The world’s tallest and standalone inflatable water-slide is coming to Wollongong this summer and will be erected at the WIN Stadium end of Lang Park by December 16.
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The Big Wedgie is listed in the Guinness Book of World records for its size measuring in at 18.2 metres tall and more than 82 metres long.
The man behind the design, construction and roll out of The Big Wedgie in Adelaide and on the Gold Coast said the giant waterslide was not for the faint-hearted but it is accompanied by other other attractions to give thrillseekers options.
Designer, builder and creator Peter Rimington said the Big Wedgie had a 55 degree drop for people to slide down the four lanes and race each other in in soaking water.
Other rides are the Just Right Wedgie, The Little Wedgie and the latest attraction called the The Big Chucka which is a vertical free fall followed by an exhilarating 80 degree plunge before riders are catapulted through the air onto a giant inflatable pillow.
“You are tossed in the air and caught on giant fingers,” he said.
Mr Rimington said since he earned a Guinness World Record in 2015 he has continually improved the design and now has four Big Wedgies that operate in different parts of Australia.
When Wollongong’s Big Wedgie becomes operational and employs up to 40 people other Big Wedgies will be operation on the Gold Coast and in Adelaide where he also runs a water park. “This is our first time to NSW”.
Mr Rimington said he decided to come to Wollongong after visiting the seaside city and fell in love the with location.
“I spent three days there a month ago and it was really nice. Lang Park is a great spot with a nice flat oval and beautiful beach. The slides are so big we will take up a third of that park. We think we will drag a few people down from Sydney as well the surrounding areas of Wollongong. Even watching people ride Big Chucka and flying through the air is a lot of fun,” he said.
Mr Rimington said all the water used is filtrated and recycled.
The activities can accommodate more than 100 people at a time with the Big Wedgie’s four lanes able to handle four people every 20 seconds. Tickets start at three slides for $15, seven slides for $24, five slides on Big Chucka for $20 or 60 minutes of unlimited slides for $35 and can be booked online but are also being sold from a ticket booth onsite where is applications for up to 40 casual positions can be made during the bump-in from December 12 to 15.
The Big Wedgie and other rides will be in Lang Park until February 11 and will be open day including Christmas Day, Bowing Day and New Years Day.
Mr Rimington said Mark Sleigh and the team at Destination Wollongong had provided sensational support in bringing the Big Chucka to Wollongong.
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
