Patent ID: 7066821

Claim:
A waterslide comprising: a sliding course for riders proceeding from a higher elevation to a lower elevation; at least one water pooling area along the course, wherein water at The pooling area accumulates by gravity to a depth providing fluid drag for slowing the riders when encountering the water pooling area; wherein the sliding course is subdivided into lanes at said pooling area, and wherein a rider encountering the pooling area can displace water from a respective one of the lanes, to a level less than a level of water in another one of the lanes; at least one flow conduit coupling between the lanes at The pooling area, the flow conduit carrying a flow between the lanes in the pooling area, whereby the levels of water in the lanes of the pooling area are better equalized; wherein the pooling area is disposed at an end of the sliding course as a splash down area; wherein the pooling area continues to a drainage end having an elevation normally defining The level of the water therein, and wherein arriving riders sweep water from the pooling area over the drainage end; and, wherein the pooling area has a bottom contour that slopes upwardly toward the drainage end.