Months prepared, yet an opening weekend full of pannes for plagued attraction of Bellewaerde, and that is mainly due to the strong sun (Ypres)

With the campaign ‘Amazonijaaa!’ Wanted the Ypres Bellewaerde Park to convince visitors that the much -discussed attraction has been working again since the unexpected closure on 1 August last year. After the opening of a year ago, boats got stuck in the half pipe, so that people had to be evacuated and the attraction regularly. After the closure, half a summer and whole winter were tinkered with the « world first » who cost the park 14 million euros.

Three interventions were implemented. At the top of the lift is an improved pump installed with more flow rate, creating extra stowage in the water and the boats get more speed towards Halfpipe. A guide angle has also been installed at the start of the half pipe, and the tires of the boats have been renewed and reinforced at the bottom. These three things together had to prevent a standstill and ensure that boats follow the perfect line.

« We have done everything, » the park management explained in the run -up to the reopening. « No half solutions, not fast fixes. Now we can say with full conviction: Amazonia is ready to offer visitors the ultimate experience. This time as it should be. »

Yet it went wrong occasionally in the past weekend. On Saturday, Amazonia began to falter shortly after the reopening, until a engine was completely out and dried up the water attraction. Anyone who was on a boat then was evacuated. After a few hours a reset followed. « The technicians have replaced a piece of the engine, » says Parkwormervanperman Filip Van Dorpe. « The Motoranne was caused by a short circuit. »

On Sunday around 6 pm, the Westhoek fire brigade was called to perform an evacuation with the climbing team. The intervention of the fire brigade turned out not to be necessary: ​​the occupants of Amazonia were able to get out without the help of the climbing team. « We had contacted the fire brigade as a precaution, » says Van Dorpe. « A lot of tests have been carried out in recent months. However, the strong sun of the past weekend can apparently ensure that dry places arise at specific locations on the steel surface of the half -pipe. Analysis of Sunday’s camera images shows this problem. With the necessary technical adjustments, the water flow and control thereof was no longer possible. »

Van Dorpe emphasizes that last weekend’s pannes are different from last year. “Toen waren de problemen puur conceptueel. De attractie werd afgelopen maandagvoormiddag nog uitvoerig getest en ging kort na de middag weer open. Normaal moet Amazonia vertrokken zijn, maar zeg nooit nooit. Door de complexiteit van de attractie blijven we hier en daar een beetje bijschroeven. We volgen alles goed op en weten dat het goedkomt. De ingrepen zorgen alvast voor een leukere beleving: het gaat sneller en er is meer splash. « 

The sun attracts a pack of people to the park, which opened its doors for a new season last weekend. « Even at the start of this week, the turnout is massive. That is positive after the opening of the park was completely widened for two years in a row. »

Also view. Much discussed attraction falls consider again at long -awaited reopening in Bellewaerde