WhiteWater Wins Five Leading Edge Awards at WWA Show

WhiteWater, a leading waterpark manufacturer, has achieved remarkable success by winning Leading Edge Awards for five of its projects at the World Waterpark Association Show held in Las Vegas, US.

The prestigious accolades were presented for the company’s outstanding 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 showcase a variety of exceptional features:

• Meryal Waterpark. This expansive park covers 60 acres and is themed to celebrate Qatar’s oil and gas heritage. With 69 activities available, it caters to all ages, offering everything from aquatic play areas for young children to exhilarating water slides for the adventurous.

  The Icon Tower has garnered significant media attention as the world’s tallest water slide tower, standing at 85 metres (278 feet) tall and featuring an impressive 12 slides. The park also includes three Abyss funnel slides, one of which is suspended 40 metres (131 feet) in the air, the Middle East’s first Walhalla, the world’s fastest six-person raft ride reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph), and the region’s first SlideWheel.

• Wilderness at the Smokies. To mark its 15th anniversary, Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville, Tennessee, unveiled a 3,716 square metre (40,000 square feet) expansion of its Wild WaterDome. A standout feature is the “Ridge Runner,” a three-story Master Blaster that introduces the first-ever Reverse AquaLucent effects, creating vibrant, hypnotic patterns across the translucent flumes.

  This innovative addition enhances the park’s atmosphere, allowing spectators to engage in the excitement while riders experience thrilling uphill blasts and heart-pounding drops at speeds of up to 46 km/h (29 mph).

• Aquascope. Futurocope in France has recently launched Aquascope, a new immersive water park that features Europe’s first aquatic cinema. The underwater-themed kids zone, “La Faille de Kraki,” includes a friendly octopus with slides for tentacles, along with AquaSplash and AquaSpray toys designed to spark children’s imaginations.
• Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park. The Rise of Icarus, the largest water slide tower in the Americas, debuted in 2024, following the introduction of its SlideWheel, the first in the Western Hemisphere, in 2022.

  Standing at 48 metres (160 feet), The Rise of Icarus is a vibrant landmark that narrates the story of a young man who flew too close to the sun. It features the tallest water slide in America, a High-Speed AquaTube known as “The Fall,” which 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 includes four additional body slides, offering a mix of thrilling and smooth ride experiences.

• Icon of the Seas. FlowRider has been a signature attraction for Royal Caribbean guests since 2006, and now, this renowned stationary surfing experience is available onboard Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world. WhiteWater is a trusted supplier for Royal Caribbean’s future vessels, having provided 24 FlowRider Doubles across 20 Royal Caribbean ships to ensure both enjoyment and spectator appeal.

“It’s an absolute privilege to collaborate with such ambitious clients,” states Onno Meeter, WhiteWater’s president of Water Parks. “Our teams thrive on the challenges presented by these award-winning projects. Groundbreaking parks like Meryal allow us to discover innovative solutions that propel the attractions industry forward.”

Doug Smith, global head of sales, adds: “The Leading Edge Awards highlight the teamwork of suppliers, designers, and clients in creating these exceptional projects. They are situated in various parts of the world and differ in size and scope, yet all demonstrate a remarkable level of creativity and commitment. Congratulations to all the teams involved!”

WhiteWater has received numerous Leading Edge Awards in recent years for projects including:

• 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 in 2025.