West Edmonton Waterpark - slides ok for non-swimmers?

[clem24]

I haven't been to the World Waterpark in ages so my memory jogs me on how the slides are laid out.. But do you need to know how to swim to go on the slides? IIRC, there was one slide that flushed you out like a toilet that required you to swim out (and I think that slide has been replaced). Otherwise all the other slides just dumped you out in waist high water no?

I am asking because I am thinking of taking my 5 year old and possibly my almost 3 year old (both can't swim) to the Waterpark.

[ercchry]

the toilet bowl slide is still there... but yes. its the only deep water one. but depth is all relative to height... a 3 year old is not going to be finding themselves in any knee or waist deep water. you also hit the water off balance and with some good speed.

they do have that mellow adventure tube thing on the other side though. that would probably be fun for the kids.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Some slides dump you into pools and some don't.

[JfuckinC]

Get them kids in some lessons! Kids that don't know how to swim miss out on all sorts of shit as they get older. 2 of my roomates can't swim and houseboating sucks for them when everyone else is swimming/rafting the lake.. They can still do it, they just have to rely on floaties lol...

[GS430]

As embarassed as I am to say it, I can't swim.

There are plenty of slides that you just kinda' cruise into a shallow area of water. They should be fine for the majority of them, if anything just ask the life guards or people working there.

Definitely don't take them on that toilet bowl thing.


Have fun!

[FraserB]

Most exit to a ~4' pool. There is the one exception which is the round one that drops you out the bottom (10' deep) and several the are just a trough at the end.

Go on the vertical drop ones for sure and the loop. SO CRAZY.

BTW: They will let a caretaker be at the bottom of the slide to help their kid out.

[ercchry]

that loop one is awesome! i also like how all of the crazy ones now have that pod that drops the floor out on you. really speeds up the line since you have no choice but to go once they lock you in

[FraserB]

The purple and yellow ones that are an 80* drop are awesome and there is never a line.

I went down the double purple one where you catch air, went down the yellow 80* drop, walked back up and then went down the purple 80* drop all in the time it Tomco to go down the one where you sit on the little sled and down the long chute.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

The loop one scares the shit out of me because its like I'm drowning, the skimming one is awesome, so many ways to screw around on that one.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[msommers]

[GS430]

Originally posted by Sugarphreak
I never met somebody who can’t swim until I moved to Alberta, lol.

Hey man I was born just off the Adriatic, and I can't.

It's a fear of drowning

[Sugarphreak]

...

[msommers]

I think it's more a present-time thing. When I went to school, we all were basically forced to take swimming lessons. There isn't one person I know other than my Grandma who doesn't know how to swim.

I feel like there is so much liability bullshit happening these days, schools are less willing to do stuff like that. Do most kids even go on field trips now?!

[Mibz]

I had to take swimming lessons in school, also at summer camp. Still can't do it :P

[ercchry]

learning to swim in an actual lake vs a pool suuucked... im surprised i still like going near the water after that

but to be fair, i do not swim for leisure. more so out of necessity for the things i enjoy about the water

[KRyn]

I don't understand how people "can't swim", all you do is thrash about in the water and you are swimming.


As mentioned, with the exception of a few slides you don't need to know how to swim to enjoy the West Ed water park.

[clem24]

Sweet, thanks for the info! Ya my kids will be in swim lessons at the end of this month. I was forced into swim lessons from elementary through junior high for phys ed.

I can swim, though not very well. At least I have enough confidence in my abilities that I do go snorkeling in the ocean. One thing I still can't do is tread water. But yah, swimming is definitely only necessary for stuff I like to do in the water, never for leisure. I was so bad in swim lessons that I remember I was stuck in like either the lowest or second lowest color (orange, yellow?) for years!! I was literally in the same lessons as beginners/kindergarteners after 3 or 4 years!!! I think they finally let me move on (red?) after a few years cause I was just simply too old, not cause I actually passed. That was embarrassing.

[dj_patm]

Originally posted by KRyn
I don't understand how people "can't swim", all you do is thrash about in the water and you are swimming.

Thats my mentality too... I'm not trying to be mean I just don't understand not being able to swim. I can see being afraid of it but there's nothing to "know" really... Kick your legs and move your arms so that you push water away from the direction you're going... you're swimming?

[GS430]

Originally posted by dj_patm


Thats my mentality too... I'm not trying to be mean I just don't understand not being able to swim. I can see being afraid of it but there's nothing to "know" really... Kick your legs and move your arms so that you push water away from the direction you're going... you're swimming?

hahah hey it baffles my mind too. I'm athletic and everything and it just doesn't click for me.