Sheriff Mike Chitwood helps christen new water slides at Daytona Lagoon

By Jim Abbott

Posted Apr 26, 2019 at 2:49 PMUpdated Apr 26, 2019 at 4:02 PM

DAYTONA BEACH — Gray skies were threatening rain when Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood arrived Friday morning to take the ceremonial first plunge on two new water slides at Daytona Lagoon.

“I did my rain dance this morning,” Chitwood announced. “So everything will be OK.”

And the sun ultimately did shine on the grand opening celebration for Kraken’s Revenge and the Shaka Halfpipe, new additions to the family-friendly water park that officially debut in time for summer crowds.

The former is a 50-foot-high, four-lane slide that allows riders to race through a high-speed skylight tunnel, while the latter is a high-speed inner-tube float ride built on a pendulum-style, 50-foot-tall half-pipe design.

Chitwood, dressed for the occasion in baggy swim trunks and a white cut-off T-shirt accessorized with a yellow lei, admitted that he closes his eyes on roller coasters. He was less intimidated by the prospect of conquering Kraken’s Revenge and the Shaka Halfpipe, he said.