successful career. His YouTube channel, “Lift Hills and Thrills”, is a testament to his dedication and passion for roller coasters. His videos offer an escape for viewers who are looking to experience the thrill of a rollercoaster ride from the comfort of their homes. Evans is a true inspiration, and his story will hopefully encourage others to chase their own dreams, no matter how challenging they may seem.

Evans has also become an advocate for conquering your fears. He encourages viewers to have a mental conversation with themselves, try to compose themselves, and know that they will be okay. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of following your passions, no matter how daunting they may seem.

Riding the Waves of Success

Evans is not only passionate about roller coasters but also about sharing his love for theme parks with his viewers. He has become an expert on the subject, researching rides and theme parks extensively before visiting them. He is always looking for new thrills, and he is constantly seeking out new challenges. He is also a skilled content creator who uses his passion to create engaging and informative videos for his viewers.

Evans’s story is a powerful reminder that even the most seemingly impossible dreams can be achieved with hard work and dedication. He has shown that it is possible to overcome your fears and turn your passion into a successful career. His success is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of following your dreams.