Water ride has patrons flashing while splashing

HERSHEY, Pa. — Hersheypark's Waverider is designed to "knock your socks off," as park spokeswoman Kathy Burrows said.

But as it turns out, socks aren't the only thing that can be knocked off by the boogie-board ride down a wide, two-lane slide with water shooting up its incline.

"The water will rip off your bathing suit," said Chelsi Ball, of Cincinnati, after she fell off her board, was hurled into a padded wall and felt her top and bottom pulled askance.

How often does that happen?

"All the time," said one lifeguard who was working when Ball, 18, wound up splashing and flashing about a dozen people in line for a turn on the slide.

One out of every five riders loses some part of their swim wear, the lifeguard said.

When it happened to Ball, a Hersheypark lifeguard threw a blanket over her, shielding her from those behind her in line.

"You wouldn't notice it unless you were looking for it," Burrows said of the blankets, strategically placed on both sides of the ride. "It's a courtesy thing. We don't want anyone to be embarrassed or feel awkward, especially a small child."

The ride is featured in about 65 parks around the world. It pumps water from a pool up an incline. A rider who falls off the boogie board — a small surfboard — is hurled up the soft-surface incline by the water's force and thrown into a padded wall at the top of the attraction.

Warnings posted around the attraction describe a "very strenuous ride" with "very turbulent water."

Potential bathing-suit blunders are ninth on a list of warnings that include wearing "proper swim attire" and "no jewelry."

"The flowing water may pull off bathing suit tops, bottoms and loose clothing. Cover-ups are recommended," the sign reads.

"Depending on who sees me ride this, I might get to go home with somebody," quipped Drew Tress, 18, of Baltimore. "So the bathing-suit thing is a risk I'm willing to take."

Tyler Oleskowitz, 14, of Lancaster, said she paid attention to the warning.

"I thought about riding it," she said, clutching her pink string bikini top. "But not in this suit. I'd be a little nervous."