On December 15,th WhiteWater started its year-long celebration to commemorate the company’s 40th anniversary.
The B.C.-based company was founded in 1980 and, now, four decades later WhiteWater is one of the world’s largest designer and manufacturer of innovative waterpark products and attractions.
In looking back, Geoff Chutter, the company’s founder and CEO, still remembers where it all started.
“When I opened WhiteWater Waterpark in 1980, I didn’t imagine we would become the industry leader it is today,” he said. “Today, WhiteWater is a designer and manufacturer of more than 100 attractions, which can be found in thousands of parks all over the world.
“Even after all this time, the motivation remains the same, I’ve always wanted to see families have safe, healthy fun together, and alongside with our clients, we continue to achieve that.”
WhiteWater’s odyssey began as one of Canada’s first waterparks, where in a fledgling industry, waterslide manufacturers were few and far between. The company started constructing its own waterslides and soon after, other parks came calling. Within five years, WhiteWater had acquired a fibreglass manufacturing plant and a local engineering firm to become a complete manufacturing solution provider for waterparks around the world.
Throughout its first decade, the company continued to grow and, in 1988, Chutter met and partnered with Andrew Wray from Barr and Wray North America to start their journey of acquiring companies.
WhiteWater has spotted trends early, licensing FlowRider® back in 1998 (acquired in 2014), Master Blaster joined the portfolio in 2003, AquaLoop added thrills in 2008, and most recently SlideWheel’s® Ferris wheel-like rotations in 2019.
According to the company, however, it is its in-house innovations that have become waterpark staples. Since its debut in 2005, the Boomerango—a gravity-defying waterpark ride—has become many park goer’s favourites. Other notable attractions include Anaconda, with one of the world’s largest flumes, FusionFortress, a complete all-in-one waterpark structure, and one of the world’s first fully clear acrylic waterslide, the AquaDuck.
When Chutter’s son, Paul (now WhiteWater’s chief business development officer), entered the business seven years ago, he helped to redefine aquatic entertainment. Not long after he came on board, WhiteWater launched Vantage, a guest journey platform designed to elevate guest experiences while at the same time improve a park’s operational efficiency.
Together, Paul and Geoff founded Endless Surf, an inland surf experience they launched while most of the world was in a pandemic lockdown. Their vision and bravery have already been rewarded with half a dozen confirmed Endless Surf projects spanning, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Americas.
Proud of what his father has accomplished, Paul said: “This year saw my Dad recognized as EY’s Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year. What he has built, alongside Andrew Wray, inspires so many of us and makes WhiteWater a very special place for 600 people to continue to push entertainment boundaries and raise the bar.
“Our success is thanks to the hugely talented people we’ve assembled. I’m so proud to be part of a team I believe to be the very best in the industry. It is in thanks and recognition we celebrate our 40th anniversary.”
