Surf Rider 2027: New Fabbri Impact for Spengler

Surf Rider 2027: A new Fabbri Impact is set to travel under this name for Swiss showman Beat Spengler. The announcement from the showmen’s scene is already attracting attention ahead of its first ride. That is because this new ride is not a conventional Jumper, but an unusual combination of a circular ride, lifting movement and swinging double seats. The Swiss Chilbi season 2027 has been named for its launch. No independently confirmed opening event has been announced yet.

We have gathered information for you about how the ride works, the technical specifications given by the manufacturer and why photos and videos from Spain are already available.

Surf Rider 2027: What is known about Spengler’s new ride?

At the beginning of October 2026, news spread through the international funfair scene that Swiss showman Spengler was expected to receive a Fabbri Impact. At the beginning of November, the planned name was also announced: Surf Rider. Several statements from the scene link the new ride to Beat Spengler.

The Surf Rider would therefore be an interesting new travelling ride for Swiss fairgrounds. However, the exact first location, a confirmed tour schedule and its final appearance have not yet been announced. It is also still unclear whether it will appear outside Switzerland, for example in Germany.

It is also important to distinguish it from other rides with the same name: Impact by Italian manufacturer Fabbri is a different type of ride from the Impact by Technical Park, which is already travelling around Europe. Confusing the two could lead to incorrect information, particularly in photos, technical specifications and line-ups of rides.

What is the Fabbri Impact?

The Italian Fabbri Group describes Impact as a “Family Thrill Ride”. The principle is easy to explain at first glance, but the ride’s movements are much more varied in operation. A central column rotates, with movable arms attached to it. Hanging from the ends of these arms are eight two-seat gondolas in total.

As the central column rotates, the arms rise and fall. The gondolas also swing, responding to the combination of movements. From the riders’ perspective, their position keeps changing: sometimes they rise higher above the fairground, sometimes they move closer to the ground, with changes of direction and swinging movements as well.

This is what sets Impact apart from a simple round ride. Rather than experiencing a single, continuous movement, riders experience several movements at once. The open seats are intended to give you a more immediate ride experience. Inversions, however, are not the main feature of this concept.

Video: See the Fabbri Impact in action

If you want to see how the ride actually moves, it is worth watching the official manufacturer’s video. It shows an Impact already operating in Spain, belonging to the Vicente Bañuls group. Important: The video explicitly does not show Spengler’s future Swiss Surf Rider. It shows a reference installation of the same ride type.

In the video, you can clearly see the arms rising, the gondolas swinging and the ride continuing to rotate around its central axis. The Spanish version has striking lighting. It is not yet known whether Spengler’s Surf Rider will have similar lighting, its own façade or a surf theme.

Surf Rider 2027: The model’s technical specifications

For the standard transportable version, Fabbri gives a height of around 9,4 metres while in operation. Eight gondolas with two seats each provide 16 seats per ride. The theoretical hourly capacity is stated as up to 320 people. The manufacturer recommends a ride duration of around 120 seconds.

According to the manufacturer, the ride requires a space of approximately 16 by 16,1 metres. The electrical connection is rated at around 150 kilowatts. Transport is planned using a single trailer approximately 16,6 metres long. The ride is expected to take around five hours to set up with three people.

Fabbri gives minimum height requirements of 130 or 140 centimetres, depending on the version. These are general model specifications, not confirmed operating rules for the Swiss ride. The eventual fare, the intensity of individual ride programmes and any special features of Spengler’s version are also not yet known.

Thanks to its compact design, the model could be especially interesting for fairgrounds that do not have enough space for very large pendulum or over-the-head rides. However, the future route will show whether and where the new Surf Rider actually appears.

Spanish Impact rides: Photos as a preview

Fabbri Impact is not just a product concept. The manufacturer already showcases rides operated by the Spanish showman company Vicente Bañuls Grupo Atracciones. 2025 Impact was presented at Spanish fairs, among other events. These photos clearly show the shape of the arms, the open two-seat gondolas and the lighting.

If you want to see the rides already in operation, the official Fabbri Impact product page has an extensive gallery of daytime and night-time photos. All photos shown there are of the Spanish reference ride, not Spengler’s Surf Rider. The manufacturer states that the image rights belong to TOGO Media, so we are linking to the photos rather than reproducing them without permission.

This distinction is especially important for a new ride: the name, decoration and individual technical details may vary between different deliveries. Once original photos of the Swiss ride are available and permission to publish them has been granted, we can add them here.

What will the Surf Rider be like to ride?

The most exciting aspect is certainly the ride experience. Impact combines a round ride with changes in height and swinging gondolas. Its movement is therefore very different from that of classic bumper cars, a Musik Express or an ordinary swinging ship. However, according to the manufacturer, the concept is not aimed exclusively at fans of extreme rides with inversions.

Whether Impact feels particularly intense or more family-oriented in the long run also depends on the actual ride programme. Reports from riders in Spain so far have varied: some found the ride entertaining and varied, while others would have liked more intensity. No reliable judgement can yet be made about the Swiss version based on these reports.

If you already enjoy rides with several axes of movement, you are likely to welcome this addition. It will also be interesting to see whether the Surf Rider is designed more as a wave or beach attraction. The name alone does not tell us whether it will have such a design.

Opening, dates and further news

Exactly when Surf Rider 2027 will take its first visitors on board remains unknown for now. The name and the planned Swiss season are known in the showmen’s community, but no full official announcement of its premiere, including the place and date, has been made yet. A confirmed tour schedule has not been published so far either.

We have already prepared a dedicated ride profile for Beat Spengler's Surf Rider for the announced new ride. You will be able to find technical details and its known locations there. It is also worth checking the funfair and fair calendar for your next Chilbi..

Our verdict: Surf Rider could bring an unusual circular ride to Swiss fairgrounds in 2027. The Fabbri Impact's movement stands out from many familiar funfair classics. The main question now is what the Swiss model will actually look like and where it will be set up for the first time.

What do you think of Surf Rider? Do you find the combination of spinning, lifting and swinging exciting? Or do you prefer the really big thrill rides? Tell us what you think in the comments!

Sources and image note: Fabbri Group – Impact, technical specifications, photos and manufacturer information; Fabbri Group – IMPACT (official video). Technical specifications refer to the standard travelling model; statements about the planned new Swiss ride are subject to change. The linked photos and embedded video show Spanish Impact rides only. As at 8 November 2026.