Design, scoring elements create unique slide
AT: Jeffrey Seifert
FRÉJUS, France — A first-of-its-kind family raft waterslide made its debut near the end of the season at Aqualand Fréjus Waterpark in southern France. Storm Racer incorporates a variety of key features that set it apart from other bowl slides: a unique circular geometry, high capacity, interactive lights, scoring and a watersplash feature that keeps guests engaged even while waiting in the queue.
The slide’s streamlined, circular, rising path is unlike any previously designed waterslide attraction. Standing nearly eight stories tall, the 79-foot attraction features a slide path of 285 feet and a top speed of nearly 25 mph. Upon entering the slide, guests traverse an enclosed tube that features Polin‘s patented Natural Light Effects technology, which has guests sliding through a dizzying array of colorful stripes as they quickly gain speed dropping more than 60 feet. Upon shooting out of the enclosed portion, riders then enter an open-bowl configuration where they experience strong centrifugal forces as they are propelled up a wide, sweeping, curved slope. Rafts rush toward the top of the slope, but just before they seem to be ready to collide with the top of the slide, gravity pulls them back down in a reverse ride. The sloped bowl pushes the rafts towards the center of the bowl, past the entry point and towards the bowl’s exit. The energy gained as riders slide down the bowl provides the force to propel them down and out where their journey continues through a wide, open slide which terminates in a run-out.
As the raft reaches the high point of the bowl, its position is determined by sensors which then display the results on a scoreboard and also activate color LED lights within the bowl. The sections light up as the raft gets higher, and if the raft reaches the high point of the slide, a watersplash feature is activated at the top of the tower.
Guests queue in the center of the slide on a central tower providing spectator appeal. A spiral staircase leads to multiple viewing platforms so guests can watch the rafts filled with thrill seekers slide all around them, cheering them on as they climb to the high point of the slide. The watersplash feature at the top of the tower launches a plume of water vertically into the air, dousing those waiting with a refreshing spray. The water spray also helps to keep the decking and stairs cool.
Storm Racer utilizes 78-inch round family-style rafts. The slide is equipped with a lift that brings the rafts to the top of the slide for the convenience of guests. Once the raft exits the bowl, the next one waiting can be dispatched, potentially as quickly as every 30 seconds. With four people per raft, the maximum theoretical capacity at peak operation is 480 riders per hour. Although Aqualand Fréjus opted for the single version, Polin offers a double version which operates off the same tower, with opposite entry points and layered bowls.
Wilfrid Lenandeis, director of operations of the Aspro Group, said that the addition of Storm Racer is important to maintain guest expectations. “We know how quickly people’s interests can change, and we want to make sure we are always top of mind when they are considering how to spend their entertainment dollars. We focus on delivering an incredible experience for the value so guests will come back and are never disappointed.”
Aqualand Fréjus is part of the Aqualand family of waterparks owned by the Spanish tourism group Aspro Ocio, S.A., which operates more than 60 leisure parks throughout Europe — including 15 Aqualands. The Fréjus property is the largest water park in the Cote d’Azur (French Riviera) tourist area of France. Its location on the Mediterranean coastline provides sunny, hot, dry summers which are ideal for water recreation. Although the winters are also moderate, the water park season typically runs from June through September.
Aqualand Fréjus features a number of Polin waterslides including a King Cobra — the first in France when it was installed in 2012.
This article appears in the JANUARY 2019 issue of Amusement Today.
