Kamikaze opens at Wet'n'Wild Water World

In anticipation of the coming summer, the beginning of October saw the opening of Wet'n'Wild’s latest attraction Kamikaze, a pair of Sidewinder slides by United States water attraction manufacturer Waterfun Products Inc.

Image: Gavin Seipelt. Double the fun.... Kamikaze opens at Wet'n'Wild Water World.

Editorial By Gavin Seipelt
2 October 2008

The thrilling ride can best be described as a giant half pipe, with pairs of riders sent down to slide back and forth.

Owing to the similarity in name, 2008 Olympic BMX rider Kamakazi was on hand with his bike for the grand opening of the ride. In good judgement the Olympian did not attempt to take to the slide on his BMX.

Just after 1pm the ride was opened to the public, with many eager visitors quickly descending upon the attraction.

The rafts are a unique twist on the standard double tubes, with backrests and a cosy inward facing seating arrangement. This gives riders the choice of going forwards or backwards, and thrill seekers should definitely opt for the latter.

After carrying the heavy duty rafts to the top riders head left or right, and load in at the sloped starting trough. A harnessed up lifeguard holds your raft back, and when the time comes you sent mercilessly into the drop…Woo hoo!

Safey is taken seriously on this ride, with lifeguards wearing harnesses at the top of the tower.

Before your stomach has a chance to catch up to your body you are already hurtling up the other side…if you were the backwards rider you are now staring straight down, and if you were the forwards rider you are thankful for that backrest. You continue to slide up and down, sometimes spinning, feeling as if you are on a giant sheet of ice.

Eventually, you settle to a stop at the bottom, where you can get out of the raft and wade to the exit platform.

Similarities have been drawn between Kamikaze and the park’s existing Tornado attraction, some questioning whether the rides are really different enough, but in reality there are some differences. Tornado tends to be a wilder and more soaking ride, with groups of guests washed straight through.

On the other hand Kamakaze tends to be more about the oscillating up and down the walls. The thin spray of water means the rafts slide back and forth smoothly. Less water tends to gather at the bottom, with the ‘bump’ of water Tornados are famous for far less severe, so the rafts retain their energy for longer. The sheer steepness, and suddenness of the drop provides that intimidation factor.

Guests waiting to ride are situated right in the middle of the action.

The positioning of the queue in the heart of the action means there is a steady stream of screaming riders to keep queuers amused until it's their turn.

Kamikaze is the twelfth water slide attraction currently operating at the park.

Warner Village Theme Parks CEO John Menzies was able to give Parkz some insight into the rationale behind this choice of attraction. Its installation at Wet'n'Wild came down to the need to deliver unique experiences to the market, the success of these rides at other water parks (in particular the popularity at the WVTP-owned Hawaiian Waters), and the cost-effectiveness and return on investment with respect to comparable rides such as the Whitewater West Boomerango.