Waterpark design and manufacture firm WhiteWater West launched a “first-of-its-kind” slide during the IAAPA Attractions Expo, as well as an updated version of its Slideboarding product line.

Mat Blaster, which was recognised with an IAAPA Brass Ring Award, introduces two uphill elements and a 360-degree loop to the company’s traditional mat racing slide.

“WhiteWater has been making the Master Blaster for decades, and now we’ve taken that iconic ride experience and combined it with the engaging sensation of a mat ride to create a brand new attraction,” said Sean Hinton, president of WhiteWater’s waterparks and attractions division. “We’re giving park guests a completely new and unique feeling as they race up and down hills, headfirst on a mat, there’s no other ride like it on the market.”

The first installation of the Mat Blaster opened at Yinji Xinmi waterpark in Henan, China, in June 2016.

WhiteWater also unveiled its energy-efficient Smart Blast technology, which powers the uphill sections of Mat Blaster and other water coaster rides. Smart Blast reduces power usage by up to 50 per cent by tapping into the motors only while riders are travelling up the hill.

A new version of WhiteWater’s game-focused ride experience was presented during IAAPA, Slideboarding 2.0. The next-generation product, which won a Thea Award for Technology on a Limited Budget, has been upgraded to included in-ride help, tutorial videos and a lighter, more robust board.