The Flying Metal Crew, which organizes the Swatch Rocket Air, is rolling out the red carpet this year, as the five best riders in the FMB world rankings have announced their participation - something that has never been seen before in Switzerland. Ramon Hunziker wants to "present the perfect flow of the course for the world's elite" again this year and this requires a lot of hard-working helpers. Since last week, around 30 helpers have been converting the 3,000 pallets for landings, piling up tens of cubic meters of dirt and balancing on dizzying scaffolding to erect eight-metre-high ghetto blaster drops.

When you have the top five riders in the world getting into the ring, the hot seat will be hard to defend. Big names such as Brett Rheeder, Emil Johansson, Max Fredriksson and Nicholi Rogatkin will be dropping into the course one after the other. Only Thomas Genon, the current number four in the world rankings, will have to watch the spectacle on livestream due to an injury. Genon secured victory in 2015 and Rogatkin came out on top in 2016. According to the organizer, it remains exciting to see who will join the list of matadors in 2017, as the top-class list of riders definitely shows potential. The top draught horses will fly across the pond to the Swiss mountains and be challenged by the Scandinavians and Brits on Friday evening. But it wouldn't be a Battle Royal if the French and Germans didn't put their two cents in. The winners of last year's team battle, Team Barcelona&Italy, are cooking up "al dente" and with sharp runs against Team Switzerland and Team Northeast.

The Spanish temperament is also well represented outside the ice rink, as Viki Gomez, elite BMX flatland rider and world champion, will heat things up with his show. The Madrid native will be on show on Saturday at 11.30, 15.00 and 17.45.

But how do you actually learn all these dangerous tricks? One way is to unscrew the wheels and practise on the trampoline. At the Tramp Bike Contest on Friday at 7 p.m., you can get to the bottom of the matter and then watch the greatest Swiss talents on the trampoline without a bike. The "Wallscrapers Trampoline Show" can definitely steal the show from the slopestylers on bikes. In addition to fame and glory, the Bergamont Pumptrack Race also offers a dirt bike as a prize.

The slopestyle rendezvous will take place at the Thun ice rink on Friday, April 28 to Saturday, April 29.

https://rocketair.ch/