Boost for local waterpark after unexpected closure
Whitemill wake and aqua park, credit; Ryan Peacock
By Eve Kelly
Kent’s latest waterpark is back open and brings a new attraction the county hasn’t seen before.
Whitemills Wake and Aqua park in Sandwich has unveiled it’s state of the art newest piece of equipment, a pulley-based stunt course which allows wakeboarders to test themselves at new extremes.
The waterpark which recently opened in early July of this year has been very popular amongst locals across all ages but with the addition of this cableway it’s set to draw in a new demographic of skilled water thrill seekers looking for their next hit of excitement.
Wakeboarders will be able to experience high speed jumps and tricks across the course.
Featuring six high towers, all with individual pulls attached to them with grab handles at the end so as the sportsmen are pulled around the course they can thrust themselves over the ramps.
Employee at the park, Mr Ray told KentBuzz just how excited he was for people to try the cableway. “It’s such a thrill, you’re being pulled around the lake at such speed and flying over the ramps that as soon as you finish you want to get straight back out there again.”
This adventure isn’t purely for adults however, children over 110cm can have a go too. Mr Ray has been wakeboarding like this since he was 6 years old, “when I was kid I used to go on courses like this all the time, it’s great because it builds your confidence with the water within safety parameters so children and parents feel at ease. I just wish I had this on my doorstep when I was younger.”
Despite only being a few months old, the park has already faced pressure from the public after the site had to close for 6 days following a norovirus outbreak in the water of their main attraction around the inflatable climbing frame. Closing was a major blow for the team particularly in their peak time in summer.
A spokesman for the site said how “damaging this has been for the business but that they [management] are aware that these things do happen because you can’t avoid someone that’s infected getting into the water if they aren’t showing symptoms.”
The site was back open in just under a week and the water is tested regularly to make sure everybody is kept safe.
The park is set to be open until late December so there’s plenty of time left of 2022 to go and have a try at a new water sport before the park plans to close for January and February.
