Waterfront: July 2009

Relax In The Best

Wyoming hotel hot tub rated top notch

Travel & Leisure magazine recently released its list of the world's best hotel hot tubs, dubbing the Amangani in Jackson Hole, Wyo., one of the best tubs to "soak yourself silly" in.

The outdoor slate tub maintains a 103-degree temperature and is attached to the 35-meter heated pool. Visitors get nothing less than spectacular mountain views year-round.

Technology Multiplied

Pentair's automation goes mainstream

Where would we be without our gadgets and gizmos? They seem to be able to do anything, especially smart phones. Pentair Water Pool and Spa has jumped on the bandwagon and has released an application for Apple iPhone and iPod Touch users who have the IntelliTouch with ScreenLogic interfaces on their pools or spas.

Users will be able to control pool and spa temperatures, jets, lighting, water features and more. Clients with the optional video and lighting protocol adapter can view what their backyard video cameras are trained on, as well.

Talk about being technologically advanced!

Leading The Way

APSP's DiGiovanni earns national recognition

Carvin DiGiovanni, senior technical director of the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, was recently recognized by the National Drowning Prevention Alliance with the NDPA Community Lifesaver Award at the National Drowning Prevention Symposium in Miami.

Dr. Tim Flood, Arizona Department of Health and fellow NDPA award winner, announced DiGiovanni's award, telling the audience he earned it "for his dedication to expanding the pool industry's efforts to ensure that people who buy pools are informed about water safety. DiGiovanni has been involved extensively in facilitating standards and pool safety publication development and advocacy, and he provides a bridge between the pool industry and consumers."

The Community Lifesaver Award was created by the NDPA to honor exceptional work in the advancement of drowning prevention at the community or regional level through education, research, public awareness, legislative changes or engineering advancements. Winners are peer nominated and selected by the NDPA board of directors based on award criteria.

Small Screen, Big Recognition

Leisure Time wins international award

Leisure Time was recently awarded a Silver Telly Award for its "Simple Spa Care" DVD.

"We are excited and very honored to receive such a highly respected award," says Jana Wright, marketing manager for Advantis Technologies. "This award recognizes our commitment to making spa care simple and enjoyable, often by educating consumers in innovative and creative ways."

The Telly Awards honor outstanding TV commercials, video production and films. The Silver Telly Award is the organization's highest honor.

Poolside Art

Seattle artist completes installation at Museum of Glass

Martin Blank, a Seattle-based sculptor, recently finished assembling a 207-foot-long outdoor glass art installation at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Wash. Fluent Steps was created for the museum's reflecting pool and is a part of its 20th and 21st Century glass Permanent Collection.

"My intent with this installation is to awaken the viewer's eye to keenly observe, interact and respond to the emotive nature of water," says Blank. "It can be placid, sublime, and in an instant, a tremendous surge of raw power."

Fluent Steps is made up of 754 individual pieces of hand-sculpted clear glass, which are broken up into nine islands that interact with one another to portray Blank's interpretation of water in its various forms. One island rises 15 feet above the water; another island was created by molding glass around a 20-foot madrona tree. More than three and a half tons of molten glass was used to create the pieces, and nearly eight tons of stainless steel supports the exhibit.

For more information about Blank, visit www.martinblankstudios.com.