Polin Waterparks and Pool Systems’ King Cobra waterslide at Aqualand Frejus has been 
named “Best Waterslide in Europe” for the second year in a row by Kirmes & Park Revue magazine at the Euro Attractions Show (EAS) in Paris. The awards recognize "entrepreneurial courage" and "exceptional innovation" and are voted on by an international team of experts.
(See image above right: Sohret Pakis, Director of Marketing and Communications, Polin and Wilfrid Lelandais, General Manager, Aqualand Frejus receiving the award at EAS.)
Polin has also received the "Most Innovative Product" in the entertainment category of the Turk Kompozit 2013 Composites Summit. Organized and sponsored by the Turkish Composites Manufacturers Association (TCMA), the award honors the latest technological products and developments in the Turkish composites industry, a business sector that is currently one of the 10 largest in Europe, having grown about 10 percent in the last few years.
(Above: Dr. Baris Pakis, President, Polin receiving the award at Turk Kompozit 2013 Composites Summit)
Bilge Pakis, Design Manager for Polin, believes that the King Cobra’s success is due to a number of factors:
- High capacity ride: "It has truly been a game-changer. For one, King Cobra is a high-capacity ride. It accommodates two double tubes, so four persons can ride simultaneously."
- Interactive attraction. "Riders experience the thrill of competing with one another as they race through the slide's twists and turns."
- Strong visual impact and spectator appeal: "It also incorporates many special effects. Specifically, as riders slide into the bowl of the cobra, they activate sensors. These instruments kick-start a variety of high-tech surprises designed to heighten the attraction's excitement, such as unexpected spurts of water, the chilling sound of a snake's hiss and adrenaline-pumping light effects. It's a thrilling experience.”
- Creative theming: "That integrated theming is what has truly made the ride so popular. In fact, this waterslide was the first to offer a theme built directly into its fiberglass design. Even more impressive about the slide, however, is that it is not limited to its widely recognized reptilian look. That flexibility is increasingly important because today's discerning customers expect uniqueness and variety in their amusement park experience.”
