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If you believe in the laws of physics, you might think that that the fundamental requirements for a decent water slide are a steep angle and a hearty dose of gravity.

But neither of these basics matter for thrill-seekers riding the phenomenon that is currently taking over cities in North America – a horizontal water slide so long that streets have to be shut to fit it into any big urban centre.

Slide The City stretches out for almost a quarter of a mile – 1,000ft.

Coming through: Other riders are skittled out of the way as our camera-wielder nears the end of the ride

Off we go: The unseen rider launches themselves down the Slide The City attraction, complete with head cam

And, as the video below shows, it seems to be enormous fun.

Made of slippery (but durable) vinyl, filled with soapy water, the slide offers brave customers the chance to slip along three blocks of their nearest metropolis at high speed.

The footage in the video was shot in Salt Lake City – the capital of the westerly US state of Utah – at the weekend, and shows a head-cam view of a rider over 43 rapid seconds.

 

Take a ride on the 1,000 foot Slip n Slide in Salt Late City

The slide was laid out along Main Street, between North Temple and 300 North.

Would-be customers are advised that this is not the average water attraction.

As a lone salute to modern health and safety, riders are required to wear mouthpieces – but otherwise, are left to bang into each other as they barrel along the vinyl.

Impressive pace is welcomed.

Full speed ahead: The slide is on a tour of American and Canadian cities, and will head east later in the year

Watch out, I'm right behind you: The rider catches up with a fellow thrill-seeker

'For maximum speed, we encourage the use of inflatable tubes,' the organisers say.

Customers are also given water balloons and squirt guns – which they are supposed to turn on their fellow thrill-seekers as they shoot past them.

Dashing down the slide costs $15 (£9) for a single go, with a three-ride wristband priced at $25 (£15), and all-day passes available for $35 (£20).

Obsessives can also pay for the VIP package, which lets them ride the slide by themselves for an hour before it opens to the general public – $45 (£26).

The slide is currently on a tour of Canada and the USA, and is set to pop up in several other cities later this year.

Onwards and downwards: The video footage was captured in Salt Lake City, Utah, last weekend

It all ends in laughter: Rubber rings and flip-flops go flying at the conclusion of the ride

Las Vegas, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, Detroit, Montreal, Boston and Toronto are all due to see part of their grid shut down so that people can splash about.

The organisers acknowledge that the slide can cause minor problems for road users.

A picturesque metropolis: Salt Lake City, as it looks when a giant water slide is not running through its centre

'If you must bring your car, be prepared to walk a short distance,' they advise.

'We can't have cars near the slide, now can we?'

Would-be riders can find more information at www.slidethecity.com.