WhiteWater, a manufacturer and installer of waterpark attractions in Richmond, B.C., was the recent recipient of a Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) Thea award for its Slideboarding water ride.
The company’s Rick Briggs, who leads the creative development department, along with the ride’s inventor Denise Weston, created this new sliding experience. Launched two years ago, the Slideboarding ride can be found in more than a dozen parks with notable early adopters being Wet‘n’Wild Las Vegas, Nev., and Hyland Hills’ Water World in Denver, Colo.
“Slideboarding is unique. Our guests keep coming back to pass each game level while our park collects valuable operational data and marketing insights,” says Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District executive director, Yvonne Fischbach.
Bringing products such as Slideboarding to market has required clients who were prepared to embrace new technology while working through prototypes and testing. The reward for their patience and diligence was the chance to be the first theme parks to introduce this ride to the public. WhiteWater acknowledges their vision as a contributor to the success of the ride and their part in the development of the product has helped the company obtain this award.
“Guest expectations continue to grow for what a waterslide, an amusement ride, or a museum can be—the Thea recipients demonstrate that as an industry we anticipate and respond by pushing forward and challenging ourselves to turn the huge scale of our imaginations into reality,” says WhiteWater’s president and CEO, Geoff Chutter. “TEA plays a central role in bringing the best and most creative of the industry together and WhiteWater is proud to be a part of this group of innovators.”
This is the second Thea award WhiteWater has received. The first one was presented in 2001 for Parc Asterix’ Spinning Rapids Ride named L’Oxygenarium.
TEA is the international non-profit association representing creators, developers, designers, and producers of compelling places and experiences across the globe. The Thea Awards recognize achievement, talent, and personal excellence within the themed entertainment industry.
