Top Five Water Slides at Schlitterbahn Waterpark, New Braunfels, Texas

Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort in New Braunfels, Texas draws thousands of visitors year-round, many of whom that evidently have no compunction against standing in line for two hours for the country's lamest rides. And while the majority of the Schlitterbahn New Braunfels water slides might be complete busts, there are a few worthy rides scattered around Schlitterbahn's three parks that redeem themselves in fun and thrill.

A Few Tips Before You Ride

Footwear

Schlitterbahn New Braunfels is not your ordinary water park. Its peak season, June through August, is smack in the middle of New Braunfels' hottest, sunniest weather season. Thus, the pavement around the amusement park is piping hot.

Now, Schlitterbahn sells water shoes for this very reason, but you don't have to fork out an extra $20 per person just for a few hours of walking around the park. You can wear sandals with a back strap or even flip flops to keep your feet comfortable. Most rides allow for wearing the shoes on the tube. If you encounter a body slide whose rules don't recommend footwear, slip off the shoes and slide them through your hands or up your arms. Believe me, none of the slides are high thrill enough to make them slip off.

Swimwear

You'll see all kinds of swimwear throughout the park - one pieces, bikinis, monokinis, bikini tops with mens' trunks, T-shirts and cargo pants - you name it. Basically, wear what you're comfortable riding down water slides in. As long as you're clothes aren't tattered or filthy, just about anything goes.

That being said, dress smart. You're on a water slide. Don't wear the tiniest bikini you own. Wearing a tankini or one piece with a pair of shorts on top is a popular look at Schlitterbahn. Most importantly, don't wear anything that doesn't fit. While the tube slides likely won't relieve you of your swimwear, a few of the body slides just might.

Sunscreen

It doesn't matter if it's the beginning, middle or end of the season - always apply some sunscreen before hitting the slides. You'll be standing in line for heaven knows how long, and you don't want to be baking in the sun at the same time.

The Top Five Rides at Schlitterbahn

Now for the fun part - the best water slides at Schlitterbahn. You can basically skip the lines for anything else. Best of all, none of these have especially long lines to begin with, since they're not the "top three" slides of the park.

Downhill Racer

Found at the entrance of Schlitterbahn West, the Downhill Racer combines four identical slides in one ride, allowing 2-4 riders race each other down a slick, wavy slide. Grab a belly board, climb the steps to the top of the tower and wait for the signal to go. Give yourself a head start by launching forward, belly down, on top of the belly board. It's soft and foamy, so you likely won't get hurt.

Want to go faster? Pick up your feet and catch a little air as you slide down. You'll surge past your opponent to the finish line. The Downhill Racer is short and sweet, so you can ride it again and again.

The Torrent

You wouldn't expect a beach ride to be the best in the park, but it is. Enter Blastenhoff park on the east side of Schlitterbahn and grab a tube as it floats by in the wave pool. Enter the Torrent and sit on the tube or lay on your belly on the top. Prepare yourself for some up and down action as a wave generator blasts huge tsunamis into the Torrent's path. You might even find yourself flying over top of other riders, so keep your limbs as close to your tube as possible. This ride is a couple minutes long, and can be ridden over and over again, as there is no line.

Boogie Bahn

Those who enjoy surfing but don't live near the ocean will gleefully board a boogie board on the Boogie Bahn in Surfenburg, the middle Schlitterbahn park at Schlitterbahn New Braunfels, Texas. The continuous wave system keeps riders on their toes - or flat on their faces, depending on balance and surf talent. But don't expect the attendants to lend a hand. Schlitterbahn lifeguards are known for being lazy and generally apathetic.

Der Bahn

If you love racing, you'll want to check out Der Bahn in Schlitterbahn West. Riders can slide three abreast down separate slides parallel to each other. The slide starts off at a steep angle, then levels off and sends you sliding down at an even faster speed towards the end. You'll displace a lot of water on the way down, so you might want to shut your eyes part of the time to keep sharp splashes out of your eyeballs.

This ride's lines also go pretty fast, so Der Bahn is another slide you can ride continually without spending a lot of time waiting in line.

Double Loop Body Slides

Not everyone's a body slide fan, especially when it comes to some free falling, but the Double Loop body slides are fun and probably the most "thrilling" in the entire park. It starts off a little slow but speeds up as you wind through tunnels, fly down a short, steep drop and get soaked at the bottom, where the slide spits you out in the Comal River.

I'll warn you, though. This ride is cold, as it uses Comal River water, not chlorinated pool water, to power riders down the slide.

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