Slide the City could return to Kamloops next year

KAMLOOPS – Even after less than perfect execution, Slide the City could return next year.

“We haven’t set our calendar for 2016 yet, but we’re definitely not brushing anybody off the table,” Rachel Thomas, an event director with Slide the City, says.

Thomas acknowledges the event began an hour behind schedule. This led to major congestion of the lines and added wait times, especially for those who showed up an hour before the event began. All totalled, some sliders waited in line for three hours.

Thomas says the organization made the decision to shorten the slide because they thought Hillside Drive was too steep. Changing the length of the slide and needing to refill the catch basin at the bottom of the slide where it was losing water were the reasons for the delays.

After the initial setbacks the event got back on track and wait times down to 15 minutes by day’s end, she says.

“I spoke with triple sliders in line around noon who had gotten their three slides in in two hours,” Thomas says, adding in most cities an average wait is 30 minutes.

Even after a successful finish, she realizes it was a hard start. Slide the City has agreed to refunds for Kamloops sliders who were not satisfied with the event.

Sliders are asked to email info@slidethecity.com. Thomas says sliders can expect a response in 48 hours and up to seven business days for their money back.

“If they meet our requirements they could be back next year,” chief administrative officer David Trawin says, adding permits would be approved as long as requirements are met. 

Tranquille Fresh Farms, was responsible for bringing Slide the City to Kamloops but did not benefit financially from the event.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dana Reynolds at dreynolds@infonews.ca or call 250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.