Top Spin (ride)

The Top Spin is a thrill ride developed by HUSS Maschinenfabrik, which consists of a passenger platform suspended between two counterweighted arms. The arms are turned by motors, while the platform simply 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 Experience

Huss has designed the ride so that park and carnival operators may choose one of 8 preset ride "programs." Most last no more than 2 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.

Variations

* The Giant Top Spin is a larger version of the Top Spin, seating 77 passengers in three rows on the platform. Currently only one park model exists.
* The Suspended Top Spin is a floorless version of the ride that can hold 38 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. Interestingly this version enables the platform to perform almost endless loops. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNYyTRRzmxA]

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, and Zamperla make an improved version of the Top Spin where each individual arm is controlled separately; this results in diagonal gondola inversions and makes for a much more interesting ride. Such rides are known by names like "Wind Shear", "Super Loop on Top", and "Super Nova".

Appearances

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.

*Argentina:
**"Desorbitado - (Preston's International Suspended top spin)" at Parque de la Costa

*Australia:
**"Wipeout" at Dreamworld Waikiki Wave Super Flip Vekoma

*Austria:
**"Top Spin" at Prater

*Sweden:
**"Top Spin" at Liseberg

*Chile:
**"Top Spin" at Fantasilandia

*Finland:
**"Kieputin" at Linnanmäki

*Canada:
**"Riptide" at Canada's Wonderland - similar version built by Mondial
**"Hell's Gate" at Playland (Vancouver)
**"Tornade" at LaRonde

*Colombia:
**"Apocalypsis" at Salitre Magico (Bogota)

*Germany:
**"Topspin" at Heide Park
**"NYC Transformer" at Movie Park Germany
**"Top Spin" at Serengeti Park
**"Talocan" at Phantasialand (Suspended).

*Guatemala:
**"Estrugensen" at Xetulul, (Retalhuleu).

* Thailand:
**"Hurricane" at "Dream World Bangkok"

*The Netherlands:
**"Excalibur at Walibi World
**"Montezuma's Revenge at Avonturenpark Hellendoorn
**"Waterspin at Duinrell.

*United Kingdom:
**"Rameses Revenge" at Chessington World of Adventures
**"Ripsaw" at Alton Towers
**"Terror Rack" at Pleasure Island Family Theme Park - copied version of the ride built by Fabbri
**"Terminator" at Tir Prince - Top Spin copy built by Moser Rides.
**"Top Spin" at Butlins, Skegness

*United States of America:
**"Cliffhanger" at Lagoon Amusement Park - similar version built by Mondial
**"King Chaos" at Six Flags Great America
**"King Kahuna" at Kennywood
**"Thunderhawk" at Worlds of Fun
**"Top Spin" at the Strates Shows railway carnival
**"Twister" atSix Flags Great Adventure and Six Flags New England
**"The Twister" at Darien Lake
**"Der Twister" at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
**"VooDoo" at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
**"Hang Time" at Dorney Park
**"Top Spin" at Astroland, Coney Island
**"The Crypt" at Kings Dominion
**"The Cyrpt" at Kings Island-A completely enclosed Giant Top Spin
**"Firefall" at California's Great America
**"RipTide" at Knott's Berry Farm and Valleyfair
**"Splash Over" at Adventureland(Iowa)
*Italy:
**"Top Spin" at Gardaland
**"Top Spin" at NY State Fair

*Korea:
**"Monster wind" at SeoulLand

* Israel:
**"טופ ספין (Top Spin)" at "Luna Park Tel Aviv"

*Spain:
**"Hurakan" at Tibidabo
**"Lex Luthor's Invertatron" at Parque Warner
**"Top Spin" at Parque de Atracciones de Madrid

*Mexico:
**"Huracan" at Six Flags Mexico Waikiki Wave Super Flip Vekoma
**"Top Spin" at La Feria Chapultepec Magico

* Indonesia:
**"Tornado" at "Dunia Fantasi Jakarta"

* Brazil:
**"Ekatomb" at "Hopi Hari"

*Japan:
**"Luna Swing " at Space World Japan
*Hungary:
**"Top Spin" at Vidámpark