West Edmonton Mall World Waterpark launches three new slides

By Mathew White

EDMONTON — Three.  Two.  One.  Scream!

The World Waterpark at West Edmonton Mall unveiled three new slides Monday, each featuring the brand new aqua-launch system.

“We wanted to give guests a new experience,” said Matthew Elliott, assistant manager at the World Waterpark.  “The launch puts them in a totally different dimension.  Before you could kind of choose your own pace when you wanted to go down, but now you’re totally out of control.”

“When that door drops, you’re going whether you want to or not.”

The Cyclone stands at 25.9 metres high and is the first waterslide of its kind in Canada, as well as the first Aqualoop to be installed indoors throughout North America.

Thrill seekers are asked to step into a glass capsule, and after a quick countdown, the floor drops out and the slider plunges 17 metres straight down, reaching speeds up to 60 km/h.  The slide then twists into a near vertical loop before spitting the slider out the other end.

“It’s almost like a roller coaster,” said Elliott.

“A lot of the guests have tried the slide and I haven’t heard one bad review yet.”

The other two slides are actually a remake of a World Waterpark’ classic, the Sky Screamer Extreme.  The two new slides are essentially the same as the old two, but with the addition of the new aqua-launch system.

Whitewater West Industries, of Richmond, B.C., manufactured the three new slides, costing about $1.5 million.

The World Waterpark now features 13 different slides and attractions.

Cyclone facts:

• Height of slide – 25.9 metres (85 feet)
• Length of slide – 110 metres (361 feet)
• Manufacturer – Whitewater West Industries Inc.
• Force of gravity – 0 to 2.5 G in less than two seconds
• Minimum height to ride – 1.3 metres (4 foot 3 inches)
• Minimum weight to ride – 41 kg (90 lbs)

Skyscreamer facts:

• Height of slide – 23.47 metres (77 feet)
• Length of slide – 80.77 metres (265 feet)
• Manufacturer – Whitewater West Industries Inc.
• Force of gravity – More than 2 G
• Minimum height to ride – 1.3 metres (4 foot 3 inches)
• Minimum weight to ride – 41 kg (90 lbs)