Wildebeest is a water slide

Water slide

A water slide is a type of slide designed for warm-weather or indoor recreational use at water parks. Water slides differ in their riding method and therefore size...

 currently operating at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is a family owned and operated combination theme park and water park, located near Interstate 64 and U.S. 231 in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. The theme park is divided into four sections that celebrate Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July with...

 in Santa Claus, Indiana

Santa Claus, Indiana

Santa Claus is a town in Carter, Clay and Harrison townships, Spencer County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana, between Interstate 64 and the Ohio River. The population was 2,041 at the 2000 census.Santa Claus was established in 1854...

, since May 7, 2010. Manufactured by ProSlide

ProSlide

ProSlide Technology is a Canadian manufacturer of water rides and water park resorts. They manufacture both traditional slides and innovative rides such as water coasters with conveyor belts, funnel-shaped Tornado slides, and Bowl slides...

, Wildebeest is currently the world's longest water coaster at 1710 feet (521.2 m) in length since it opened in 2010. The record will be taken away when Mammoth

Mammoth (ride)

Mammoth is a water slide currently under construction at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus, Indiana. Manufactured by ProSlide, Mammoth will be the world's longest water coaster at in length when it opens in May 2012.-History:...

 another ProSlide water slide opens in 2012 at the same park, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari.

History

On June 8, 2009, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari announced that in May 2010, they will open the World's Longest Water Coaster in Splashin' Safari, it will also will be the second-largest attraction added to the park. On August 13, 2009, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari announced the name of their addition Wildebeest, a ProSlide Hydromagnetic Rocket for their 2010 season. On May 7, 2010, Wildebeest opened to the public as the world's longest water coaster at 1710 feet (521.2 m) in length.

On August 3, 2011, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari announced the addition of a second ProSlide Hydromagnetic Rocket, Mammoth

Mammoth (ride)

Mammoth is a water slide currently under construction at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus, Indiana. Manufactured by ProSlide, Mammoth will be the world's longest water coaster at in length when it opens in May 2012.-History:...

, scheduled to open for their 2012 season. The ride will be 53 feet (16.2 m) longer than Wildebeest taking over the title of the world's longest water coaster. Mammoth is expected to open by May 2012.

Ride

Riders board one of 14 seated tubes which each sit 4 people, then the ride will begin on a conveyor belt

Conveyor belt

A conveyor belt consists of two or more pulleys, with a continuous loop of material - the conveyor belt - that rotates about them. One or both of the pulleys are powered, moving the belt and the material on the belt forward. The powered pulley is called the drive pulley while the unpowered pulley...

 lift to a height of 64 feet (19.5 m). On a 45 degree angle the ride then drops 38 feet (11.6 m) before navigating a 1710 feet (521.2 m) long course of seven drops and electromagnetic powered hills.

Technology

Wildebeest is a ProSlide Hydromagnetic Rocket. Hydromagnetic Rockets rely on Linear Induction Motors

Linear motor

A linear motor is an electric motor that has had its stator and rotor "unrolled" so that instead of producing a torque it produces a linear force along its length...

 (LIMs) to power rafts up hills. A large magnet is located on the underside of the raft to make this possible. Linear Induction Motors are very popular with steel coasters

Records and awards

Before Wildebeest opened on May 7, 2011 and became the Longest Water Coaster in the world at 1710 feet (521.2 m), Black Anaconda at Noah's Ark Waterpark had the record from 2005 at 1320 feet (402.3 m). Wildebeest also was presented the Golden Ticket Award from Amusement Today

Amusement Today

Amusement Today is a monthly periodical featuring articles, news, pictures, and reviews about all things relating to the amusement park industry, including parks, rides, and ride manufacturers. The magazine, which is based in Arlington, Texas, USA, was founded in 1997 by Gary Slade and Virgil...

for Best New Ride (Water Park

Water park

A waterpark is an amusement park that features waterplay areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spraygrounds , lazy rivers, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and barefooting environments...

) in 2010 and also won the Best Waterpark Ride in the world in 2010 and 2011.

Golden Ticket Awards: Best Waterpark Ride
Year	2010	2011
Ranking	1	1