In 2014, the time has finally come: the Flying Metal Crew is building its first official trail. "We all have experience in trail building, but not on an official contract," says Andy Halter. In the Bernese Oberland, the Thun-based company is getting nowhere with its trail projects. The fronts are too hardened. But René Schenker from Trailnet Nordwestschweiz approaches them.

Baselland is not an easy place for trail bikers either, but in the municipality of Sissach he has managed to untie the knot and win over the landowners for a bike trail in their forest. In just a few weeks, the Flying Metal Crew will be shoveling the Endless Trail, which after 1.8 kilometers of 190 Elevation loss will come to an end. A small jump line suggests that dirt jumpers were at work here.

Another roll and jump trail for Trailnet in Arlesheim BL follows, a flow trail with jumps on the Marbachegg, as well as dirt parks in Zurich (already in 2015) and Davos. The trail building business really gets rolling: Wiriehorn (Reshape), Skills Park in Saas Grund, Swiss Bike Park Oberried are further milestones. And the most important project for the Bernese Oberlanders, at least emotionally, is yet to come.

Contests and shows in the DNA

The Flying Metal Crew also has to manage the Rocket Air every spring and a little later the Dirt Contest at the Bike Days. They develop the Rocket Air into a motto party. One time, the riders fly through the jungle, another time back to the 1980s, another time to the year 3000. At the same time, Rocket Air becomes an FMB Gold Event, making it one of the most important slopestyle contests in the world.

And while you're at it, you might as well put on another event: Or rather on Lake Thun, as the dirt jumpers and skateboarders show off their tricks at the Freestyle Roots event on floating ramps.
For the next generation of dirt jumpers, the Flying Metal Crew puts on the Swiss Dirt Series. "Lucas Huppert grew up with it," emphasizes Halter, who rode dirt jump contests himself for years, but organized even more himself. Huppi has long since arrived at the top of the world. Particularly talented riders also receive support from the Flying Metal Crew in their search for sponsors.

The trail building takes off, the rocket stays on the ground

And then comes Corona. This means the end of all events for the time being. At the same time, the demand for trails grows and a long-cherished dream comes true: the Bikepark Thunersee. The Flying Metal Crew is finally allowed to build trails where it feels at home. The Rabenfluh Trail actually rides down to Steffisburg, where it all began with a dirt park. In the following years, the downhill freeride route Heartbeat Trail on Beatenberg and the flowing Goldiwheel Trail from Goldiwil to Thun were added. As always, when the Flying Metal Crew builds, there are plenty of jump ramps.

But there are also farewells. The Rocket Air is robbed of its farewell performance by the virus. The Thun ice rink, its home since 2010, is being renovated and the switch to seating reduces the audience capacity so much that it is no longer attractive for the air show, which is always sold out on Saturday evenings. The Flying Metal Crew are taking it with one eye crying and one eye laughing. "We still have a thousand ideas," they let the Rocket Air audience know. Ride readers can also look forward to this.

And anyone who has held out this far can now watch the movie.