originally posted on 9/16/2024
Photo: Jeff Braziel. View full-sized image.
On Saturday, July 27, nearly 30 ACE members and guests gathered at Schlitterbahn Galveston (Texas) for a day packed with summer fun. Even though the formal event was scheduled for one day, Schlitterbahn graciously supplied all attendees with two-day admissions, one deluxe all-day dining pass for use on a day of their choice and one all-day drink pass for the other day. All of this was in addition to morning and closing ERT and other fun activities throughout the day of the event.
Despite a rainy start to the event, the spirits of ACEers such as Robin Operhall weren’t dampened.
Photo: Jason Knutson. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jason Knutson. View full-sized image.
The theme of this year’s event was Island Time — strike that, “ACE Time.” The day started a bit on the rainy side, but thankfully, there was no lightning in the area, which meant morning activities were not affected. However, attendees were in a waterpark, so few were worried about getting wet. In addition to a hot breakfast and many attractions being open early exclusively for the event, attendees also enjoyed the ACE South Central region’s annual Galveston Boogie Bahn competition during this time. Contestants showed off their best tricks on the wave, or in some cases, their best wipeout.
Gray skies couldn’t keep attendees from enjoying the vast array of attractions offered at Schlitterbahn Galveston.
Photo: Jason Knutson. View full-sized image.
Once the park opened, everyone was off to explore the park for themselves. As part of an ACE-exclusive game, many took advantage of this time to seek out the hidden paw prints of Schlitterbahn’s ever-loyal dachshund mascot, Schatze, throughout the park. Each paw print contained a letter to be used to complete words in a clue everyone was given at check-in. Successful contestants had a time and location revealed to receive a special gift — a framed piece of new turf for the adults (it made sense to those in attendance) or a small plush for the kids.
Schlitterbahn’s dachshund mascot, Schatze, was an integral part of a game that involved everything from stacking cups to stuffing plushes into coolers.
Photo: Jason Knutson. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jason Knutson. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jason Knutson. View full-sized image.
Another ACE-exclusive game involved contestants stacking cups into a pyramid, then running to a bag and grabbing as many small plush Schatzes as possible, returning to the table and stuffing the plushes into an exclusive Schlitterbahn cooler, then repeating the process — all in under three minutes. The top three contenders with the most plush-stuffed coolers all won coolers. Coolers were also awarded to the contestants with the best effort and most creative approach to the game.
Following dinner, the winners of the Boogie Bahn competition were announced. The contest featured solid performances by Joshua Rickert (above) and Grayson Knutson (below), as well as some that didn’t end so well.
Photo: Jason Knutson. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jason Knutson. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jason Knutson. View full-sized image.
The day cleared up and as evening approached, attendees were treated to a steak dinner, dessert, two complimentary adult beverages (for those interested) and exclusive hot tub and slide time on an entire slide complex. The ACE South Central region also used this time to congratulate the junior and senior winners of that morning’s Boogie Bahn competition: Alexandra Delp and Robin Operhall (first place), Jordan Delp and Mark Freeman (second place) and Grayson Knutson and Tracey Rickert (third place). Carter Delp and Austin Freeman won the award for best wipeout, and Joshua Rickert and Alan Nichols were voted best on the wave.
The ACE South Central region was grateful to the entire staff at Schlitterbahn Galveston for making what started as a somewhat dreary, rainy day into one full of smiles and enjoyment. A special thank you was extended to Cassidy Schippel, brand activation and communication manager at Schlitterbahn Galveston, for her tireless work organizing and hosting this event and making it a success. Thanks also went to Chris Ozimek, senior manager brand activation and communications with Schlitterbahn, for his continued support of this and other ACE events with Schlitterbahn.
— Jason Knutson, ACE South Central Regional Representative
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