Think you got the courage to ride something like this? Welcome to the new world of waterslides. In German, the word verrckt means “insane,” which is probably what you’d be if you decided to ride this ridiculously steep waterslide. Located at the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas City, Kansas, Verrckt was recently certified as the world’s tallest by the Guinness World Records at 168-feet and 7-inches. That makes it taller than the Niagara Falls and the Statue of Liberty! Verrckt requires four riders, who all sit in one raft. They shoot down a tunnel enclosed by a netting at speeds of up to 65 mph and then ascend back up a five-story incline before hurling back down another 50 feet. If it makes you feel any better, there are seat belts.
Here’s an interesting fact. Designed by Jeff Henry, a master at creating ridiculous waterslides, Verrckt’s tower is made from repurposed railroad track. The Travel Channel will show the building of Verrckt on June 29th, the same day the ride is set to open to the public. The program, which will be the season premiere of “Xtreme Waterparks,” will feature never-before-seen footage of what went into building the slide which includes behind-the-scenes testing and the very first time a human being dared to take the plunge.
On the Schlitterbahn blog, you’ll find more information including a post called Top 5 Misconceptions about Verrckt. “Is this a ride for everyone?,” it asks. “Absolutely not. I mean, is sky diving for everyone? If you’re afraid of heights or simply not a roller coaster enthusiast then you’ll probably want to sit this one out. Be sure to read the safety signs posted at the bottom before you decide to walk the 264 steps to the top.”
Verrckt website
via [Outside]