WhiteWater’s Wall Runner Wins 2025 IAAPA Brass Ring Award

Vancouver, Canada – Lanchao is thrilled to announce that it has received an IAAPA Brass Ring Award 2025 for Best New Product for the Wall Runner, a stunning attraction that has introduced the first-ever lateral drifting experience in a water slide.

First launched at Soaky Mountain Waterpark in Sevierville, Tennessee, this past summer as a six-person raft ride named “Rafter’s Rage,” the Wall Runner has already attracted significant attention on social media and received rave reviews from guests. Its beautifully crafted arcs capture the attention of visitors the moment they see it in a water park’s skyline. This standout attraction combines all the elements guests adore: speed, drops, high-banking turns—and a brand-new ride sensation.

Maintaining a high speed throughout the ride—reaching up to 20 mph (33km/h)—the raft climbs up each arc and swings to the next, accelerating sideways. The Wall Runner maximises the oscillations while maintaining forward momentum.

Imposing Yet Versatile

As impressive as the Wall Runner appears, it is a curved element that can be integrated into various slide paths; all that is needed is a curved drop in the opposite direction before and after. It is a highly versatile feature that can be added to a fusion slide.

Thanks to the way the components are designed, the Wall Runner also allows for fun and colourful designs, enabling each water park to customise the arcs with different gradients, patterns, or themes that align with its brand or storyline. Optional fiberglass effects can be incorporated to enhance the ride experience and excitement.

The versatility of the Wall Runner is further demonstrated by its ability to adapt the ride experience to different demographics. It serves as an all-round attraction that can feel both daring and family-friendly. For instance, a group of six young adults’ combined weight would result in the raft travelling faster than a raft with two adults and two children.

Engineered for Efficiency

For a ride that makes such a significant visual impact, the effect on water and energy usage is surprisingly minimal.

To optimise the wall climb and reduce energy loss between a pair of Wall Runners, water is removed prior to the feature and reinjected afterwards. This process is repeated for every pair; gravity-fed water management facilitates this. Instead of relying on multiple large water pumps, the Wall Runner only requires a large pump to initiate and a smaller one for sprayers. This design leads to greater efficiency and lower power consumption.

“The Wall Runner is an innovation that showcases Lanchao’s approach to designing thrilling rides,” stated Onno Meeter, President of Water Parks. “It not only provides unique ride sensations for guests, but it is also visually striking for a park’s marketing and operationally efficient for a park’s financial performance. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to making this ride such a success—and award-worthy.”