Top Spin
On its premiere in 1990, Top Spin proved an instant success with European fairgoers. The ride sported a relatively small footprint, great visual flash to spectators, a varied and exciting ride sequence coupled with unsurpassed rider comfort and build quality. Parks were soon lining up to add one to their park map and with over 90 made is now the most successful HUSS creation since the Breakdance
The structure consists of a 40-person platform suspended between two counterweighted arms. The arms are turned by multi-directional DC motors while the suspended platform hinges freely on air-braked hubs that are operator (or computer) engaged at various points of the orbit. The resultant motion is varied with the gondola tumbling freely as a direct result of the moving arms. With 8 pre-set programs or, as used with great popularity on the European fair scene, full manual control (often with added water effects to splash riders)
Within the leisure industry it commanded everything that HUSS was known for. While it was not the cheapest model to purchase, it is by number the most common make to this day; well ahead of similar copies made by Mondial, Vekoma, Fabbri and Moser.
While there are around 14 original HUSS Top Spin units travelling the fairs of Europe and 1 in North America, the majority are park models due to its large structure (3.5 trailers), road law restrictions outside of Europe, and the 27 tonnes of water ballast to stabilise each of its support towers.
HUSS now offer three variations of their Top Spin:
* Topsin II – a more transportable, compact 28-person unit with no ballast requirement for the towers.
* Suspended Topspin – a floorless version of the ride that can hold 38 passengers in two rows back to back (park versions only)
* Giant Top Spin – launched in 2000 in HUSS’s Giant Rides range – 68ft tall, it can hold 77 persons. Only one has been built to date.
That movie of the ride being operated in manual mode is absolutely crazy. Suprised how no one felt sick afterwoods. But I can’t believe that haha. 107 flips!
Adam - May 12th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Love this ride, the restraints can be a little uncomfortable but the ride is outstanding. Two thumbs up!
Michael - May 24th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Yep this ride is awesome. I wouldn’t mind having a go on the giant one holding seventy riders at a time! I reckon the atmosphere would be better than a roc concert.
Ben - May 26th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
makes me nausious just looking at it but im goin to kennywood june 24th and they have one there but its a different name im sure il ride it.
jenn - June 3rd, 2009 at 12:44 pm
King’s Island in Cincinnati, OH (USA) has the 77 person model. It initially opened as the Tomb Raider ride but is now called The Crypt. It is completely indoors and adds many special effects through props and lighting. Very cool experience.
Mike - June 10th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Great ride. Saw the video where some members of onride.de did 107 flips. I would like to better that on the Top Spin and go for 150 to 200 flips in a row. Can be contacted at bdbell1940@yahoo.com as I live in Florida.
Bruce - June 17th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Awesome flips. Three flips 1st, then five flips the 2nd time. On hot days they should turn the water jets up and get the riders wet on the last dip before the ride ended.
Jim - June 30th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
I’ve seen this ride at many carnivals I have been to,but i’ve never went on it.It’s not that i’m scared of this ride, it’s just I was never tall enough to ride:(
ba-boss-bomb - July 2nd, 2009 at 7:32 am
I saw one at a local youth festival when the topspin came by train on the train of the only carnival in north america that still travels by train along the northeast usa it is the only one that travels in the eastern usa
The ride was very crazy and awsome looking
I hope to make a faller model of it someday
Raymond - July 12th, 2009 at 10:40 am
omg the uk doesnt have this ride either
Hannah - July 22nd, 2009 at 1:44 am
Park models, like in Alton Towers are great fun, the travelling ones operated manually are very dissorientating though, went on one at the Wirral Show in 2008, and it put me off riding the travelling versions :(
Danny - July 22nd, 2009 at 5:21 am
Hannah ^^—- The UK has many versions of this ride! Lol theres a few in theme parks and 3 or 4 travelling too :)
Danny - July 22nd, 2009 at 5:22 am
i remember having this ride at the royal adelaide show one back in the late 90’s and it collapsed in motion and has since been banned :(
Lucy - August 3rd, 2009 at 4:59 pm
I remember that Adelaide crash. I worked with Huss on many rides with fountains. That one in Adelaide wasn’t a Huss, it was built by Fabbri Group of Italy.
Larry of Oase - August 6th, 2009 at 2:16 am
Miner’s revenge – Gold Reef City S.A = Awesome!!!
Andy - September 2nd, 2009 at 3:09 am
topspin 2 at astroland was cool u got soaked after wardsz i rode it ten timez
jahquell - October 18th, 2009 at 10:07 am
The Giant Top Spin was pretty much a failure and was to big for it’s own good. 2-3 years ago they tore an entire row of seats off the gondola to reduce the stresses on the ride leaving the capacity somewhere around 50 riders. Still pretty huge though.
Mike - November 22nd, 2009 at 4:29 pm
This ride is an indoor attraction at Kings Island in Ohio. It was named “Tomb Raider” (from the movie and was themed as such). Stalactites on the ceilings with impaled skeletons and the water below looked like lava as the water jets slowly rose to your face. The park was purchased by Cedar Point and they renamed the ride.
John - January 25th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Whew, one of the nastiest rides ever. remember first time i rode it when i was 12… DAMN. If someone wants to ride this one and is in Finand, there is one at Linnanmäki in Helsinki.
one last word, NASTY!
Jonas - February 21st, 2010 at 2:16 pm
This ride looks so awesome!! Never been on it before but I will be at the New York Orange County Fair this year :D So excited!!
Aiasha - April 26th, 2010 at 6:39 am
weird when the arms moved diffrent ways i hated it but had to go with it
george - May 1st, 2010 at 6:08 am
Its so scary
mb - July 30th, 2010 at 5:09 am
is it like ranger
bob - October 16th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
I Would NEVER ride this!!! i hate going upside down!!!
Angel - December 21st, 2010 at 6:25 am
love this ride at great america at san jose but its called FIRE FALL.real fir sots up in the air AWESOME
paola paz - June 11th, 2011 at 7:09 am
i would want to ride one of these they look really fun
andrew croad - September 21st, 2011 at 5:01 am
Awesome piece. Rode one in Germany many years ago. Too bad Huss never made a smaller travel friendly model for the States.
Chuck - October 31st, 2011 at 5:28 pm
This valuable posting, “Top Spin – Amusement Ride Extravaganza” displays the
fact that u actually understand what you are communicating about!
I entirely approve. Thanks a lot ,Issac
http://bing.com - February 15th, 2013 at 3:35 pm
Here in Mexico City it’s an original HUSS, but it stopped working some years ago, I rode it many times and it was cool.
Edgar Morales Rosales - April 7th, 2013 at 5:17 pm
how much is cost
rami eisha - April 7th, 2014 at 9:29 pm
Suspended Topspin – a floorless version of the ride that can hold 38 passengers in two rows back to back (park versions only)
Giant Top Spin – launched in 2
how much is cost
rami eisha - April 7th, 2014 at 9:36 pm
The only Giant Top Spin is @ Canada’s Wonderland called Riptide dp (during paramount) it was called cliffhanger. Still its an awesome ride and you get totally drenched on this thing.
34ilikepie - June 15th, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Riptide at Canada’s Wonderland is not a Huss Giant Top Spin as it is a Mondial Splashover which features two 20 seated gondolas with an overall capacity of 40 passengers per ride. It has been operating since 2000 and is really fun as you get suspended upside down three times, twice backwards and once forwards. This ride also features water fountains on warm days that get completely soaked twice during the operation of the ride.
John Brooks - August 5th, 2014 at 11:33 pm
There’s a Top Spin called “King Chaos” at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois!
Tommy - March 31st, 2016 at 5:46 am
34ilikepie
The only giant Top Spin ever made was called The Crypt at Kings Island. It was removed relatively recently.
Terra Verso - October 22nd, 2017 at 6:48 pm
It seems exciting and thrilling. Is it enough safe? It is the key point that I am concerned about.
Powerlion - March 1st, 2018 at 11:36 am
I Rode this ride in 1992 at the ix center Cleveland Ohio
Shawn m plumley - August 8th, 2018 at 6:47 pm
I think i have seen a top spin ride one time, it had black, gray and purple colors on it but i was very young so i didn’t ride it sadly.
Kamikaze Girl (L.U.G) - September 5th, 2024 at 1:28 am