Venue: Sandcastle Water Park (Blackpool)
Who Went: Just me
N.B. Any use of "today" in this report means Friday 1 April 2016.
Rationale for Trip
As some of you may have gathered, I enjoy water parks, including Splashdown at Tower Park, Poole and Sandcastle Water Park, Blackpool. Having travelled to Blackpool during the afternoon of Thursday 31 March for the RCCGB Blackpool Bash 2016, Friday daytime was an ideal opportunity for me to visit Blackpool's Sandcastle Water Park.Welcome to Sandcastle Water Park
Just like Blackpool Pleasure Beach the rest of the weekend, it was only a short walk from the hotel where I stayed to Sandcastle Water Park. I got there just before 11:00. At the reception I paid the extra £6.25 for a Hyperzone wristband, which covers the Master Blaster, Sidewinder, Montazooma and Aztec Falls.In the Pool Area
Once past the foyer, bar and changing rooms, the water park itself is vast. Since this was my seventh visit to-date, I remembered the layout quite well. When I entered the pool area approximately 11:20, I began with Master Blaster.Master Blaster
One of the four Hyperzone slides, this requires use of a tyre. When I approached the tyre collection point I obtained a tyre almost immediately. However there was a rather lengthy queue upstairs, which tailed back on to the bridge over the wave pool, but I didn't mind waiting. Master Blaster is 250 metres in length and seems to go on for ever; there are several uphill sections. Part way along, you go through a tube slide, which exits the building, spirals around and re-enters the building. That's the blue spiral tube you can see sticking out of the left front corner of the building. Towards the end there's a final climb and a very steep final drop into the landing tray. Altogether a thrilling ride, one of the best in the water park, and worth the wait. For now I limited myself to just one go.The launch point for Master Blaster has a label on its side with the following information:
Aqua Leisure International
Master Blaster Ride
Commissioned April 2006
One important question: the Master Blaster is described as a rollercoaster water slide, in fact it claims to be the world's longest indoor rollercoaster water slide, but does that mean it's a rollercoaster or not?
Montazooma
One of the two Hyperzone slides which opened in February 2012. This slide requires a special mat with handles and a curved front. On this occasion I was able to collect a mat without having to queue. Having collected a mat, I had to go up some steps, into a tunnel which had some special effect at the entrance, through the tunnel and up several flights of stairs to the top of a tower which was built when the Montazooma and Aztec Falls slides were installed. As I neared the top, there were two queues: one for Montazooma and one for Aztec Falls. The Montazooma queue was quite short at the time. When I reached the launch point I had to place the special mat, curved end facing forwards, on the slide top and lie on the mat head first on my belly, holding the handles at the curved end. Once launched I set off really quickly, and continued quite rapidly all the way to the end. Altogether a fun slide. Afterwards I enjoyed two more goes on Montazooma; I faced almost no wait for a mat at the bottom and only a fairly short queue for the launch point at the top of the stairs both goes.Aztec Falls
The other Hyperzone slide which opened in February 2012; this requires use of a tyre. There were a few other sliders queuing for a tyre, but I didn't have to wait long to get one. After that I had to go through the same tunnel and up the same stairs as I did for Montazooma. The Aztec Falls queue tailed back considerably further down the stairs than the Montazooma queue, but I didn't mind the wait. When it was my turn to slide I had to sit on my tyre (just like Master Blaster). This was so amazing, I went down a dark closed tube slide. Halfway down I entered a giant bowl, and was whirled at speed once around the outer edge, followed by once around the inner edge into another dark tube slide which took me the rest of the way to the slide exit. Another exciting ride, definitely worth waiting for. Afterwards I enjoyed two more goes on Aztec Falls; on both goes the queue for tyres at the bottom was quite short and the queuing time at the top was similar to on my first go.Sidewinder
One of the four Hyperzone slides, this requires use of a tyre. Bathers collect a tyre at the bottom and go upstairs to the launch point at the top. Once there one has to sit on the tyre and grip both handles tightly before being pushed over the edge by the lifeguard. There's a very steep drop (a long way down) into a ravine. Following the first drop, you go quite a long way up the other side, then down and back up the side you first came down, and so forth until you run out of momentum and grind to a halt at the bottom of the ravine, before exiting.At last I decided to give this a go. I managed to collect a tyre at the bottom almost as soon as I got there, but there was a queue for the launch point at the top. When it was my turn I felt nervous about going on this, and nearly chickened out. Determined to try it, I sat on my tyre and gripped the handles as tightly as I could whilst waiting to be pushed over the edge. Once launched I felt so frightened on the first drop I shouted "Oh my God". After the first drop I was worried about losing my tyre, and therefore maintained my grip on the handles as tightly as I could for the rest of the ride. At the end I admitted to the lifeguard collecting / issuing tyres I wasn't sure whether that go was a pleasure or a punishment in the aftermath of my accident on Sidewinder in 2014. She asked if that had put me off Sidewinder and I answered "Yes". Anyway one go was enough for me for now.
Now that I had been on all four Hyperzone slides at least once each, I tried some of the non-Hyperzone slides, starting with Treetops Water Chutes.
Treetops Water Chutes
A set of three wavy slides side by side, thus three sliders can race each other. Looking downhill from the top, the left hand slide is blue, the centre one is yellow and the right hand one is red. These were made by Aqua Leisure International, commissioned 2004. The waiting time for these was minimal if at all. I enjoyed these three wavy slides twice each in the following order: blue, yellow, red, blue, yellow, red.Duelling Dragons
Two fast closed tube slides, which are classed as White Knuckle Slides, but they're not part of the Hyperzone. The queuing time for these slides was generally quite short, sometimes one or two in front of me at the top but never very far down the stairs. I was hoping to go on both slides, but on this occasion only the right slide (as viewed facing the entrances from the top) was working; I enjoyed eight goes on it. The other Duelling Dragons slide (left slide facing the entrances at the top) was out of action all day.Thunder Falls Water Slides
Two water slides, one is blue and one is yellow. These are mostly open top, however there's a short covered bit on the yellow slide midway. Both are fairly slow and quite long, thus they give long, gentle, relaxing rides. The waiting time for these was quite long, about two thirds of the way down the stairs. Nonetheless I didn't mind waiting, and enjoyed both slides twice each in the following order: blue, yellow, blue, yellow.Master Blaster
Now for a few more goes on the rollercoaster water slide Master Blaster. I ended up having four goes. Each time the wait for a tyre at the bottom was minimal, if at all, but the queue for the launch point was quite long, sometimes tailing back as far as the bridge over the wave pool. On one of my goes, my tyre rotated part way along and I ended up travelling the rest of the slide backwards; going down the final drop backwards was really frightening. Thankfully I went forwards from start to finish on the other three goes.Montazooma
After that I walked across the water park for a few more goes on Montazooma. I ended up having four goes. Each time the wait for a curved mat at the bottom was minimal, if at all, but I faced a few minutes' wait for the launch point at the top of the stairs. Each go was great fun, and definitely worth waiting for.Aztec Falls
The obvious slide to go on next was Aztec Falls, I ended up having four goes. Each time there was only a short waiting time at the bottom for a tyre, but the queue for the launch point stretched some way down the stairs (considerably longer than for Montazooma). Nonetheless, each go was definitely worth waiting for.Thunder Falls Water Slides
Now for a few more goes on the Thunder Falls Water Slides. The queue for these was now quite short. I had four goes on each slide in the following order: blue, yellow, blue, yellow, blue, yellow, blue, yellow.Master Blaster
The final hour of opening was now well underway, so I returned to the Master Blaster, expecting to spend all the remaining opening time having as many goes as I could on it. This late in the day I was able to just take a tyre at the bottom. At the top the queue for the launch point was a fraction of its earlier length; it was now confined to the staircase leading from the upper floor to the Master Blaster launch point. I ended up having six goes on it, and each time I managed to face forwards all the way down.The lifeguard who was at the tyre issue / collection point for Sidewinder when I went on that earlier was now at the Master Blaster launch point, and she recognised me. Whilst waiting for one of my goes on Master Blaster, she asked me if I'd had any more goes on Sidewinder. I said my one go on it earlier was my only go so far this visit, but I'd enjoyed plenty of goes on other slides including Montazooma and Aztec Falls. She said I needed to get used to Sidewinder again, as I might like it again, just like I used to.
As I left Master Blaster I momentarily considered trying Sidewinder again, but as I passed Sidewinder I felt too nervous to go on it, and instead fancied a few more goes on Montazooma and Aztec Falls.
Montazooma
When I got to the mat collection point at the bottom of Montazooma, I was able to take a mat without having to wait. The queue at the top of the stairs was now very short. Having enjoyed one go I was able to keep my mat to have a second go. After that, I resisted the temptation to have further goes on Montazooma so I could fit in a few goes on Aztec Falls.Aztec Falls
Without further ado I switched to the tyre issue point for Aztec Falls, and was able to take a tyre straightaway. The Aztec Falls queue at the top of the stairs was also quite short now. I ended up having two goes on Aztec Falls, and was able to keep my tyre between them. Although I was tempted to have further goes on Aztec Falls, I chose not to, in order to have a few more goes on Master Blaster, and perhaps also Sidewinder, before closing time.Sidewinder
At last I decided to be brave and try Sidewinder at least once more. I was able to collect a tyre from the issue point without having to wait. At the top, there happened to be no-one in front of me. Once again I was nervous about going on this. Anyway, I placed my tyre on the launch platform, sat on my tyre, gripped the handles very tightly and the lifeguard pushed me over the edge. I managed to remain quiet during the first drop, and subsequent rises and falls this time. At the end of this go, I felt like having a second go, and was able to keep my tyre. There was one other bather in front of me at the launch point, but when it was my turn, I sat on my tyre, gripped the handles and waited to be pushed over the edge. Once again I remained quiet on the first drop and subsequent rises and falls. These two goes weren't as bad as I'd feared, but I'm still not sure whether I really enjoyed them or not. Anyway I left Sidewinder after my second go.Master Blaster
It was now almost closing time, but I still managed to fit in three more goes on Master Blaster. I was able to just take a tyre from the collection point on my first go of this batch, and keep it between goes. Furthermore the queue for the launch point was now really short; at most the top few steps of the staircase from the upper floor to the launch point. My third go on Master Blaster was my final slide on anything for this visit; once that go ended, I gave up my tyre and headed towards the changing rooms.Due to my desire to have as many slides as possible, I missed a few non-slide facilities. Firstly I didn't go in the wave pool or swim around the Ushi-Gushi River Creek flowing river at all this time. One other attraction which I missed is the Caribbean Storm Treehouse. This is a play area with a number of features including water jets you can aim at other bathers, and a giant coconut which gradually fills and tips to spill its contents over you.
I finally left the pool area at 17:57 (it was due to close at 18:00). Whilst exiting the changing rooms and passing through the reception area I deliberately kept my hoody off so as to show my T-shirt which I had printed for my 44th birthday last September. A few other customers and a member of staff were mystified when they saw the front, until I showed the back. I finally left the building around 18:15. A few minutes later I returned to my hotel to prepare for the evening.
Summary of my day in order of activity
Master Blaster 1
Montazooma 3
Aztec Falls 3
Sidewinder 1
Treetops Water Chutes blue, yellow, red, blue, yellow, red
Duelling Dragons right slide (as viewed from the top) 8
Thunder Falls Water Slides blue, yellow, blue, yellow
Master Blaster 4
Montazooma 4
Aztec Falls 4
Thunder Falls Water Slides blue, yellow, blue, yellow, blue, yellow, blue, yellow
Master Blaster 6
Montazooma 2
Aztec Falls 2
Sidewinder 2
Master Blaster 3
Cumulative Summary of Slides
| Slide | Total |
| Aztec Falls | 9 |
| Duelling Dragons right slide | 8 |
| Master Blaster | 14 |
| Montazooma | 9 |
| Sidewinder | 3 |
| Thunder Falls Water Slides blue | 6 |
| Thunder Falls Water Slides yellow | 6 |
| Treetops Water Chutes blue | 2 |
| Treetops Water Chutes red | 2 |
| Treetops Water Chutes yellow | 2 |
| TOTAL | 61 |
Outro
Highlights
Re-riding the thrilling Hyperzone slides Master Blaster, Montazooma and Aztec Falls, plus other slides.High slide count.
Lowlights
Feeling nervous during each of my three goes on Sidewinder.Summing Up
Wow, a wet and wild day of water sliding in the UK's largest indoor water park in Blackpool, in Granadaland. By staying in all day, I certainly got my money's worth. Once again I managed to stay in until almost 18:00 without eating or drinking anything (apart from a cup of tap water mid-afternoon). Some lifeguards and other staff I spoke to late in the day were amazed I went that long without eating. My big breakfast around 8:30 set me up for the whole day. It's a pity I felt nervous again each time I rode Sidewinder, and ended up having just three goes on it all day. That used to be one of my favourite slides prior to my accident on it during my April 2014 visit. Is there any hope of me regaining my confidence on Sidewinder? Thankfully I still enjoyed enough goes on Master Blaster, Montazooma and Aztec Falls to make it worth paying the extra £6.25 for a Hyperzone wristband. If you've not yet been there, and you enjoy water parks, I strongly suggest you pay it a visit. In order to get your money's worth, I recommend staying in all day. Going in after the ERS on Sunday of the Blackpool Bash (i.e. around midday) may not give you sufficient time to do Sandcastle Water Park justice. Surprisingly I don't recall seeing anyone else from the RCCGB in there. Being as this was the Blackpool Bash weekend, I'd have thought a few other members who had arrived Thursday evening or Friday first thing for the Blackpool Bash would have taken the opportunity to spend Friday daytime at Sandcastle Water Park, especially riding the Master Blaster rollercoaster water slide.Back to the top
No comments:
Post a Comment