PICTURE GALLERY & VIDEO: The Bestival-supported Ryde Slide event drew in the crowds in their thousands yesterday (Sunday) with over 300 riders slipping and sliding some 200m down Union Street, all in aid of local charities.
Bestival curator Rob Da Bank was the first rider down the slide at 11:00, on what is believed to be the longest road water slide in the country, possibly the world. Proceedings were started by Ryde’s Mayor, Roi Milburn.
What started as a tweet from Ryde businessman and Councillor Wayne Whittle became a real success for the town as the crowds flocked to see the spectacle on the Isle of Wight for the first time. Naturally those involved in the event tried the slide out for themselves, with Rob Da Bank pictured above and Wayne Whittle to the right both enjoying the experience.
The event saw children and adults alike jump on lilos throughout the day and zoom down what is normally one of Ryde’s busiest roads in front of onlooking crowds both sides of the road. Thrill seekers were invited to donate £5 for the chance of being allocated a ride over a period of 3 weeks.
Ryde Inshore Rescue, The Waterside Pool, Ryde Arena and Aspire Ryde will all benefit from the monies raised, which is anticipated to be at least £5000.
HSS Hire in Newport supported the event by arranging all traffic management, sandbags and barriers whilst local firefighters from the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service filled the slide with water and continued to blast water at riders throughout the day.
There are now calls for the event to return even bigger and better in 2016 and as the saying goes… ‘Where there’s a Whittle there’s a way!’. The slide will return to the Island in September at Bestival.
You can see all the photographs from yesterday’s event below. If you would like to purchase a copy of a photograph email [email protected], with a suggested donation of £5 to the event.
VIDEO:
(Point of View thanks to Tanya Rock)
PICTURE GALLERY:
