Behind the Scenes with Natural Balance's 2011 Rose Parade Float

Today we were some of the lucky few to get a behind the scenes look at Natural Balance's Guiness Book of World Records 2011 Rose Parade Float.

Last week, when I wrote about the float I was super excited to check it out during the Rose Parade on New Year's Day but seeing it up close and personal was absolutely awesome!  Whatever you hear or read about this float does not do it justice. 

You have to check it out in action to truly understand how big and cool the float is. The float weighs in at 84,300 lbs shattering the Guinness Book of World Records for the World's Heaviest Float. The float will feature a team of dock diving dogs that will actually be diving into a pool on the float while other dogs go skim boarding.  Natural Balance's very own skateboarding bulldogs Tillman and Rose will be on the float skim boarding as well.

All the dogs were having fun and practicing and seeing them skim boarding and dock diving was an amazing sight. I really can't imagine how it will all look when it will be moving along Colorado Blvd on New Year's Day and I am sure it will be one of the big highights of the day!

While we were at the float, the local California Highway Patrol was weighing the float and an official from the Guinness Book of World Records presented Natural Balance's President Joey Herrick with the official certificate for being the World's Heaviest Float.

During all of the excitement, volunteers were hard at work decorating the float covering it with all natural floral items such as onion seeds that out line a surfboard that is a part of the float. Also along the float are faux waves to give the float an effect that it is going through water and coconuts and white orchids were used to decorate the faux waves.  While thousands of roses, orchids and daises were used all throughout the design of the float.

Thanks to Fiesta Floats for giving us an opportunity to look at Natural Balance's float while it is still being completed.

Below is an interview with Tim Estes from Fiesta Floats who explains the full details and design of the float.  Enjoy and don't forget to tune in to the Rose Parade on New Year's Day and vote for Natural Balance's Float for Viewer's Choice Award.