Water slide installation commences at Christchurch’s Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre
Installation of the five eel-inspired hydroslides (the term for waterslides in New Zealand) has commenced at Christchurch’s Parakiore Recreation and Sport Centre (the namel gifted to Christchurch’s Metro Sports Facility.)
The hydroslides will include New Zealand’s first ever trapdoor water slide, the 12.6 metre Looping Rocket. Manufactured by Swimplex/Polin Waterparks Australia/NZ the Looping Rocket will see riders start their experience by standing on a trapdoor, which will then open and plunge them down a sheer drop reaching blinding speeds of up to 40km/h.
The 32,000metre2 indoor sports and aquatics facility is being delivered by Crown company Ōtākaro Limited and will be operated by Christchurch City Council.
Ōtākaro Chief Executive, John Bridgman, says the slides range in height from nine to twelve metres and are made up of around 800 pieces of fibreglass noting “It took ten shipping containers to get all the sections of the slides here, so it’s no surprise these are going to be the biggest and best indoor hydroslides in New Zealand. The trapdoor hydroslide, which sends riders hurtling down at around 40 kilometres per hour, will be a drawcard for the central city.”
Swimplex Aquatics / Polin Australia & NZ Project Manager, Murray Booth, says the installation process is incredibly complex and advises “In some places there are seven sections of hydroslide between the ground and the sky because of the way they exit, twist, drop, then re-enter Parakiore. It’s challenging work, but we’re lucky we get to build something that is solely being put here to bring joy into people’s lives.”
Ōtākaro, Christchurch City Council and Matapopore have worked closely on the design of the water slides.
Council’s Head of Recreation, Nigel Cox, says the slides have been designed to resemble silver-bellied eels in an eel pot and adds “this unique and authentic colour scheme gives the hydroslides added meaning and will make the St Asaph Street entrance to Parakiore a memorable sight.”
Click here to contact Swimplex Aquatics via their entry in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.
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