Photo TR: Gumball's Water Park Adventures!

[Angry_Gumball]

A quick background: Back in a wet and rainy April, I had scored some free tickets for both Raging Waters in San Jose and Waterworld in Concord. Both were trivia questions that waterpark/theme park nerds would be able to guess right away whether if it was a closeup shot/nerd shot of something, or a little history trivia (past attraction stuff). With this said, I won the tickets and they remained unused for most of this summer.

 

Finally, 8/19/12 I made it out to Concord for a little WaterWorld in Concord. My last visit there was back in the Six Flags days, 1 season before the park received its Tornado slide. So I've been a little overdue to getting out and visiting this place!

 

Starting off once we arrived, we decided to check out Tornado as I was really wanting to try this one out. This is my first ever Tornado experience and initially I figured it would not be much different than their Halfpipe slide or even CGA's Boomerango. Wrong! It is similar but definitely different at the same time! The slide provides a nice moment of airtime coming into that funnel whether you're going forwards, sideways, or even backwards (probably the most insane moment). I was lucky enough to hit that drop backwards and was quite shocked! The funnel itself flung our tube around and we made it pretty far up! It was quite awkward as the funnel 'closed in' on us as we reached the neck of it...just getting adjusted to the cold water, we're greeted with a nice, cold shower (perhaps needed after seeing CGA's Au13 construction from the previous day). We are then spat out of the funnel and go zipping across the catch pool at a decent pace.

 

Next on the list, and probably the park's most popular attraction, Big Kahuna family raft slide. The line also feels like it moves the slowest because as you head up the stairs, it splits. The loading platform has 2 sides to it and they alternate sides for loading...so really, the line you're in on your given flight of stairs is really double the length! Pretty mild ride starting off but as we got about halfway through the run, our raft was being flung about as I was getting walltime and airtime (only thing keeping me in was hanging on...much like our 5-man run on CGA's raft slide). My brother thought I was going to come crashing down on him

 

From there, since I was over on that side of the park, I wanted to give their halfpipe a shot. Last time I rode it, the rafts were 2-person only. Now, the slide is all single rider (which I like better actually!). I was given a Simpsons pink sprinkle donut innertube (WW was having some kind of promo) to use on the slide...pretty clever if you ask me Coming up to the top and getting seated in my tube, I'm given the all clear to go down. As much as I was facing forward, I somehow managed to turn completely around coming off that steep drop backwards! It completely caught me off guard for an "OMFG" experience. Was pretty fun, was definitely going to come back to that one later in the day.

 

Now, for the moment my brother was waiting for, before he had to leave (He was beginning to not feel too well) he wanted to make it a point that we go down the Cliffhanger speed slides. I've done one of these slides once and freaked me out quite a bit. With this said, I was very nervous. In the mean time I was telling myself that the drop is not much steeper than CGA's Boomerango and even the Halfpipe. Once we climbed the 70-foot swaying tower I was next in line...there's no turning back now...time to get this done! After almost stalling in the tube (my lightweight polyester shirt wasn't quite slick enough for the horizontal tube) and having to push myself along, the drop was there before I knew it. Next thing I know I'm sailing down followed by a nice, hard slam into the runoff...hurt my butt! The slide was not as terrifying as I remembered in the past, meaning I broke my fear!

 

From there I decided to check out the body slide complex, when I initially planned on trying out one of the open slides, wasn't quite ready for the enclosed/tube body slides yet. Sure enough I had last pick of the 4 of us who were next in line, leaving the enclosed slide my only option. While I could have opted out and waited for the next load, I decided to just try out the enclosed slides! What started off pretty gentle really picked up its pace towards the end, where the slide had a 'helix of death' before throwing you into the pool below. After that I realized that the enclosed tube body slides aren't all that bad/claustrophobic as I initially thought, it's just really dark and somewhat warm.

 

Next on my list was the "Typhoon" complex, which is a set of 4 inner tube slides where 3 of them are enclosed. I tried the open slide years ago and found it pretty tame...fun but quite tame. The enclosed ones on the other hand I found to be quite intense, throwing the tube about and producing some nice G's before sending you zipping across the catch pools. Another added effect that was not present last time I rode this (back in 2003) were some lighting effects. This was done by drilling a series of holes throughout the tube, allowing light to penetrate through, creating a cool, trippy effect.

 

Some of the other things I checked out were the lazy river and the wave pool. Both tend to have colder water compared to the river and wave pool at CGA. Also the waves here seemed to be a bit smaller than CGA's pool. I also attempted (and failed) at the lily pad crossing, pretty much did Wipeout after the second pad...the girl ahead of me was taking forever and I lost control and fell off

 

Now that I had pretty much done all the different slides, it was time to go back and revisit the slides once again. Being in love with Tornado, I did that 2 more times, and had to make way back to the Cliffhanger tower to revisit that one again, this time a bit less painful on the butt...however, my shirt went up in the back and I could feel the speed really picking up and the pressure washer-like spray going up the back...I ended up skimming across the runway quite a distance, creating a gentle spray as I skimmed across.

 

It was finally time to start drying off as the park was beginning to close and all in all had a pretty nice day at the water park!

 

I snapped a few photos during the day, and decided to do a little photo shoot at the end of the day while I was drying off...it was a bit hard to shoot photos using the face cam on my iPhone as it was in a Dry Pak bag (these are a must have if you tend to visit water parks a lot and want to keep your phone with you). Most of my photos show more or less what the park is like (didn't get everything unfortunately) but did snap some of the highlights. And Stay tuned for next Sunday when I wrap up this TR with Raging Waters, another Facebook contest victory!

This was as we were heading up the Cliffhanger tower.

My brother and I ready to take the plunge down the Cliffhanger slide!

These were the options on the Cliffhanger tower. I passed on the wavy, open slide...still have yet to try that one out. I hear it's quite rough on the back.

Almost up there!

Ssssklooooosh!

Yay, Pro Slide Tornado credit to be had!

Pro Slide stamp of approval...this is one of the 2-person "Whirly Wheel" rafts. Very interesting setup, riders sit facing opposite ways and was proving to be a challenge trying to get myself seated in it properly

Just goofing around.

Here's some of the park's other offerings...This is the Hurricane body slide complex. It consists of 2 open slides and 2 enclosed slides. These are the slides in which the students all decided to make a chain on back in 1997, causing sections to collapse, having several fatalities. Stupid GP...

Entrance and sign for the complex. You enter the same point for the Cliffhanger slides as well but split off after a few flights of stairs. Fortunately the stairs are wide enough you can skip past everyone waiting for the 4 lower body slides of death.

Helix of Hot Death! Awesome stuff!

The Typhoon slide complex. The slide whose exit is on the far right proved to be the most intense as it ends with a nice G-inducing helix before sending you across the catch pool. I also did the one that is second to the left which had a lot of 'snappy' turns.

The park's 'star' attraction, Big Kahuna. Do this one early, the lines will get long and seem to move a bit slow.

Random food area...Wind Jammer? (Begins thinking of Knott's Togo looper/racer coaster)

The view from the entrance. The water park sits right in the middle of the city and some office buildings, much like another bay area amusement park. However being inside the park is a nice escape from what appears to be a business and retail district.

Honolulu Halfpipe, fun slide! This slide is quite amazing, even though it takes a real small footprint. It is a little hard on the butt however as you can feel the seams on the slide...just gotta lift your butt up some.

Some random 'common sense' (or uncommon sense as I like to say) instructions on one of the slide's tubes.

Entering the park, you're greeted by some giant fountains, which all spill over into the park's lazy river below. There's actually an overhang you can go under in the lazy river and kind of 'hide out' behind the waterfall.

Since I couldn't find any printed park maps, snapping a photo of a giant map was the next best thing.

And that's a wrap, ending it with one of my favorite slides the park has to offer. Hopefully I can score some tickets from Facebook again soon!

Edited August 27, 2012 by Angry_Gumball

[Blue Fire Guy]

Great TR! Looks like you had fun losing your Tornado virginity there. I've got to visit this place someday to lose mine as well, it's just that I'm a bit far (south bay)!

 

Next on my list was the "Typhoon" complex, which is a set of 4 inner tube slides where 3 of them are enclosed. I tried the open slide years ago and found it pretty tame...fun but quite tame. The enclosed ones on the other hand I found to be quite intense, throwing the tube about and producing some nice G's before sending you zipping across the catch pools. Another added effect that was not present last time I rode this (back in 2003) were some lighting effects. This was done by drilling a series of holes throughout the tube, allowing light to penetrate through, creating a cool, trippy effect.

You'll notice the same effect on Great White when you ride it, it really is quite a cool touch!

Good luck with Bombs Away! That capsule drop scares the crap out of me every time, that one moment when my body suddenly falls...a definite "Oh poo-poo!" moment for me.

[Angry_Gumball]

Alright, I'm back with part 2, the final installment of this TR. I had just done Raging Waters for the first time in my life despite it being the original bay area water park and living in the bay area my whole life. I again had scored some tickets from Facebook way early in the season and decided I should probably go ahead and use them.

 

When I arrived, there was a slight hiccup, was supposed to get 2 tickets and was given 1. The lady at guest services was friendly and was able to get me taken care of immediately! After that minor glitch, our bags were checked and finally, a new water park credit to be had! First thing first, I had to change and get a locker to stash my stuff. After getting that taken care of, we headed straight for the Serpentine slides, a series of 3 slides where you ride single on an innertube. Each seem to have their own level of intensity. I first tried the orange one which I found to be quite snappy and almost flipped off my tube and almost turned backwards. As soon as my tube met the water I was flung off. Deciding to go back up again, I tried the pink slide where that one was more mellow...just a big lazy 's' winding its way down. Again, I was thrown into the pool rather than managing to stay on my tube.

 

From there, I saw that there was this small concrete slide that gathered some nice speed and lead into a slow lazy river type pool. One you're in the river, there are 2 smaller drops that eventually lead into the activity pool where you get out. Little did I know the final drop was coming behind me and when I hit the water, I did a backflip off the tube into the pool...did not expect that.

 

Next on our list while the lines were short was Dragon's Den, the park's Proslide Cannonbowl/Toilet Bowl slide where you ride on a 2-person tube. This was a great slide, very fast and we made probably 5 revolutions before cruising around the hub (and rotating 180 degrees) to come out backwards. Definitely a favorite!

 

Not far from the Toilet Bowl was Barracuda Blaster which is almost like a bobsled run. It can seat 2-3 riders and the line was minimal so I tried that. On the way up the tower, I can hear this 'Kerchunk' sound followed by a scream every 15 seconds or so. This would have been the neighboring Bombs Away slide. BB was a fun slide though 1 more rider could have made it more intensified! Still fun nonetheless.

 

Since I was right in that area, I gathered the courage to try Bombs Away! So up several flights of stairs I go, with that Kerchunk sound going off making me more nervous! With only about 5 riders ahead of me when I finally make it up, my turn is there before I know it! They were running this pretty quick! So into the casket-like capsule I go, cross my legs, hands behind my head. Next thing I hear is "Are you ready? 3-2-1 Bombs Away!" *thud!* and down I go! That moment of freefall left me speechless and was gone before I knew it. The rest of the slide, you're just flying around the horizontal loop (which felt like it went on forever) and finally speeding into the runoff! Yup, another favorite slide! And because there was nobody courageous to ride all day, it made for short lines!

 

Still on this end of the park making way back towards the front area, we had the Great White Shark slide to do. The slide is a 2-rider slide where you start off in an open air slide and make way into a shark's mouth and go through an enclosed tube (with some simple but effective lighting elements). When 'pooped' out the shark's back end as I like to say, you kind of land in this 'speed pool' where there are jets designed to push your tube along. Many riders often got a short boost but often would get stuck. My cousin and I just zipped right through with no problem. After a few more turns, it dumps you into the lazy river attraction where you ditch your tube and can enjoy the river or get out. The slide itself was fun, tamer of the bunch but still a fun slide! I like how it ends in the lazy river.

 

Right next to the "Sharktums" slide as we called it were the 2 body slides Blue Thunder and White Lightning. Blue Thunder features only 2 larger drops after a zippy but leisurely cruise leading up to it. White Lightning on the other hand I often got stuck on the windy part prior to the drops. When the drops came however is when the insanity began! This slide features a triple dip where that last dip leaves you airborne for a couple seconds before landing on the last bit of the slide before being slammed into the 3-foot pool! Good thing they had padding right below the chute ends. Later in the day I ended up shooting out across the pool some, requiring less of a swim/walk to the stairs.

 

After grabbing some lunch we decided to revisit everything again and wanted to try out the other/remaining Serpentine slides. Only needing to do the yellow slide, I decided to try that. The yellow slide is by far the most intense of the bunch as it features sharp snappy turns, and a double dip/big drop at the end. After riding this for the first time, I finally mastered the art of remaining on my tube and skim across the pool to the steps. I definitely had to ride this a couple more times. Also I decided to do a couple laps around their smaller lazy river. Nice thing is that you don't have to rent tubes, they're first come first serve and there were plenty of tubes to use!

 

All in all, it was a great first time ever at Raging Waters, checked out just about all of the attractions. I did not do the shotgun falls slides as I'm not the strongest of swimmers and would rather not panic a lifeguard if I 'appear to be struggling.' I can swim in 10 feet but would prefer not to make a lifeguard worry for a possible false alarm. Here's my slide count:

 

Serpentine Slides

Yellow:3x

Orange:1x

Pink:1x

 

Blue Thunder: 1x

White Lightning: 3x

Bombs Away:2x

Dragon's Den:2x

Barracuda Blaster:1x

Shark:1x

 

I also shot some video clips of us going down the toilet bowl, shark, and a couple of the Serpentine slides. I still have yet to get them uploaded to share but until then enjoy the photos!

We are now entering Raging Waters!

Entering the park, these slides are immediately to the left. Such a fun set of slides, don't underestimate them!

Mmmm...donut....

This park had some Simpsons promotion going on and had donut-themed tubes!

Dragon's Den, toiletbowl slide. Fun stuff!

Almost up there!

I see you Bombs Away, I will be there soon!

Bombs Away was built adjacent to the already existing Barracuda tower. Such a freaky slide to do! It almost feels like you're climbing into your coffin before you are dropped.

Barracuda Blaster

Next up was Great White Shark. This is where you are 'pooped' out of the shark and proceed into...

...this weird segment of the slide where initially it feels like it was meant to give you a boost but many rafts stalled just before it gets narrow again.

Yes, these were awesome!

I was probably a good foot above the slide in this photo. I felt a pretty hard 'thud' when I landed!

Skloosh! (Somewhere in that splash is me)

Bombs Away!

Being lazy in the lazy river, surfing the web/checking their Facebook

The lazy river hasn't been lazier...

Alright, getting ready to head out! Thanks RW for providing a nice, memorable summer Sunday!

My park souvenirs...I grabbed a few maps to have as backups incase one gets destroyed

Heading back, taking a quick cut up 101 and over to 880 to head back home to avoid traffic...Hello CGA, see you in a few days

[man]

You need to hit up golf land sun splash out in roseville one day. It is a good 4 hour drive I think and would probably require a weekend, but it is my favorite slide complex in cali that I have been to. A master blaster, a 5 story half pipe that leads out to a splash pool, 3 variations on funnels, 4 different raft slides, a racer lane I have yet to try, and a lot of other fun places.

 

Also how was bombs away? I was kinda bummed when it was announced it was a helix after they mentioned a loop. I am hoping its worth it and not a pain in the back.

 

Keep up the good PTRs!