Visitors can look forward to plenty of action and entertainment at the opening of SKILLS PARK, the 6,000 square meter multi-sports hall in Winterthur. The big event on December 17 and 18, 2016 will be the first time that children, young people, adults and families will have access to SKILLS PARK with bistro and will be able to try out all the facilities - free of charge. The attractive supporting program reflects the multifaceted nature of the SKILLS PARK facilities.

Action sports trick machines at the start

"The world's most progressive mountain bike freestyle athletes, Pavel Alekhin and Adolf Silva, will be causing a sensation on the big air jumping course," announces Dutchman Desmond Tessemaker. As part of the Masters of Dirt team, he will be competing on his BMX himself with flip combo variations. The Russian Red Bull athlete, Pavel Alekhin, impresses the world with his versatile trick repertoire and is known for his characteristic style - he rides without brakes. At the tender age of 19, showmaster Adolf Silva from Barcelona is in no way inferior to him: He regularly performs double backflips and rumor has it that he is now fine-tuning his triple. It remains to be seen whether the big-air jumping facility with roll-out landing cushion at SKILLS PARK will suit him as a training ground. During the action-packed big air shows, Clemens Kaudela, Tobi Merz, Georg Fechter, Peter Kaiser and the Swiss guys from the Flying Metall Crew with Ramon Hunziker, Cedric Hubacher, Lucas Huppert and Chris Räber will also be thrilling the audience. Emotional fireworks are guaranteed at the official opening ceremony on Saturday evening with the Big Air XSkills show featuring MTB, BMX, skateboard and scooter athletes.

Beads of sweat and tears of laughter

The trainers from CrossFit Gleis 10 will make you sweat in the fitness zone with targeted Crossfit workouts, while Capoeira União Winterthur will heat things up in the gymnastics area with smooth moves and vibrant music with a show and workshop. Overcoming obstacles like James Bond - the professionals from ParkourOne teach the appropriate skills on the parkour training elements in the parkour workshop. Be warned of cramps of laughter at the bubble soccer matches, a mixture of wrestling and football. The WintiFootball Amigos put oversized balloons filled with air over the footballers' upper bodies, leaving only their legs free to play. It's worth trying it out - a high fun factor is guaranteed! A children's festival can be expected in the Kids Gym area, the trampoline area and the traffic course in particular and will probably culminate in the Kids Bike Race. During the pump track workshops, participants will be taught the correct riding technique on the BMX or mountain bike, such as how to build up speed by pulling and pushing. National BMX coach and two-time Olympic BMX racer Roger Rinderknecht, who also runs theSKILLS PARK, is looking forward to the charming support of his cousin in the Sunday workshop: Dominique Rinderknecht, Miss Switzerland 2013.

New skateboard school from Olympic nominee

Red Bull pro skater and local hero, Simon Stricker, played a key role in the development of the concrete street skatepark at SKILLS PARK and is now delighted with the result: "SKILLS PARK leaves nothing to be desired for today's skateboarders with its concrete street skatepark, large wooden bowl with pool coping, various jump ramps and big air jump facility. The design and quality of the skate park is comparable to the facilities of the Street Skate League SLS and the X-Games, which host the world's most important competitions." With his newly founded skateboard school "Swiss Skate Academy", the Olympic nominee offers professional skateboard coaching at SKILLS PARK. The first workshops will be held at the opening weekend. He will show off his trick skills in the skateboard show together with SKATE.ch team riders Sven Kilchenmann, Fabio Martin and Lino Häfeli.

Opening times

The SKILLS PARK will be open on Saturday, December 17, 2016 from 10 am to 2 am. The sports zone closes at 10 p.m. while DJ Prince Boogie heats up the music in the SKILLS PARK bistro/sports bar. On Sunday, December 18, 2016, SKILLS PARK will be open from 10 am to 7 pm. The sports zones will be available exclusively for "MiniSkills" from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; for children up to 5 years old accompanied by an adult. Regular operation starts on Monday, December 19, 2016. Information on operating times, admission prices,

Offers and the detailed opening program can be found at www.skillspark.ch.