A few hundred meters behind Vienna’s beloved giant wheel, ducked away between a zombie house and a sausage booth stands a minor wheel – but it is by no means lesser for those who ride it. It is called Tagada and it is a Viennese institution. For decades the Tagada has been drawing crowds of teenagers who grew up in and around it. Everybody in town knows it. The Tagada serves as a stage for those who want to shine, it serves as a meeting point for those who have nowhere else to go. It is a venue of escapism and a living room for the Tagada family – often troubled youth who lack other social backing. The speed, the sound, the lights and the people make them forget their worries for a few minutes. The Tagada is the only ride of the Prater where you have to work with your body and develop skills in order to do it well. It might cause a few broken bones in the process but this is considered to be part of the game. „After all they tell you not to stand up during the ride. We simply don’t care too much about it. And when we get hurt it is our own fault.“ says Mete, one of the best riders of the season.