Waves Should Be Rolling Soon After Spring Break Shadle Pool Was Supposed To Have The Maxawave System Last Year

Thu., Feb. 4, 1999

By Kristen Kromer kristenk@spokesman.com

Though Shadle Pool was scheduled to get wave action by the end of last year, right now all the waves being made are by freestylers and backstrokers.

But fear not, wave lovers: Shadle Pool should be rocking by the time spring break ends in April.

Hal McGlathery, the city’s recreation services division manager, said the new MaxaWave system hit a snag during the review process since there are currently no regulations written for it.

“Modification of any public pool has to be approved by the state,” he explained.

There are regulations for public pools without wave action and for wave pools like those found at aquatic parks.

“But this system is brand new,” McGlathery said. “(The state) has to interpret between the two standards.”

With the flip of a switch, the MaxaWave system provides rocking waves, like those found on a choppy lake. It does not create big, breaking waves.

The system comes with a portable, sectional 2-foot wall that surrounds the pool while the waves are on and prevents water from sloshing onto the pool deck. The whole wall can be dismantled in about 15 minutes if, for example, the swim team wants to practice with starting blocks.

Sections of it can be taken down in just a few minutes to provide access for those who have trouble stepping over the barrier.

The waves will provide realistic conditions for kayak, scuba and triathlon training, as well as for learnto-swim programs.

“With all the lakes in this area, it’s a real advantage for people learning to swim to get used to those conditions,” McGlathery said.

For those who like bouncing around on inflatable rafts or tubes, waves also mean fun.

“It will definitely increase the play value of the pool,” McGlathery said.

And that probably means increased revenue. Though pools are increasingly expensive to operate, McGlathery said the city is committed to offering free swimming in the summer to youth 18 and under.

“We see this as a chance to increase the value of the pool,” said McGlathery. “It’s a chance to demonstrate that pool facilities can be used for more than just swimming.”

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