Now Reading
2013/11.2, November 20 — Behind Disney’s Magic, Rocking a Pond, Olympic Vistas and more
SIGN UP
Dark Light

2013/11.2, November 20 — Behind Disney’s Magic, Rocking a Pond, Olympic Vistas and more


November 20, 2013 www.watershapes.com

ESSENTIAL

Riding a Golden Wave

Completing the fountain for Disney’s California Adventure theme park presented watershaper Dave Wooten and his company with immense technical and operational challenges: In crafting a huge artificial ocean wave that serves as the park’s symbolic core, he and his staff not only pushed the limits of hydraulic and mechanical design, but also met incredible standards for planning, performance and system serviceability set by an awesome client.

This article, originally published in September 2006, has been digitized for all readers. Click here to see the full text and enlarge the images to study the craftsmanship in detail.

PONDCRAFT 101

Rocking and Rolling

It may be fun to place rocks and boulders and watch a pond really take shape, says Eric Triplett, but as this detailed video attests, it’s also lots of hard work. What keeps him going, Triplett adds, is the fact that this part of the project is also a grand exercise in artful improvisation. [more]

TRAVELOGUE

Olympian Aspirations

Any trip to Atlanta, writes Jim McCloskey, should include a pilgrimage to Centennial Park for a long look at the Fountain of Rings — a monument to Atlanta’s spectacular hosting of the 1996 Olympic Games that’s been a great public gathering place ever since. [more]

WHAT IS IT?
#9: Leaf Cover

It’s not a glamorous detail, notes Mike Farley, but in many parts of the country at a certain time of year, a leaf cover can be a crucial part of the full pool/spa package. Here’s a video that shows their annual autumnal value — and how intricate these fabrications can become. [more]

WATERSHAPES WORLD

Paying It Forward

While at his booth during the recent International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo, Jim McCloskey met a young watershaper who had an unusually probing question about this digital newsletter on his mind — and, it turns out, plenty of ambition to go along with it. [more]

PLATINUM REFLECTIONS

At Play in the Fountain of Life

Extraordinary scope and logistical coordination: That’s what the design, engineering and construction of ‘The Fountain of Life’ project was all about. But that was only part of the story, says Eric Dobbs, with playfulness, whimsy and a blistering desert sun having their roles, too. [more]

 © Alain Lacroix | Dreamstime.com

WHAT’S NEW?

Now at WaterShapes.com . . .

While supplies last, you can purchase one of 7 available complete, mint-condition, 131-issue sets of WaterShapes, a print publication that set the tone for development of the art and craft of watershaping from February 1999 until July 2011. For ordering information, click here!

The Poor and Women Need Not Apply, but . . .
Swimming Is All the Rage for
Some in Kabul, Afghanistan

[more]

WATERSHAPES CLASSIC

Nature’s Way

Back in November 2008, Brian Van Bower turned his attention to the natural side of watershaping — and elaborated on a familiar set of constraints he encountered along the way. [more]

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Michael Phelps Doesn’t Want
Anyone to Compare Him to . . .

Many water-related stories have been in the news of late – including reports connected to the three questions below.

1. Michael Phelps passed the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency drug tests he took in the third quarter of 2013, opening the possibility of his return to competitive swimming. According to olympictalk.nbcsports.com, Phelps was quoted as saying: “If I decide to keep going and swim again, then I’ll compete. If I don’t, I guess I’ll re-retire. Just don’t compare me to ____________.” Fill in the blank with the correct name.

a. Floyd Mayweather b. Brett Favre c. Lance Armstrong d. Michael Jordan.

2. Washingtonpost.com | The Associated Press reports that Ryan Lochte will not compete in next month’s Duel in the Pool swim meet in Glasgow, Scotland, due to a physical injury. What part of his body was injured?

a. Left knee b. Right elbow c. Left ankle d. Lower back.

3. The usnews.nbcnews.com web site notes that a giant sinkhole in one Southern state swallowed (among other things) one homeowner’s entire backyard pool. What state?

a. Alabama b. Louisiana c. Mississippi d. Florida.

To find out how many you got right, click here.

View Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

© 2021 WaterShapes. All Rights Reserved. Designed Powered By GrossiWeb

Scroll To Top