Polin Waterparks announces that it has been awarded one of the most prestigious honors in the amusement industry: a Brass Ring for Best New Product from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. IAAPA bestowed the award on Polin for its new Space Race waterslide, a first-of-its-kind waterslide that allows groups of riders to compete against one another. The annual award recognizes the best new product or service in the category of Water Park Ride/Attraction category in Class A (for products costing US$2 million or more).
The award was presented to Polin Waterparks during the IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, Florida, on Monday, Nov. 15.
Ali Cansun, Director of R&D of Polin Waterparks, said that achieving this award was monumental for the company: “Every waterslide we design begins with the belief that it should be more than just a compilation of features,” he explained. “Instead, we look at it from the perspective that it should be seriously simple in delivering fun yet entirely revolutionary in broadening the industry’s horizons – to go beyond the routine. A new waterslide’s structure and technology should be designed and engineered to work together and improve on one another. We believe that’s the only way to create a waterslide that is balanced and congruent.”
That approach is what led to the development of the Space Race, an advanced waterslide that delivers a uniquely competitive riding experience.
“Its invention fulfills a life-long dream of our company: To give guests the experience of competing in a true, real-life race with other riders within a bowl slide. The result of our efforts has been the creation of the first slide of its kind in the world,” Cansun added.
Engineering this waterslide meant approaching every element differently to ensure the slide’s engineering was not only revolutionary and breathtaking but also practical. Polin succeeded and developed a unique, streamlined design, distinctive entry tower and quadruple rafts.
The IAAPA Attractions Expo is the premier conference and trade show for the global attractions industry, and the 2016 trade show floor was the largest in the event’s 98-year history, surpassing the previous record of 568,800 square feet set in 2001. IAAPA Attractions Expo provides a platform for the industry’s newest, game-changing products to be announced, debuted, tested, tried, and purchased by influential global decision makers. More than 1,000 exhibiting companies, including nearly 200 first-timers, showcased innovations in 125 product categories.
The tradition of the brass ring, a term now synonymous with spectacular achievement, dates back to the 1800s. Rings were suspended above carousel riders – low enough for them to grasp but high enough to pose a challenge. Most rings were made of iron, but a few were made of brass, so grabbing the brass ring was a valuable treat. Skilled riders who grabbed a brass ring often earned prizes, including a free ride on the carousel.
The IAAPA Brass Ring Awards are similarly prestigious, marking achievements of excellence throughout the global attractions industry.
