Replay - Swatch Rocket Air

Apr 30, 2016
by Flying Metal  


For seven years in a row, riders have called the Swatch Rocket Air one of their favourite bike events of the season. This weekend things are about to get extra wild as the ice rink of Thun turns into a rainforest to fit this year’s theme “Welcome to the Jungle.” As the only FMB Gold Event in Switzerland, it’s attracting famous riders from all over the world and will be sure to captivate the audience.

Mountain bikers and fans alike can look forward to a jungle oasis as the ice rink of Thun transforms to take its theme “Welcome to the Jungle.” Along with the theme, fans can expect some changes to the course as well. The long serving “whale tail” obstacle will be replaced by a more progressive flat drop feature. The tower, with a height of seven meters, is undoubtedly going to be a challenge for the riders. Replicating the Maya Tower, the drop is sure to be eye catching for the audience as well. Extended with a “rainbow wall ride,” the quarter pipe is also getting a new feature for the riders to be creative with and show their tricks.

Foto www.andremaurer.ch

The 26-year-old Canadian, Drew Bezanson is really looking forward to the Swatch Rocket Air: “The course looks fantastic, I am really looking forward to riding it." Until now, the Canadian has shown his BMX tricks at a high level, and even higher heights, while winning some of the most prestigious BMX contests around the globe. For the first time in the competitive world, Bezanson will be trading his BMX for a mountain bike, making his debut at the Swatch Rocket Air. Although the Canadian admits it hasn’t been easy, he assured us that he has been training a lot on his mountain bike and will be able to adapt some of his BMX tricks. In the Team Battle he will be competing against household names in the mountain bike slopestyle scene. Opponents like Nicholi Rogatkin, Peter Henke and Sam Pilgrim are not going to be easy to beat. For the theme “Welcome to the Jungle,” Bezanson is still looking for a costume. Who knows what we can expect but maybe a Canadian monkey?

Foto www.andremaurer.ch

In addition to the slopestyle contest, there will also be some familiar faces from other disciplines competing on the modular pumptrack. The Pump Battle World Series recently stopped in Zürich and will also be in Thun for the Swatch Rocket Air. Riders like Noel Niederberger, Simon Waldburger and the German Four-Cross Champion, Daniel Anger will ride the track. But of course, the pumptrack is not only for the professional riders. Everybody is invited to join in and compare their times with international competitors using the online ranking system. With a time of 7.815 seconds, the current Swiss record is not far off the current Pump Battle Series world record. Come out and watch to see if one of the riders can break the record!

To complete the event line up, none other than the current BMX Flatland World Champion, Viki Gomez of Spain will turn the front of the ice rink into an arena of bike acrobatics at the highest level.

New this year is online ticket presales. In addition to tickets available on location Friday and Saturday, tickets will also be available prior to the event at rocketair.ch/tickets.


MENTIONS: @flyingmetal / @FMBA



Author Info:
flyingmetal avatar

Member since Sep 2, 2013
65 articles

52 Comments
  • 37 3
 THE 2 GIRLS at the end of each run ... WHY ARE THEY THERE just look they re like "wtf are we doing here ?"???
  • 5 11
flag clancyryburn1 (Apr 30, 2016 at 13:49) (Below Threshold)
 heinous looking
  • 5 0
 I bet they were pretty cold too. Even the long bearded man creature could only do their job for short durations.
  • 13 2
 Yeah they do not fit the basic big boobs smiling standard right ?
  • 19 0
 Those girls at final are ..... wtff
  • 5 1
 +1
  • 14 0
 Nyquist is a savage in front of the camera
  • 12 0
 I wish the Red Bull player were as smooth as this.
  • 6 0
 I am 25 now and feel old when iam at the dirtpark with all the kids. Its good to see nyquist then . Some yesrs to go. Goddamm he should ve won he made a fuckin one hand x up flip. Thats stylish and badass
  • 2 0
 I'm 38, I feel the same.

Don't worry, you'll get over it Wink
  • 9 2
 will there be a replay?
  • 6 0
 Hoping, 4am aest sunday aint cool
  • 3 0
 @deadbeat: it's the same as the cairns World Cup was for us in the UK.
  • 3 0
 I think there will be a replay as last year with same youtube player : www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-HUMrrSruQ
  • 6 0
 @hollowalex: true but that and rotorua crankworx are the only normal hours live broadcast stuff we get down here Frown
  • 1 0
 @deadbeat: Other than the Fort William race we don't really have anything done over here either, but the times aren't so bad for most of the European shit at least.
  • 1 1
 Just click on the link and rewind it...
  • 6 0
 Bezanson is out, popped his shoulder out last week.
  • 6 0
 stoked for max...
  • 6 4
 Rogatkin slipped the pedal on the Triple whip and did not get any deduction. Max got a very high score for the run he pulled. I think Diego would be the fair winner but ok. This judges nowadays...
  • 7 3
 ok now that it s over we could move on to the ""next"" event ... --> Where the hell is cruz fest ???
  • 2 0
 I guess they are editing all the clips they had from the week end, so be patient and allow them time, the outcome will only be better Smile
  • 3 0
 if it has the same quality as last year I wouldn't mind if they take a month
  • 6 1
 fredriksson first!
  • 6 0
 Flat Drop 3whip! He's next level
  • 2 0
 If it took that long to decide whether or not Max should've pulled ahead of Rogatkin, it just means that they should've given him first.
  • 2 0
 Great competition!! Nicholi Rogatkin put all his sweet tricks together, the only thing I don't like about him is his stupid helmet!
  • 6 2
 #Maxgotrobbed !
  • 3 0
 So stoked, I can't wait for the Swatch Rocket Air!!!
  • 2 0
 I hope there will be a replay
  • 3 1
 Drew Bezanson gonna slay this mark my words!!! $
  • 2 2
 Totally xD
  • 1 0
 he couldn t ride unfortunatelu due to injury
  • 1 0
 Seems his shoulder got dislocated and so did my heartFrown says he'll be back for 26TRIX June 9-12! May the bike gods mend your shoulder sinew that it may be 10x it's previous power so you can pull bicycle feats the likes of which man's eyes have never lane witness!!!!!!
  • 3 0
 USA!
  • 4 1
 #NoMoreJungleBookGirls
  • 2 0
 Not surprised Nicholi won it.
  • 1 2
 Traildevils.ch made live pictures during the whole 2 days. Check them out here: traildevils.ch/Events/Swatch-Rocket-Air-2016-84834fe885f3c438bca508d2e03c6902/LiveFeed
  • 1 0
 wah I have to wait 30 more minutes
  • 18 0
 im such a idiot its PM not AM
  • 2 1
 Go Alfie Stephens... bring it on.
  • 3 1
 Singing Pennywise. Rad
  • 1 2
 Wow, I've never seen a triple tailwhip, a backflip double tailwhip, a 360 triple barspin, or a front flip off of a drop before.
  • 3 2
 Rogatkin is on fire....what a sick run
  • 1 0
 Max Fredriksson got robbed!
  • 1 0
 1:01:00 Pavel Brakeless Slopestyle....Alrighty then?
  • 3 4
 Rogatkin actually does all of his tricks opposite, and that's amazing! Oh, and the beard guy is awkward.
  • 8 1
 They aren't oppo if they are normal for him... Him spinning the way most people spin would be considered oppo
  • 1 0
 @j-t-g: same here. Oppo feels norm for me
  • 2 4
 Judges scoring were too high.
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