She realized they weren't totally in stare down mode; they were talking through their minds.
From the loading platforms - Kingda Ka is equipped with dual platforms for both loading and unloading to speed up the ride cycle - the coaster enters a brief staging area as riders stare down the launch straightaway.
In fact, he rips his shirt open in his pre-fight intro, and when he matches up with Hugo, they engage in a stare down not unlike that of Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant in Wrestlemania III.
