Schlitterbahn Galveston Island’s record-breaking Massiv watercoaster has been named winner of this year’s Leading Edge award at the World Waterpark Association’s (WWA) annual symposium and trade show.

Opened to the public in July, the 25m (81ft) tall watercoaster in Galveston, Texas, holds the world record of tallest waterslide.

Incorporating traditional rollercoaster elements into a waterslide, the 282m-long (926ft) slide is double the length of any other ride at the Schlitterbahn waterpark, featuring multiple drops and three uphill shoots, which have been engineered by manufacturer WhiteWater West to make the slide more economical and efficient.

“A ride as epic as Massiv requires a lot of power to propel riders up and over its many peaks and valleys,” said a WhiteWater statement.

“In the past, the jets used to power guests uphill would have been continuously on, pumping water non-stop, resulting in an inefficient use of power and water.

“WhiteWater solved this by using variable frequency drives and a proprietary control algorithm to dynamically adjust pump speeds while the ride is in operation.

“WhiteWater’s collaboration with Schlitterbahn has made the game-changing technology behind Massiv possible. Thanks to our teamwork, waterslides and waterparks have become more sustainable and economical.”