WhiteWater scoops five WWA Leading Edge Awards

WhiteWater, a leading waterpark manufacturer, has won Leading Edge Awards for five of its projects at the World Waterpark Association Show in Las Vegas, US.

The accolades were awarded for the firm’s work on Meryal Waterpark, The Rise of Icarus at Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park, Wilderness at the Smokies, Aquascope, and Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas.

Ambitious projects

The award-winning projects include an array of standout features:

• Meryal Waterpark. This park spans 60 acres and features detailed theming which honours Qatar’s oil and gas history. 69 activities offer fun for all ages, and range from aquatic play for small children to thrilling water slides for the courageous.
  
  The Icon Tower has received significant media coverage. As the world’s tallest water slide tower, this marvel of engineering stands 85 metres (278 feet) tall and launches an unparalleled 12 slides. The park also boasts three Abyss funnel slides, one suspended 40 metres (131 feet) in the air, the Middle East’s first Walhalla, the world’s fastest six-person raft ride at up to 50 km/h (31 mph), and the region’s first SlideWheel.

• Wilderness at the Smokies. In celebration of its 15th anniversary, Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville, Tennessee, launched a 3,716 square metre (40,000 square feet) expansion for its Wild WaterDome. A highlight is the “Ridge Runner,” a three-story Master Blaster with the first-ever Reverse AquaLucent effects which offer colourful, hypnotic patterns across the translucent flumes. 
  
  The Reverse AquaLucents enhance the park’s atmosphere by allowing bystanders to join in on the fun and captivating riders as they enjoy thrilling uphill blasts and heart-pounding drops at up to 46 km/h (29 mph).
• Aquascope. Futurocope in France recently unveiled Aquascope, a new immersive water park which includes Europe’s first aquatic cinema. The underwater-themed kids zone, “La Faille de Kraki,”, features a friendly octopus with slides for tentacles. This area also includes AquaSplash and AquaSpray toys to capture children’s imaginations.
• Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park. The Rise of Icarus, the largest water slide tower in the Americas, was launched in 2024 and follows in the footsteps of its SlideWheel, the first in the Western Hemisphere, in 2022.
  
  At 48 metres (160 feet) high, The Rise of Icarus is a colourful landmark that tells the tale of a young man who flew too close to the sun. It features the tallest water slide in America, a High-Speed AquaTube dubbed “The Fall”. This slide launches from 44 metres (145 feet) above ground over a distance of 237 metres (780 feet), and can reach speeds of up to 48 km/h (30 mph). The tower also offers four additional body slides for a mixture of exciting, yet smooth ride experiences. 

• Icon of the Seas. FlowRider has been a signature attraction for Royal Caribbean guests since 2006, and now, the most famous name in stationary surfing can be found onboard Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world. WhiteWater is a trusted supplier for Royal Carribean’s future ships. To date, it has supplied 24 FlowRider Doubles across 20 Royal Caribbean vessels to provide both enjoyment and spectator appeal. 

“It’s an absolute privilege to be able to work with these ambitious clients,” says Onno Meeter, WhiteWater’s president, Water Parks. “Our teams thrive on challenges such as those that these award-winning projects presented. Groundbreaking parks like Meryal give us the opportunity to find innovative solutions that drive the attractions industry forward.”

Doug Smith, global head of sales, says: “The Leading Edge Awards showcase the collaboration of suppliers, designers and clients to create these exceptional projects. They are located in different corners of the world and vary in size and scope, yet they all show a very high level of creativity and dedication. Congratulations to all the teams!”

WhiteWater has won numerous Leading Edge Awards in recent years, for projects which include:

• Studio City Water Park, indoor, Macau SAR, China (2023)
• Island Waterpark at Showboat Hotel, Atlantic City, New Jersey (2023)
• Pirate Cove Aquapark on board MSC Seascape (2023)
• Water World Ocean Park Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China (2022)
• Aqua Nick at NickelodeonTM Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya, Cancun, Mexico (2022)
• Wild Rivers, Irvine, California (2022)
• Baha Bay at Baha Mar, Nassau, The Bahamas (2022)
• Studio City Water Park, outdoor, Macau SAR, China (2021)
• “Tsunami Surge” Master Blaster at Hurricane Harbor Chicago, Gurnee, Illinois (2021)
• Parallel Pursuit at Nocatee Spray Park, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida (2021)
• “Turbo Shuttle” Orbiter water slide at Adventure Bay, OCT FABLAND, Xiangyang, China
  (2020)
• “Perfect Storm” slide complex onboard Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas (2020)
• Jungala Aqua Experience at Vidanta Riviera Maya, Mexico (2020)
• Island H2O Water Park, Kissimmee, Florida (2019)

Earlier this month, WhiteWater celebrated a successful IAAPA Expo Europe, where the firm was recognised with multiple awards. Additionally, it was announced that CEO, Geoff Chutter will serve on IAAPA’s Global Board 2025.