New Aquatica water slide details released
By Leah Zanolla
Dec 25, 2009
As an early present for the holidays, Sea World has released details of its innovative water slide planned for Aquatica in 2010. The slide, named Omaka Rocka (which means rocking river), will send a pair of guests in a tube to experience sensations akin to extreme sports. In speaking to the Orlando Sentinel, Aquatica's vice president Rick Beddow promised guests are "going to slide up one side and get a sensation of near weightlessness. They'll come down that side and back up the other. It's going to be a taste of a half-pipe — near vertical thrills experienced only by skateboarders or snowboarders." Adding to the slide's unique nature is the announcement that some of the tubing will be "semi-transparent" which will enable guests in line to see riders traveling on the slide above them.
Contrary to a previous report in the Los Angeles Times, the Sentinel suggests this will be the only expansion of Aquatica in the upcoming year.
For an artist's rendering of the new slide, click here.
Aquatica will be home to a new ride by March 2010, SeaWorld officials confirmed today. Omaka Rocka, which will feature half-pipe maneuvers through three funnels (think extreme sports/skateboarding), will be the water park’s first expansion since it opened in early 2008.
Here are some details about Omaka Rocka:
+ It will share a platform with Whanau Way, on the wave-pool side of the park.
+ There will be two slides with three funnels each.
+ The name comes from South Seas and means “rocking river.”
+ The half-pipe element will provide “near weightlessness,” says Aquatica vice president Rick Beddow.
+ Guests will ride in two-seater floats like those currently found in the park.
+ There will be no height restriction, although you must be able to hold onto the grips and maintain the riding position throughout.
+ Although portions of the Omaka Rocka will be enclosed, the tubing will be “semi-transparent,” allowing more light in — and allowing landlubbers to see folks sliding through, says Brian Morrow, director of design and engineering. (As opposed to some of the very dark entrances of other Aquatica attractions.)
+ Morrow says SeaWorld has always had an expansion master plan — the Whanau Way tower was built with another ride in mind for the future. But Omaka Rocka is not the ride that was originally planned for that spot.
+ Construction is under way, and passersby should be able to see the tubing go up during the first half of January, Morrow says.
+ Despite reports to the contrary, this is the only expansion planned for Aquatica in 2010, SeaWorld officials say.
By Leah Zanolla
Dec 25, 2009
As an early present for the holidays, Sea World has released details of its innovative water slide planned for Aquatica in 2010. The slide, named Omaka Rocka (which means rocking river), will send a pair of guests in a tube to experience sensations akin to extreme sports. In speaking to the Orlando Sentinel, Aquatica's vice president Rick Beddow promised guests are "going to slide up one side and get a sensation of near weightlessness. They'll come down that side and back up the other. It's going to be a taste of a half-pipe — near vertical thrills experienced only by skateboarders or snowboarders." Adding to the slide's unique nature is the announcement that some of the tubing will be "semi-transparent" which will enable guests in line to see riders traveling on the slide above them.
Contrary to a previous report in the Los Angeles Times, the Sentinel suggests this will be the only expansion of Aquatica in the upcoming year.
For an artist's rendering of the new slide, click here.
Aquatica will be home to a new ride by March 2010, SeaWorld officials confirmed today. Omaka Rocka, which will feature half-pipe maneuvers through three funnels (think extreme sports/skateboarding), will be the water park’s first expansion since it opened in early 2008.
Here are some details about Omaka Rocka:
+ It will share a platform with Whanau Way, on the wave-pool side of the park.
+ There will be two slides with three funnels each.
+ The name comes from South Seas and means “rocking river.”
+ The half-pipe element will provide “near weightlessness,” says Aquatica vice president Rick Beddow.
+ Guests will ride in two-seater floats like those currently found in the park.
+ There will be no height restriction, although you must be able to hold onto the grips and maintain the riding position throughout.
+ Although portions of the Omaka Rocka will be enclosed, the tubing will be “semi-transparent,” allowing more light in — and allowing landlubbers to see folks sliding through, says Brian Morrow, director of design and engineering. (As opposed to some of the very dark entrances of other Aquatica attractions.)
+ Morrow says SeaWorld has always had an expansion master plan — the Whanau Way tower was built with another ride in mind for the future. But Omaka Rocka is not the ride that was originally planned for that spot.
+ Construction is under way, and passersby should be able to see the tubing go up during the first half of January, Morrow says.
+ Despite reports to the contrary, this is the only expansion planned for Aquatica in 2010, SeaWorld officials say.