Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Carter Wels enters the penultimate turn of the green flume slide. Wels was the first person down the two sides during the official public opening of the recreational pool section Wednesday.

NEW ULM — At 4 p.m. Wednesday, the zero-depth and recreation sections of New Ulm’s new aquatic center opened to the public for the first time.

Several children and a few parents were at the pool, ready to swim and try out the new amenities.

The two flume slides were the top attraction. Twelve-year-old Carter Wels became the first person down the green flume slide on opening day. He later became the first person down the orange flume slide.

Wels was aware of this achievement and celebrated the moment with a cheer after being shot out the end of the slide into the pool.

Asked which flume slide he preferred, Wels said he liked the orange slide for its speed. He estimated it took three seconds to travel from the top to the bottom of the orange slide. Adult users reported reaching the bottom in four seconds.

The orange slide has fewer twists than the green slide, allowing users to reach greater speeds. It also is enclosed, meaning users are sliding in darkness — but that’s part of the fun.

“You can feel your stomach going up,” Wels said. “Then you see the light at the end, and you know it is time to hold your breath.”

Wels would go down each of the flumes slides five times within the first hour of open swim.

The next open swim at the Recreation Center pool is 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. Friday’s open swim will open the full pool for use, including the climbing wall and zip line.

Hours for the Recreation Center are:

Monday through Friday 5 a.m.-9 p.m.

Saturday 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Hours for the aquatic center are divided into lap swim and open swim hours.

Lap Swim Hours:

Monday – Friday 5-8 a.m.

Monday – Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Saturday 7-11 a.m.

Sunday 9-10:30 a.m.

Open Swim Hours:

Monday & Wednesday 4-6:30 p.m. (zero-depth & rec pool only)

Friday 4-8 p.m. (full pool)

Saturday & Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. (full pool)