Ad for the World’s Tallest Waterslide Will Make You Feel All Woozy and Weird

When you think of Kansas City, you don't think death-defying, super-fast waterslides. Actually, I'm not sure what you think when you think of Kansas City. But pretty soon you'll think Verrückt, a gigantic waterslide opening soon at the Schlitterbahn water park.

The Herculean teaser below for the larger-than-life, 17-story coming attraction has the works—the dirt battle field in which the slide was constructed, arial camera shots, dramatic title cards. But what really drives this virtual tour is the sensational score. It almost makes you feel like you're nervously peering over the edge and your best friend sneaks up behind you and gives you a good scare.

Verrückt—translated from the German, meaning "insane"—opens Memorial Day weekend and is billed as the world's tallest waterslide. It's taller than the Niagara Falls! And indeed, its 17 stories make a mockery of the previous record holder, the Brazilian waterslide Insano—see a naming pattern here?—and its measly 14 stories. (Insano definitely has the better email marketing, however.)

Schlitterbahn co-owner Jeff Henry says Verrückt riders will reach speeds faster than 65 mph. So, you and three friends—it's a four-person ride—can finally embark on the journey of a lifetime. Which will probably last 30 seconds. But hey, if you count the waiting in line and the terrifying climb up all those stairs. You might actually consider it a journey.

Also check out a parody movie poster for the ride, posted below.


    



Abandoned Amusement Parks

Continuant leurs séries sur les lieux abandonnés, c’est aujourd’hui aux parcs d’attractions que Andreas, Reginald Van de Velde ou Chris Luckhardt se sont attaqués. Ils photographient avec nostalgie ces endroits autrefois voués au divertissement et aujourd’hui flétris, sur lesquels la nature a repris ses droits.

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Riding the Roller Coaster With Your Mouth Open Isn’t a Great Look, Theme-Park Ad Reminds

It's a shame what powerful G-forces will do to one's face. The latest reminder of this comes in new ads for amusement park Cedar Fair by Cramer-Krasselt in Chicago. The flappy, wind-crushed faces will also appear on out-of-home boards and in print—the actors' visages frozen in a clown-like rictus of fun, allowing friends and family members to make fun of them for years to come. The ads are part of C-K's "Thrills Connect" campaign, which helped drive record season-pass sales for Cedar Fair in 2012. In related news, to see some of your favorite advertising people being pummeled in the face by high winds, click here.