Swatch Rocket Air - Riders Announcement

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.


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?

Riderlist Swatch Rocket Air 2016
Rogatkin Nicholi USA
Genon Thomas BEL
Pilgrim Sam GBR
Lemoine Tomas FRA
Zejda Tomas CZE
Gani Mehdi FRA
Testa Torquato ITA
Godziek Szymon POL
Fredriksson Max SWE
Thelander Anton SWE
Jones Matt GBR
Vencl Jakub CZE
Chubey Mitch CAN
Caverzasi Diego ITA
Henke Peter GER
Hunziker Ramon CHE
Bezanson Drew CAN
Nyquist Ryan USA
Alekhin Pavel RUS
Lamirande Bobby CAN
Aguado Alba Bienvenido ESP
Barroso Nuno POR
Pagés Simon FRA

Startlist Teambattle

The Teambattle will be one of the highlights again

In addition to the slopestyle contest, there will also be some familiar faces from other disciplines competing on the modular pump track. 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 pump track 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.

More Infos: www.rocketair.ch, www.flyingmetal.ch / @flyingmetal