Top Spin (ride)

The Top Spin is a thrill ride developed by HUSS Park Attractions, and is the generic name for a series of rides from other manufacturers that follow the same principle. The ride consists of a passenger platform suspended between two counterweighted arms. The arms are turned by motors, while the platform typically only has brakes that are engaged and disengaged at various points of the ride cycle. A typical top spin program runs the main arm motors while engaging and disengaging the platform brakes so that it will rotate in exciting ways. The minimum rider height requirement is 54 inches; maximum is 80 inches due to the seat and restraint design. The ride was introduced to the public in 1990 and proved an instant success with European fairgoers.

Ride experience

Huss has designed the ride so that park and carnival operators may choose one of eight preset ride "programs." Most last no more than two minutes and consist of several moderate-speed loops, flips, and face-down gondola "hangtime" before unlocking the gondola hydraulics and swinging the riders back and forth. Some Top Spin rides have the added feature of water fountains which are mainly used at the end of the ride sequence soaking the riders as they are slowly lowered face first into the un-escapable water jets. Cycles can be customized to include more intense repetitive flips and also be under manual operator control. A world record was set with over 100 gondola flips during a cycle with a theme park model in Germany.[1]

Variations
  • The original Top Spin concept has two rows of seating with self lowering lap bars and rider spotlights.
  • The Giant Top Spin is a larger version of the Top Spin, seating up to 84 passengers in three rows on the platform. Only one park in the United States featured a Giant Top Spin, The Crypt at Kings Island in Ohio. However, its third row was removed in 2008, reducing the capacity. The ride structure was still larger than any other. It closed after the 2011 season.
  • The Suspended Top Spin is a floorless version of the ride that can hold up to 40 passengers in two rows back to back.
  • The Top Spin 2 is a smaller version of the original, designed for showmen who require a ride that fits onto a single trailer. This version enables the platform to perform almost endless loops. This version tends to have telescoping drum supports to hold the main control arms.[1]

There are also numerous other Top Spin rides that were later developed by other companies as rivals to the Huss versions.

In addition to this, various manufacturers such as Mondial, Moser, Vekoma, and Zamperla make an improved version of the Top Spin where each individual arm is controlled separately; this results in diagonal gondola inversions. Examples include "Wind Shear", "Super Loop on Top", "Waikiki Wave Super Flip","Super Nova" and "Discovery".

Installations


The Top Spin was once a common ride at travelling funfairs, particularly in Germany. Over time, many of the travelling versions of the ride have been sold to amusement parks. Huss also makes several models of Top Spin specifically for static locations.

Transportable
NameOwnerCountryManufacturerModelPremiereStatus
Top Spin No.1 [Prototype]Peter Bausch GermanyHussTop Spin1990Operating
Colorado RaftingBruch Schneider GermanyHussTop Spin1990Sold
RevolutionRonny Weber GermanyHussTop Spin1990Operating
Top Spin FRESHE.Fleur FranceHussTop Spin1991Operating
Top SpinLudewigt GermanyHussTop Spin1991Stored
RevolutionNaisse FranceHussTop Spin1992Stored
Revolution/Top SpinDir.Paillet FranceHussTop Spin1992Stored
Top Spin 2Plaenert GermanyHussTop Spin 21993Sold
Top SpinBuser SwitzerlandHussTop Spin 21993Sold
Top SpinStrates Shows United StatesHussTop Spin1993Stored
Top Spin FRESHDecker-Schaak GermanyHussTop Spin1993Operating
Bat Spin
Formerly: Top Spin		Picci ItalyHussTop Spin1994Stored
Top SpinStraub GermanyHussTop Spin 21994Stored
Top Spin 2Meyer-Hadlok GermanyHussTop Spin 21994Sold
Top Spin Nº1Karl-Heinz Scheele GermanyHussTop Spin 21996Sold
Top SpinLudewigt GermanyHussTop Spin1997Sold
Top SpinPlaenert GermanyHussTop Spin1997Sold
Top Spin Nº2Lucka GermanyHussTop Spin 22001Operating

Theme parks
NameParkCountryManufacturerModelPremiereStatus
Miner's Revenge
Formerly: Colorado Rafting		Funfair (1990)

Gold Reef City (1999)

 South AfricaHussTop Spin1990Operating
Aqua SpinHeide Park GermanyHussTop Spin1992Removed
Top SpinYokohama Dreamland JapanHussTop Spin1992Removed
HurakanTibidabo SpainHussTop Spin1992Removed
Top Spin
Formerly: Texas Twister		California's Great America
Geauga Lake		 United StatesHussTop Spin1993Removed
Yukan Raft
Formerly: Top Spin 2		Funfair (1993)

Fort Fun Abenteurland (2013)

 HussTop Spin 21993Removed
Moon Chaser
Formerly: Top Spin		Funfair (1993)

Adventureland Amusement Park (2024)

 HussTop Spin 21993Operating
GiraVolta
Formerly: Top Spin		Miragica
Gardaland		 ItalyHussTop Spin1993Closed
Top SpinLiseberg SwedenHussTop Spin1993Removed
Top SpinParque de Atracciones de Madrid SpainHussTop Spin1993Operating
KieputinLinnanmäki FinlandHussTop Spin1994Removed
Top SpinNagashima Spa Land JapanHussTop Spin1994Removed
Rameses RevengeChessington World of Adventures United KingdomHussTop Spin1995Removed
Shake, Rattle & RollElitch Gardens United StatesHussTop Spin1995Removed
Top SpinLa Feria de Chapultepec MexicoHussTop Spin1995Removed
Top SpinBenyLand JapanHussTop Spin 21995Removed
Gantu Top SpinSerengeti Park GermanyHussTop Spin 21995Removed
WaterspinDuinrell NetherlandsHussTop Spin1996Operating
La TornadeLa Ronde CanadaHussTop Spin1997Removed
RipsawAlton Towers United KingdomHussTop Spin1997Removed
Top SpinSeoul Land South KoreaHussTop Spin1997Operating
TwisterSix Flags New England United StatesHussTop Spin1997Removed
La TornadeLa Ronde CanadaHussTop Spin1997Removed
RipsawAlton Towers United KingdomHussTop Spin1997Removed
Top SpinToshimaen (1997)

Prater (2007) EsselWorld (2013)

 IndiaHussTop Spin1997Unknown
Top SpinFunfair (1997)

Fantasilandia (2004)

 ChileHussTop Spin1997Operating
Top SpinSeoul Land South KoreaHussTop Spin1997Operating
VooDooSix Flags Discovery Kingdom United StatesHussTop Spin1998Removed
Der TwisterSix Flags Fiesta Texas United StatesHussTop Spin1998Removed
Galactic SpinLihpao Land TaiwanHussTop Spin1998Operating
Top SpinHappy Valley Shenzhen ChinaHussTop Spin1998Operating
Hang TimeDorney Park United StatesHussTop Spin1998Removed
Montezuma's RevengeAvonturenpark Hellendoorn NetherlandsHussTop Spin 21998Removed
NYC TransformerMovie Park Germany GermanyHussTop Spin1999Operating
Top SpinE-World South KoreaHussTop Spin1999Removed
The CandyLuna Park Tel Aviv IsraelHussTop Spin1999Closed
EkatombHopi Hari BrazilHussTop Spin1999Operating
Top SpinDream Park EgyptHussTop Spin1999Unknown
Top SpinDreamland Nara JapanHussTop Spin1999Removed
TwisterSix Flags Great Adventure United StatesHussTop Spin1999Operating
Hell's GatePlayland CanadaHussTop Spin2000Operating
HurricaneDream World ThailandHussTop Spin2000Operating
TwisterSix Flags Darien Lake United StatesHussTop Spin2000Removed
Blast
Formerly Excalibur		Walibi Holland NetherlandsHussTop Spin2000Operating
Buzzsaw
Formerly Screamer		Walibi Belgium BelgiumHussTop Spin2001Operating
EstrugensenXetulul Theme Park GuatemalaHussTop Spin2002Operating
Lex Luthor's InvertatronParque Warner Madrid SpainHussTop Spin2002Operating
Perfect StormHappy Valley Shenzhen ChinaHussTop Spin2002Operating
The Crypt
Formerly Tomb Raider: The Ride		Kings Island United StatesHussGiant Top Spin2002Removed
ThunderhawkWorlds of Fun United StatesHussTop Spin2002Removed
King KahunaKennywood United StatesHussTop Spin 2003Removed
Double Rock SpinEverland South KoreaHussSuspended Top Spin2003Operating
RipTideKnott's Berry Farm United StatesHussSuspended Top Spin2004Removed
Top SpinAstroland United StatesHussTop Spin 22004Removed
Top SpinVidámpark HungaryHussTop Spin2004Removed
King ChaosIndiana Beach
Six Flags Great America		 United StatesHussTop SpinTBD
2004 - 2017		In Storage
RipTideValleyfair United StatesHussSuspended Top Spin2005Removed
The Crypt
Formerly Tomb Raider: Firefall		Kings Dominion United StatesHussSuspended Top Spin2005Removed
Trojan HorseHappy Valley Beijing ChinaHussTop Spin2006Operating
Top SpinHarborland Ningbo ChinaHussTop Spin2006Removed
TalocanPhantasialand GermanyHussSuspended Top Spin2007Operating
TornadoParque Diversiones Costa RicaHussTop Spin2010Operating
Top SpinSiam Park City ThailandHussTop Spin2010Unknown
Perfect StormHappy Valley Wuhan ChinaHussTop Spin2012Operating
Top SpinFuntown United StatesHussTop Spin 22012Unknown
Splash SpinRomon U-Park ChinaHussSuspended Top Spin2014Operating
Digging in the MountainHefei Wanda Theme Park ChinaHussSuspended Top Spin2016Operating
Thor Thunder Spin RideIMG Worlds Of Adventure United Arab EmiratesHussSuspended Top Spin2016Operating
Monster SpinDragon Park Ha Long VietnamHussSuspended Top Spin2017Operating
Top SpinMagic Mountain IndiaHussSuspended Top Spin2019Operating
Temple of Fire (Храм огня)Dream Island RussiaHussSuspended Top Spin2020Operating
VortexSea World AustraliaHussSuspended Top Spin2020Operating
UnknownChongqing Locajoy Theme Park ChinaHussSuspended Top Spin2020Operating
Ultimate Fun (勁爆樂翻天)Janfusun Fancyworld TaiwanHussTop SpinNo dataRemoved
Top SpinExpoland JapanHussTop SpinNo dataRemoved

Variations
NameOwnerCountryManufacturerModelPremiereStatus
Lex Luthor's InvertatronSix Flags New Orleans United StatesSoriani and MoserSuper Loop On Top2003Closed
Splash OverAdventureland United StatesMoser's RidesMaverick2006Removed
La Cólera de AkilesTerra Mitica SpainMondialSuper Nova2006Operating
Tomb Raider MachineMovieland Park ItalyZamperlaWindshear2007Removed
TornadoDunia Fantasi IndonesiaZamperlaWindshear2007Operating
Splash OverHappy Valley Chengdu ChinaMondialSplash Over2009Operating
DemonLa Ronde CanadaMondialRoll Over2014Operating
VortigoEtnaland ItalyMoser's RidesSuper Loop on Top2013Operating
ApocalyptoEnergylandia PolandFabbri GroupDragon Fly2014Operating
TwisterLake Winnepesaukah United StatesMoser's RidesMaverick2016Operating
GaleonLand of Legends Theme Park TurkeyMoser's RidesLoop On Top2018Operating
Luna SwingSpace World JapanVekomaWaikiki Wave Super FlipNo dataRemoved
DesorbitadosParque de la Costa ArgentinaPreston & BarbieriSuspended Top SpinNo dataOperating
StormMorey's Piers United StatesMoser's RidesSuper Loop on TopNo dataRemoved
ApocalipsisSalitre Mágico ColombiaMoser's RidesTop LoopNo dataOperating
Flying TornadoJawa Timur Park 1 IndonesiaMoser's RidesMaverickNo dataOperating
SaltoEram Park IranUnknownUnknownNo dataOperating
Waikiki WaveBeijing Shijingshan Amusement Park ChinaVekomaWaikiki WaveNo dataOperating
Top GunVGP Universal Kingdom IndiaMoser's RidesTop GunNo dataOperating
Top SpinFunfair SpainMoser's RidesTop LoopNo dataOperating
Top LoopFunfair SpainTHCLoop on topNo dataSold
Top GunFunfair SpainFabbri GroupTsunamiNo dataOperating
Thor's AngerHangzhou Paradise ChinaUnknownUnknownNo dataOperating
Twisting in WavesQuancheng Euro Park ChinaUnknownUnknownNo dataOperating
RevolutionParque de Atracciones de Zaragoza SpainAtracciones LorenteTop SpinNo dataOperating
RevolutionFunfair SpainAtracciones LorenteTop SpinNo dataUnknown

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Top Spin (ride).

References
  1. "107 Flips on Top Spin (onride.de)". YouTube. 2007-09-30. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
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