First riders take on Verruckt, the world’s tallest water slide at Schlitterbahn Waterpark

THE tallest water slide in the world is 17 storeys high, and is yet to open due to safety checks. But these two men agreed to try it out.

It's enough to make you dizzy.

THE world’s tallest and fastest water slide, which is yet to open due to ongoing safety checks, has been tested by two brave men — and they survived to tell the tale.

The slide — named Verruckt, meaning insane in German — is located in the Schlitterbahn Waterpark in Kansas, it is 51.38m tall or 17 storeys high, and looks terrifying.

The slide is 2.38m higher than the previous tallest slide, Kilimanjaro in Barra Do Pirai, Brazil, and taller than Niagara Falls and the Statue of Liberty and steeper than any ski slope.

Hold on tight: The riders make their way down the slide.

When engineers first tested the ride with sandbags, the raft actually fell off the slide.

They later discovered the raft needed a minimum of 454kg to make it stable and they also added the net for safety, KSHB reported.

The slide pictured during its construction.

Verruckt was meant to be operating when the park first opened on May 23, but thrill seekers were left disappointed. Park officials didn’t give a reason, but WXYZ reported that work was still taking place.

A media preview was then cancelled due to a problem with the slide’s conveyor belt, which carries 100kg rafts to the top.

It's enough to make you dizzy.

Waterpark innovator Jeff Henry, who developed the ride, and ride engineer John Schooley agreed to be the first to trial the scary slide and while a hat was lost along the way, both men managed to keep down their lunches.

The men first had to climb 264 steps just to get to the top of the ride.

Yep, that doesn’t look scary at all.

Once there, riders are strapped into the giant raft with velcro and surrounded by netting, just in case of any possible falls or tumbles.

With a top speed of about 104km/h, riders need a strong stomach as they experience two massive drops.

One of the men loses a hat, but not his stomach.

The view from the top of Verruckt is both scary and awesome.

Schlitterbahn Waterpark spokeswoman Winter Prosapio said it was putting safety ahead of an official opening date.

“I’d rather push it back, then know we were skipping a single step in safety for our guests,” she told Fox two weeks ago.

Relief: The first riders make it safely to the bottom.

It’s a long way to the top if you want to slide and roll.

“I would think this would increase your confidence. If anything, all of these calls we’re talking about, all these times we’re saying we’re not ready should make you feel better.”

Think you have what it takes to ride the Verruckt? Watch the test video and decide for yourselves.

@MdellW @katieaprincess @russfischer @kateyrich I have seen it, and it is enormous. pic.twitter.com/6scYiaxbet

— Gillian Smith (@gillyheartsyou) July 6, 2014