The Waveswinger premiered in Germany in 1972 as a park model designed by Zierer and built by Franz Schwartzkopf. In 1974 the first portable Wellenflug (as it is known in its home country of Germany) debuted under the same partnership. Since this time there have been over 150 units exported worldwide by Zierer who later went on to be the Waveswinger’s sole manufacturer.
As the name suggests, the ride moves in an oscillating, wavelike motion after the top rises telescopically, tilting at its peak while flinging riders of young and old into the cool breeze at 30km/h (10 rpm). The rotating top is raised via 4 sets of cables linked to a hydraulic ram inside the central column. The ram then retracts, pulling the cables that lift the centre ring (and attached carousel) upwards; eventually tilting over a curve in top of the central pole, which rotates in the opposite direction to create the ride’s oscillating motion. (this moving centre-pole remains hidden under the fibreglass panelling and can be viewed in the photograph of the racked structure below)
The Waveswinger’s popularity continues into the 21st century with Zierer offering five different sized units for 24, 32, 40, 48 and 64 persons, all elegantly decorated with the hand-painted Bavarian scenery that riders and owners have come to love.
Due to the appealing nature of chair-swing rides, various other manufacturers offer their own versions including, Barbieri, Zamperla, Vekoma, Meisho; and primarily for the North American market – Watkins Swinger and Chance’s YoYo with greater single trailer portability.
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O'Neills authentic Zierer Wave Swinger at Melbourne's Moomba festival, 2007. |
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March's Zierer Waveswinger at Brisbane's EKKA, 2007. |
