ProSlide Technology

Last updated
ProSlide Technology
TypePrivate
Industry Manufacturing
Founded1986
FounderRichard D. Hunter
Headquarters2650 Queensview Drive
Unit 150
Ottawa, Ontario
K2B 8H6
Area served
Worldwide
Products Water slides
Number of employees
100+(2016) [1]
Website www.proslide.com

ProSlide Technology, Inc. is a Canadian designer and manufacturer of water rides and water park resorts. [2] They design and manufacture both traditional slides and innovative rides such as water coasters, funnel-shaped Tornado slides, and Bowl slides. [3] ProSlide has received attention for being the first water slide manufacturer to build a water slide using linear induction motors and for designing the Mammoth watercoaster which was named the world's longest watercoaster by Guinness World Records in 2016. [4] [5] Since 1986, ProSlide has developed and designed water rides for water parks in over 40 countries around the world. [6]

Contents

Models

Proslide makes a number of different model lines, some in different sizes. The ones in different sizes have names which are the name of the model, followed by a number, indicating the size. Their slide models are:

There are also Hybrid slides, which consist of more than one type of slide. For example, Kinnaree at Siam Park is a Hybrid slide of a Tornado 24 and a TornadoWave 60.

History

Corporate history

After being a member of Canada’s alpine skiing team from 1969 to 1974, Richard D. Hunter founded ProSlide Technology Inc. in 1986. [7] [8] In 1990, Hunter purchased Mont Cascades, a ski area and waterpark in Quebec. [6] Mont Cascades has since served as a research and development area where Proslide tests new ride ideas. [9]

In 2007, ProSlide purchased a 100-acre plot of land in Ottawa where it has been developing the Alottawata waterpark. [9] The park was expected to open in summer 2019 and would have served in part as a research and development centre for the company. [1] As of August 2018 however, the park has been put on indefinite hold.As of July 2023 The land has been sold and proslide no longer owns the land [10]

Attraction history

ProSlide debuted three types of water slides in 1987, Twisters, Kidz, and Plummets, which are all types of body flumes. The first Twisters opened at Mont Saint-Sauveur in Quebec and Adventure World Theme Park (now known as Six Flags America) in Largo, Maryland, United States; both parks opened 4 Twisters that year. [11] Plummets consist of a vertical drop only, followed by a long, flat segment to help riders decelerate. The first Plummets opened at Aquapar Magog in Quebec and Six Flags America, respectively. [12] ProSlide also debuted their children's water slides (ProSlide Kidz) in 1987, which are miniature versions of Twisters designed for young children. Initially, they were installed more frequently than the full-size Twisters. [13]

In 1989, the company's PIPEline water slides opened at several locations. The Pipeline is a water slide that carries riders on 1-to-3 person inner tubes and is ProSlide's second most common style. [14] The Pipeline has both open and enclosed sections; many have water curtains at the beginning and/or end of their enclosed sections. The first Pipeline rides using inner tubes opened at Fantasia de Agua in the Dominican Republic and Waldameer Park in Erie, Pennsylvania. [14] Throughout the 1990s, several large park chains started opening new ProSlide Pipelines, including Cedar Fair, Six Flags, and Wet 'n Wild.

In 1991, the Mammoth waterslide debuted and was the first ProSlide slide that riders rode in 4-person tubes. The Mammoth is a larger-scale version of the Pipeline. [15] Wet 'n Wild in Orlando, Florida, opened the first ProSlide Mammoth.

The first ProSlide RACER opened in 1994 at ProSlide's Mont Cascades Waterpark in Cantley, Quebec. Racers consist of one wide slide with dividers between the lanes and are designed that riders can "race" to the finish if ride operators send all of them down the slide at the same time. [16]

Beginning in the late 1990s, ProSlide began manufactures four kinds of Bowls: ProBowls, CannonBOWLS, BulletBOWLS, and BehemothBOWLS, all four types consist of an enclosed flume that terminates in a bowl; riders travel in a spiral around the bowl (using centrifugal force to stay on the bowl's wall initially) before dropping into a splashdown pool. [17] ProBowls are enclosed body flumes which end in a bowl with an open top. CannonBowls and the larger BehemothBowls accommodate 2- and 4-person inner tubes, and have a common exit in their centers. [17] [18]

Sky Drop, at Plopsaqua, a slide with SkyBOX. Plopsaqua (C34).JPG
Sky Drop, at Plopsaqua, a slide with SkyBOX.
Aerial view of the Tornado at Darien Lake. Tornado water slide at Darien Lake.jpg
Aerial view of the Tornado at Darien Lake.

The first ProSlide Bowl, a ProBowl, opened at Golfland Sunsplash in 1999. [15]

In the early 2000s, ProSlide gained recognition for its TORNADO, a 4-passenger, 50- to 75-foot-tall enclosed slide which ends in a large, often multicolored funnel. Riders travel back and forth in the funnel several times before exiting into a splashdown pool. The first Tornados opened in 2003 at Six Flags New England, Mountain Creek Waterpark and Holiday World and Splashin' Safari. [19]

In 2005, ProSlide debuted its waterslide version of a roller coaster, the Rocket, an uphill water coaster. Proslide's first Rockets opened at Noah's Ark Water Park, Six Flags New England, and the Great Wolf Lodge. [20]

ProSlide opened a LIM-propelled Rocket at the Great Wolf Lodge near Kings Island in 2006; in 2007, LIM-launched Rockets opened at Naju Lake Waterpark in Korea and at Kentucky Kingdom. [20] [21] Super Tubes Hydrocoaster at WhiteWater World in Australia, have used the ProSlide HydroMagnetics system of Linear Induction Motors placed throughout the ride to launch riders up the uphill sections. HydroMagnetics uses Force Engineering LIM technology, which first gained recognition in the amusement park industry as the power behind launched roller coasters such as Flight of Fear and Speed - The Ride. ProSlide HydroMAGNETIC ROCKETS are the first waterslides to use this same technology, which allows for more flexibility and efficiency in running the waterslides' uphill sections than the previous conveyor-belt system did. [22] In 2012, the company's Mammoth was recognized as the longest water coaster in the world when it opened at Holiday World. [23]

The Super Tubes Hydrocoaster (a LIM-powered ProSlide Rocket) and The Green Room (a ProSlide Tornado) at WhiteWater World. Super Tubes Hydrocoaster and The Green Room at WhiteWater World.jpg
The Super Tubes Hydrocoaster (a LIM-powered ProSlide Rocket) and The Green Room (a ProSlide Tornado) at WhiteWater World.

Awards and recognition

During the early 2000s, ProSlide manufactured the majority of the water park industry's award-winning rides. In 2005, three of the top five Golden Ticket Award winners for Best New Ride for 2005 (Water Park) were rides manufactured by ProSlide. [24] [25] ProSlide also had two of the top three winners for Best Waterpark Ride in 2004, 2005 and 2006. [24] [26] [27] From 2010-2017, ProSlides Wildebeest watercoaster at Holiday World and Splashin' Safari was named Best Waterpark Ride. [28] [29] [30] In 2017, the company earned an additional Golden Ticket Award for Best New Water Park Ride for the Thunder Rapids Water Coaster at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. [30]

ProSlide is a 15-time IAAPA ‘Best Water Ride’ winner as well as a three-time recipient of IAAPA’s ‘Industry Impact Award,’ given to the top attraction in the entire industry. [31] The company has also won several IAAPA Brass Ring Awards: Best New Product Exhibitor Awards which recognizes the best new product or service in the amusement parks and attractions industry. [32]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water slide</span> Type of slide designed for recreational use in water parks

A water slide is a type of slide designed for warm-weather or indoor recreational use at water parks. Water slides differ in their riding method and therefore size. Some slides require riders to sit directly on the slide, or on a raft or tube designed to be used with the slide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noah's Ark Water Park</span> Outdoor water park in Wisconsin, United States

Noah's Ark is the largest outdoor water park in the United States. It features 51 water slides and dozens of various attractions. The park is located in the village of Lake Delton, Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast</span> Water park on the Gold Coast, Australia

Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast is a water park situated in Oxenford, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, owned and operated by Village Roadshow Theme Parks. In 2019, the park received 1,120,000 visitors making it the most visited water park in Australia and the 19th most visited water park in the world. Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast is located adjacent to Warner Bros. Movie World, a movie-related park also owned by Village Roadshow Theme Parks. The park remains open all year with all of the pools and slides heated during the winter months. It is one of several water parks operating under the Wet'n'Wild brand globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Water Country USA</span> Water park in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States

Water Country USA is a water park in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. It is the Mid-Atlantic's largest water park, and it offers live entertainment, shops and restaurants, water rides, and other family attractions, all of which have a 1950s or 1960s surf theme. It is owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The park is just a few miles away from Busch Gardens Williamsburg, with which it shares clientele. Multi-park passes are available, and a parking pass at Water Country USA is valid for same-day entry to Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

Dollywood's Splash Country is a 35-acre (14 ha) water park located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, adjacent to the Dollywood theme park. The park's central theme rests around entertainer Dolly Parton's childhood swimming in the rivers of the Great Smoky Mountains. Dollywood's Splash Country operates from May through September.

Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark is a water park located in the Poconos in Tannersville, Pennsylvania at Big Pocono State Park. Opened in 1998, it is the summer operation for Camelback Mountain Resort, which is a skiing and snowboard resort during the winter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Splish Splash (amusement park)</span>

Splish Splash is a 96-acre (390,000 m2) water park in Calverton, New York. It has 30 rides and is open for visitors from May to September. Travel Channel ranked Splish Splash as the third-best water park in the United States in the year 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WhiteWater World</span> Water park in Gold Coast, Australia

WhiteWater World is a seasonal water park situated in the suburb of Coomera on the Gold Coast, Australia. It is owned and operated by Ardent Leisure and is the sister park to Dreamworld.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waldameer & Water World</span> Amusement park

Waldameer Park & Water World is an amusement park and water park in Erie, Pennsylvania located at the base of Presque Isle. Waldameer is the fourth oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania, the tenth oldest in the nation, and one of only thirteen trolley parks still operating in the United States. The park is admission-free, with a midway, and covered picnic facilities. The roller coasters and other major rides require either the display of a paid wristband scanned upon riding, or the use of "Wally Points" on their "Wally Card" system. The water park operates an assortment of water slides and pools, and is admission by fee only. The name "Waldameer" can be translated roughly as "Woods by the Sea" in German. Waldameer's operating season runs from May through September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilderness Territory</span> Water park resort in Wisconsin Dells

Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort is a large water resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. It is one of the largest indoor waterpark complexes in the world with a combined size of 240,000 square feet (22,000 m2). It is part of a chain of two resorts, the newer and smaller one being Wilderness at the Smokies in Tennessee. The chain also includes four small outdoor waterparks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siam Park (Tenerife)</span> Water park in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Siam Park is a water park in Costa Adeje, a coastal suburb in Tenerife, Canary Islands. Siam Park features a Siamese (Thai) theme. The park was opened by the Princess of Thailand Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The principal owners are Wolfgang Kiessling and his son Christoph. A second park is planned for the neighbouring island of Gran Canaria.

Chula Vista Resort is a southwestern-themed waterpark resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The resort is located on the Upper Dells of the Wisconsin River, 3 miles (4.8 km) north of downtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calypso Park</span> Waterpark in Ontario, Canada

Calypso Theme Waterpark is a waterpark located in Limoges, Ontario, Canada, about 35 kilometres (22 mi) east of Ottawa. The park opened to the public on June 7, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Boardwalk at Hersheypark</span>

The Boardwalk at Hersheypark is a themed area located at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Boardwalk at Hersheypark opened in 2007 to mark the 100th anniversary of the theme park opened by Milton S. Hershey in 1907. It originally featured five water‐based attractions and is the single biggest financial investment in the park's history, at a cost of $21 million USD.

Waterworld is a water park located in Festival Park, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England. The park attracts 400,000 visitors per year. The park first opened in 1989 and is generally open year-round, but is closed for a few days of the week during term time however is open most days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raging Waters Sydney</span> Water park in Sydney

Raging Waters Sydney, formerly Wet'n'Wild Sydney, is a water park in the greater western Sydney suburb of Prospect, New South Wales, Australia, that opened on 12 December 2013. The park was announced on 11 September 2010 and was the third Wet'n'Wild water park operated by Village Roadshow Theme Parks, after locations on the Gold Coast and Las Vegas. On 2 July 2018, it was announced that the park had been acquired by Parques Reunidos who renamed the park Raging Waters Sydney for the 2019 season. It is the only attraction outside the United States owned by Palace Entertainment.

Master Blaster is a type of uphill water coaster at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels Waterpark in Texas, USA. Master Blaster opened in 1996 in the Schlitterbahn East section of the park as the anchor attraction to a second themed area called Blastenhoff. The ride is 65 feet tall and 1,100 feet long.

Aquatica is a chain of water parks owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Aquatica parks are operating in Orlando, Florida and San Antonio, Texas.

Wilderness at the Smokies is a resort located on Wilderness Territories property in Sevierville, Tennessee. It opened in 2008 as part of the new Bridgemont development, which, along with the resort itself, now includes shopping, dining, and conference facilities.

Hydro Adventures was an amusement park, waterpark and family entertainment center located in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and owned by national amusement park operator, United Parks. Hydro Adventures' Water Park operated from May through September, and the Dry Park was open year-round. According to the website, the park consisted of 7 water attractions and 8 dry attractions of varying “thrill levels.” Hydro Adventures was unable to open for the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was soon put up for sale.

References

  1. 1 2 Pileci, Vito (29 April 2016). "South-end Waterpark Finally Moving Ahead, Developer Says". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Kleiman, Joe (30 July 2012). "ProSlide Opens KrakenRACERS at Three US Parks". InPark Magazine. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Ralph, Owen (19 July 2017). "Wet'n'Wild Toronto Makes a Splash With Mammoth New Attractions". Blooloop. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  4. ↑ "Guinness World Records Certifies 'Mammoth' At Holiday World Longest Water Coaster". Tribune Star. 26 May 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  5. ↑ Murphy, Mekado (5 July 2017). "Water Ride vs. Roller Coaster: Now You Don't Have to Choose". New York Times. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  6. 1 2 Holleron, Mark (3 March 2014). "Hit The Slopes". Ottawa At Home. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  7. ↑ "For Global Success, Just Add Water". Ottawa Citizen. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  8. ↑ "Meet Rick Hunter, Disney's Waterslide Go-to Guy". The Globe and Mail. 21 June 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  9. 1 2 Hill, Bert (24 November 2007). "Firm Set to Make Waves With Massive Water Park". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "Plans for south end waterpark on hold, again". ottawacitizen. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
  11. ↑ "ProSlide". Twister Installations. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  12. ↑ "ProSlide". Plummet Installations. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  13. ↑ "ProSlide". Kidz Installations. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  14. 1 2 "ProSlide". Pipeline Installations. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  15. 1 2 "ProSlide". Mammoth Installations. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  16. ↑ "ProSlide". Racer Installations. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  17. 1 2 "ProSlide". CannonBOWLS. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  18. ↑ "ProSlide". BehemothBOWLS. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  19. ↑ "ProSlide". Tornado Installations. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  20. 1 2 "ProSlide". Rocket Installations. Archived from the original on 13 November 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  21. ↑ "Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay". Splashwater Kingdom is bigger, better and wetter!. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2007.
  22. ↑ "New water park brings slide innovation", retrieved January 21, 2006
  23. ↑ Roseboom, Matt (August 3, 2011). "Out of the Loop: Holiday World announces longest water coaster (again)". Attractions Magazine. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  24. 1 2 "2005 Golden Ticket Awards" (PDF). Amusement Today. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2006.
  25. ↑ "Amusement Today" (PDF). 2003 Golden Ticket Awards. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2006.
  26. ↑ "Amusement Today" (PDF). 2004 Golden Ticket Awards. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2006.
  27. ↑ "Amusement Today" (PDF). 2006 Golden Ticket Awards. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2006.
  28. ↑ "GoldenTicket Awards". 29 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011.
  29. ↑ "2010 Golden Ticket Awards The Best of the Best!". Golden Ticket Awards. Archived from the original on 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2011-11-27.
  30. 1 2 "Proslide Water Attractions Make a Splash at Golden Ticket Awards". Blooloop. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  31. ↑ "ProSlide Receives Top IAAPA Awards". Pool & Spa Marketing. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
  32. ↑ "2016 IAAP Brass Ring Award Winners". IAAPA. 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.