Water Rides
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Water rides – every park needs one, some have quite a few! Popular, for obvious reasons, in hot climates and on sunny days, they are also the perfect family attraction. As well as classics like log flumes, rapids rides and shoot the chutes, a new generation of interactive water rides is finding favour. Read on for some of the current trends, some interesting ride histories, plus profiles of two elaborately-themed new water rides splashing guests this season.
able to take new technologies mainly used for rollercoasters to stimulate advances in the field of water rides, be it new lifting systems such as the very space- efficient vertical lifts, magnetic braking, special restraint systems, to name just a few.” Mack’s Twist ‘n’ Splash is another example of a water ride borrowing an idea from a ‘dry ride’ – the tea cups. Other manufacturers, including Zamperla and Moser’s Rides, followed suit with their version of this space- saving interactive water ride. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Splash Battle creators 3DBA and Preston & Barbieri should be feeling very humble a decade after the first version debuted back in 2004 at Walibi Holland.
Water rides
SPLASH IN THE PARK “
A simple concept, equipping a slow-moving track- based or tow-boat ride system with water cannons and other interactive effects, it’s a wonder no one had done it before, but 3DBA’s Roger Houben thinks he knows why: “Because most manufacturers are stuck to their own products and technology, although this has improved over the last few years. When I started 3DBA my main focus was to develop new, innovative products integrating technologies from different suppliers [such as Preston & Barbieri]. We will hit 25 units of Splash Battle very soon, despite the fact that many suppliers have copied our concept.”
A flume ride by ABC at Sea Life Oberhausen in Germany M
odern water rides fall into many categories including thrilling water coasters and splash rides, interactive attractions and more serene rides like tow boats and round boats, sometimes used as transportation systems for dark rides or other sightseeing/storytelling attractions. “Water rides have huge popularity, especially in the high season of summer,” notes Maximilian Roeser at Mack Rides, which entered the market years ago with log flumes but now produces as many as eight different kinds of water ride. “The effect of cooling off and daring your friends into getting soaked is certainly appealing to many guests, as is the unpredictably of how wet you are going to get.” “Everyone loves to play with water, it doesn’t matter about the location,” observes Lino Ferreti of Splash Battle and flume ride manufacturer Preston & Barbieri – smashing the assumption that water rides are to be enjoyed on hot days only. “It is up to the operator to present a solution suitable for the weather and the riders. Nowadays there are a lot of opportunities.” “Since the development of the first Rapids Ride over 30 years ago, our water rides have pleased millions of riders,” says Sascha Czibulka at Intamin, which now boasts over 150 water rides to its name. “As a manufacturer of rides in both categories, we have been
MAY 2014
Interactive water rides like this are often touted as suited to waterparks as well as traditional theme/amusement parks, but it’s still relatively rare that waterpark operators choose them instead of, or as well as, waterslides. That could be due to cost, but many of today’s big bowls, funnels, wave slides and combination
have huge popularity. The effect of cooling off and daring your friends into getting soaked is certainly appealing to many guests, as is the unpredictably of how wet you are going to get
Maximilian Roeser Mack Rides
” Rollercoaster meets water ride: Divertical by Intamin at Mirabilanida, Italy 33
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