# 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.

## Variations

* The original Top Spin concept has two rows of seating for 40 riders total 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 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. This version enables the platform to perform almost endless loops. This version tends to have telescoping drum supports to hold the main control arms.
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

| Name | Owner | Country | Manufacturer | Model | Premiere | Status |
| Top Spin No.1 [Prototype] | Peter Bausch | Germany | Huss | Top Spin | 1990 | Operating |
| Colorado Rafting | Bruch Schneider | Germany | Huss | Top Spin | 1990 | Sold |
| Revolution | Ronny Weber | Germany | Huss | Top Spin | 1990 | Stored |
| Top Spin FRESH | E.Fleur | France | Huss | Top Spin | 1991 | Operating |
| Top Spin | Ludewigt | Germany | Huss | Top Spin | 1991 | Stored |
| Revolution | Naisse | France | Huss | Top Spin | 1992 | Stored |
| Revolution/Top Spin | Dir.Paillet | France | Huss | Top Spin | 1992 | Stored |
| Top Spin 2 | Plaenert | Germany | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 1993 | Sold |
| Top Spin | Buser | Switzerland | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 1993 | Sold |
| Top Spin | Strates Shows | United States | Huss | Top Spin | 1993 | Stored |
| Top Spin FRESH | Decker-Schaak | Germany | Huss | Top Spin | 1993 | Operating |
| Bat Spin Formerly: Top Spin | Picci | Italy | Huss | Top Spin | 1994 | Stored |
| Top Spin | Straub | Germany | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 1994 | Stored |
| Top Spin 2 | Meyer-Hadlok | Germany | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 1994 | Sold |
| Top Spin Nº1 | Karl-Heinz Scheele | Germany | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 1996 | Sold |
| Top Spin | Ludewigt | Germany | Huss | Top Spin | 1997 | Sold |
| Top Spin | Plaenert | Germany | Huss | Top Spin | 1997 | Sold |
| Top Spin Nº2 | Lucka | Germany | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 2001 | Operating |

### Theme parks

| Name | Park | Country | Manufacturer | Model | Premiere | Status |
| Miner's Revenge Formerly: Colorado Rafting | Funfair (1990) Gold Reef City (1999) | South Africa | Huss | Top Spin | 1990 | Operating |
| Aqua Spin | Heide Park | Germany | Huss | Top Spin | 1992 | Removed |
| Top Spin | Yokohama Dreamland | Japan | Huss | Top Spin | 1992 | Removed |
| Hurakan | Tibidabo | Spain | Huss | Top Spin | 1992 | Removed |
| Top Spin Formerly: Texas Twister | California's Great America Geauga Lake | United States | Huss | Top Spin | 1993 | Removed |
| Yukan Raft Formerly: Top Spin 2 | Funfair (1993) Fort Fun Abenteurland (2013) | | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 1993 | Removed |
| Moon Chaser Formerly: Top Spin | Funfair (1993) Adventureland Amusement Park (2024) | | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 1993 | Operating |
| GiraVolta Formerly: Top Spin | Miragica Gardaland | Italy | Huss | Top Spin | 1993 | Closed |
| Top Spin | Liseberg | Sweden | Huss | Top Spin | 1993 | Removed |
| Top Spin | Parque de Atracciones de Madrid | Spain | Huss | Top Spin | 1993 | Operating |
| Kieputin | Linnanmäki | Finland | Huss | Top Spin | 1994 | Removed |
| Top Spin | Nagashima Spa Land | Japan | Huss | Top Spin | 1994 | Removed |
| Top Spin Formerly: Rameses Revenge | Chessington World of Adventures (1995) Sindibad Parc (2024) | Morocco | Huss | Top Spin | 1995 | Operating |
| Shake, Rattle & Roll | Elitch Gardens | United States | Huss | Top Spin | 1995 | Removed |
| Top Spin | La Feria de Chapultepec | Mexico | Huss | Top Spin | 1995 | Removed |
| Top Spin | BenyLand | Japan | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 1995 | Removed |
| Gantu Top Spin | Serengeti Park | Germany | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 1995 | Removed |
| Top Spin Nº1 | Funfair (1996) Baghdad Island Park (2016) | | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 1996 | Operating |
| Waterspin | Duinrell | Netherlands | Huss | Top Spin | 1996 | Operating |
| La Tornade | La Ronde | Canada | Huss | Top Spin | 1997 | Removed |
| Top Spin | Seoul Land | South Korea | Huss | Top Spin | 1997 | Operating |
| Twister | Six Flags New England | United States | Huss | Top Spin | 1997 | Removed |
| La Tornade | La Ronde | Canada | Huss | Top Spin | 1997 | Removed |
| Ripsaw | Alton Towers | United Kingdom | Huss | Top Spin | 1997 | Removed |
| Top Spin | Toshimaen (1997) Prater (2007) EsselWorld (2013) | India | Huss | Top Spin | 1997 | Unknown |
| Top Spin | Funfair (1997) Fantasilandia (2004) | Chile | Huss | Top Spin | 1997 | Operating |
| Top Spin | Seoul Land | South Korea | Huss | Top Spin | 1997 | Operating |
| VooDoo | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | United States | Huss | Top Spin | 1998 | Removed |
| Der Twister | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | United States | Huss | Top Spin | 1998 | Removed |
| Galactic Spin | Lihpao Land | Taiwan | Huss | Top Spin | 1998 | Operating |
| Top Spin | Happy Valley Shenzhen | China | Huss | Top Spin | 1998 | Operating |
| Hang Time | Dorney Park | United States | Huss | Top Spin | 1998 | Removed |
| Montezuma's Revenge | Avonturenpark Hellendoorn | Netherlands | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 1998 | Removed |
| Ultimate Fun (勁爆樂翻天) | Janfusun Fancyworld | Taiwan | Huss | Top Spin | No data | Removed |
| Top Spin | Expoland | Japan | Huss | Top Spin | No data | Removed |
| NYC Transformer | Movie Park Germany | Germany | Huss | Top Spin | 1999 | Operating |
| Top Spin | E-World | South Korea | Huss | Top Spin | 1999 | Removed |
| The Candy | Luna Park Tel Aviv | Israel | Huss | Top Spin | 1999 | Closed |
| Ekatomb | Hopi Hari | Brazil | Huss | Top Spin | 1999 | Operating |
| Top Spin | Dream Park | Egypt | Huss | Top Spin | 1999 | Unknown |
| Top Spin | Dreamland Nara | Japan | Huss | Top Spin | 1999 | Removed |
| Twister | Six Flags Great Adventure | United States | Huss | Top Spin | 1999 | Removed |
| Hell's Gate | Playland | Canada | Huss | Top Spin | 2000 | Operating |
| Hurricane | Dream World | Thailand | Huss | Top Spin | 2000 | Operating |
| Twister | Six Flags Darien Lake | United States | Huss | Top Spin | 2000 | Removed |
| Blast Formerly Excalibur | Walibi Holland | Netherlands | Huss | Top Spin | 2000 | Operating |
| Buzzsaw Formerly Screamer | Walibi Belgium | Belgium | Huss | Top Spin | 2001 | Operating |
| Estrugensen | Xetulul Theme Park | Guatemala | Huss | Top Spin | 2002 | Operating |
| Lex Luthor's Invertatron | Parque Warner Madrid | Spain | Huss | Top Spin | 2002 | Operating |
| Perfect Storm | Happy Valley Shenzhen | China | Huss | Top Spin | 2002 | Operating |
| The Crypt Formerly Tomb Raider: The Ride | Kings Island | United States | Huss | Giant Top Spin | 2002 | Removed |
| Thunderhawk | Worlds of Fun | United States | Huss | Top Spin | 2002 | Removed |
| King Kahuna | Kennywood | United States | Huss | Top Spin | 2003 | Removed |
| Double Rock Spin | Everland | South Korea | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2003 | Operating |
| RipTide | Knott's Berry Farm | United States | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2004 | Removed |
| Top Spin | Astroland | United States | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 2004 | Removed |
| Top Spin | Vidámpark | Hungary | Huss | Top Spin | 2004 | Removed |
| King Chaos | Indiana Beach Six Flags Great America | United States | Huss | Top Spin | TBD 2004 - 2017 | In Storage |
| RipTide | Valleyfair | United States | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2005 | Removed |
| The Crypt Formerly Tomb Raider: Firefall | Kings Dominion | United States | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2005 | Removed |
| Trojan Horse | Happy Valley Beijing | China | Huss | Top Spin | 2006 | Operating |
| Top Spin | Harborland Ningbo | China | Huss | Top Spin | 2006 | Removed |
| Talocan | Phantasialand | Germany | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2007 | Operating |
| Tornado | Parque Diversiones | Costa Rica | Huss | Top Spin | 2010 | Operating |
| Top Spin | Siam Park City | Thailand | Huss | Top Spin | 2010 | Unknown |
| Top Spin | Funtown | United States | Huss | Top Spin 2 | 2012 | Unknown |
| Perfect Storm | Happy Valley Wuhan | China | Huss | Top Spin | 2012 | Operating |
| Splash Spin | Romon U-Park | China | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2014 | Operating |
| Digging in the Mountain | Hefei Wanda Theme Park | China | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2016 | Operating |
| Thor Thunder Spin Ride | IMG Worlds Of Adventure | United Arab Emirates | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2016 | Operating |
| Monster Spin | Dragon Park Ha Long | Vietnam | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2017 | Operating |
| Top Spin | Magic Mountain | India | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2019 | Operating |
| Temple of Fire (Храм огня) | Dream Island | Russia | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2020 | Operating |
| Vortex | Sea World | Australia | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2020 | Operating |
| Unknown | Chongqing Locajoy Theme Park | China | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2020 | Operating |
| Perfect Storm | Happy Valley Nanjing | China | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2023 | Operating |
| Toxicator | Alton Towers Resort | United Kingdom | Huss | Suspended Top Spin | 2025 | Operating |

### Variations

| Name | Owner | Country | Manufacturer | Model | Premiere | Status |
| The Storm | Morey's Piers | United States | Moser's Rides | Super Loop on Top | 1999 | Removed |
| Lex Luthor's Invertatron | Six Flags New Orleans | United States | Moser's Rides | Super Loop on Top | 2003 | Closed |
| Splash Over | Adventureland | United States | Moser's Rides | Maverick | 2006 | Removed |
| La Cólera de Akiles | Terra Mitica | Spain | Mondial | Super Nova | 2006 | Operating |
| Tomb Raider Machine | Movieland Park | Italy | Zamperla | Windshear | 2007 | Removed |
| Tornado | Dunia Fantasi | Indonesia | Zamperla | Windshear | 2007 | Operating |
| Splash Over | Happy Valley Chengdu | China | Mondial | Splash Over | 2009 | Operating |
| Demon | La Ronde | Canada | Mondial | Roll Over | 2014 | Operating |
| Vortigo | Etnaland | Italy | Zamperla | Windshear | 2013 | Operating |
| Apocalypto | Energylandia | Poland | Fabbri Group | Dragon Fly | 2014 | Operating |
| Twister | Lake Winnepesaukah | United States | Moser's Rides | Maverick | 2016 | Operating |
| Galeon | Land of Legends Theme Park | Turkey | Moser's Rides | Loop On Top | 2018 | Operating |
| Rokava | Lost Island | United States | Moser's Rides | Maverick | 2022 | Operating |
| Luna Swing | Space World | Japan | Vekoma | Waikiki Wave Super Flip | No data | Removed |
| Desorbitados | Parque de la Costa | Argentina | Preston & Barbieri | Suspended Top Spin | No data | Operating |
| Apocalipsis | Salitre Mágico | Colombia | Moser's Rides | Top Loop | No data | Operating |
| Flying Tornado | Jawa Timur Park 1 | Indonesia | Moser's Rides | Maverick | No data | Operating |
| Salto | Eram Park | Iran | Unknown | Unknown | No data | Operating |
| Waikiki Wave | Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park | China | Vekoma | Waikiki Wave | No data | Operating |
| Top Gun | VGP Universal Kingdom | India | Moser's Rides | Top Gun | No data | Operating |
| Thor's Anger | Hangzhou Paradise | China | Unknown | Unknown | No data | Operating |
| Twisting in Waves | Quancheng Euro Park | China | Unknown | Unknown | No data | Operating |
| Revolution | Parque de Atracciones de Zaragoza | Spain | Atracciones Lorente | Top Spin | No data | Operating |