M'sian theme park unveils world's longest 1.1km waterslide that lasts 4 minutes as CEO fed up with short rides

It's over 1km long.

Andrew Koay | September 26, 2019, 01:41 AM

If you've ever been on a waterslide and thought to yourself, "I wish that went on for longer", don't worry.

You're not alone.

That's exactly what Sim Choo Kheng, CEO of Sim Leisure Group, thought.

So what did he do?

He built the world's longest waterslide in Penang, Malaysia.

Frustration with short rides

The title of "world's longest tube water slide" was officially conferred on Sep. 25 by an official adjudicator from Guinness World Records, according to CNA.

At 1,111 metres, the slide — which is housed in the Sim Leisure Group-operated Escape theme park — smashed the previous record of 356 metres held by a German water slide.

However, Bernama reports that breaking the world record was never Sim's intention.

In fact, Sim is quoted by CNA as saying that "the idea of this water slide came about over frustration that most fun rides and water slides last merely a few seconds".

"Having the water slide start on a hilltop at a 70-metre elevation would make this ride last a good few minutes."

Sim added that riders can expect to go down the slide at a speed of less than 4.5 metres per second.

While this is slower than normal tube waterslide speeds of five to seven metres per second, it does mean that riders will get to enjoy a four-minute journey.

Environmentally friendly

AFP describes that journey as passing through a rainforest that houses exotic animals like birds and monkeys.

"Escape embraces the philosophy of promoting eco-literacy through fun, this water slide would ride guests through the jungle down the hill and all the way to the other side at the water park," said Sim, according to CNA.

The commitment to the environment even extended to the methods used in the slide's construction, which took place over eight months.

In order to minimise damage to the rainforest, the theme park avoided the usage of heavy machinery, using only basic equipment such as chain hoists and scaffolding.

The slide is expected to open to the public in the second half of October 2019.

Tickets which will give visitors access to all of Escape's 42 attractions at these prices:

  • RM147 (S$48) for visitors between the ages of 13 and 60,
  • RM97 (S$32) for children aged 4 to 13 and seniors above 61 years old

Top image via Sadiq Asyraf/AFP/Getty Images

 

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