Since 2010 Laax, Switzerland has been home to the Freestyle Academy LAAX. Here pros and groms alike could learn and refine their tricks in a safe and professional environment, whether on the trampoline, in the skate bowl or in the parkour gym.
Builders hard at work on the new Freestyle Academy LAAX skate park in April 2024.
Philipp Ruggli
Stories
Laax is nice yo
The Freestyle Academy LAAX reopens its doors after a two-year renovation
Well-known names in the freestyle scene, like freeskier Andri Ragettli, use the facility in Laax Murschetg as a training base. Now, after a two-year construction phase, the Freestyle Academy is reopening on 1 August 2024.
In 2022, the 1970s-era tennis hall that housed the original Freestyle Academy was demolished. In its place, two Rocks Resorts buildings were to be constructed, as well as a new Freestyle Academy facility in the lower level. Now, the new hall is finally ready to open its doors. From August 1st onward, freestylers ages six and older can once again enjoy the Academy’s extensive facilities.
The launch of the new facility is a “soft opening,” with official opening festivities planned for the 2024/25 winter season.
The last days of skating in the old tennis hall before it was torn down to make room for the new facility.
Philipp Ruggli
More room for new elements
At 2,000 square meters, the new space is much bigger than the previous 1,300-square-meter facility. The new hall is intended to reflect the changes in freestyle sports in the past years. Planners drew inspiration from freestyle coaches, national and international athletes and current trends in the scene. Only the three main sports have stayed constant: skating, trampoline and parkour.
In paticular, skating has received more attention in the new facility. Visitors will now be able to skate on three different levels. On the lowest level, the skate bowl has been doubled in size. A second level features a miniramp and a concrete flat zone, perfect for skaters who want to practice their tech tricks, while on the third level there’s a playful street skate area. And don’t forget the vert ramp—first built in 2019 in the old facility, it’s now been relocated to its new home.
The trampoline zone features four Grand Master trampolines, plus one Grand Master trampoline into an airbag. The area has been expanded with an Airtrack for acrobatics and an additional freestyle trampoline for use with skateboards and BMX bikes. One of the newest highlights is a Fivesquare trampoline equipped with a camera system for 360-degree analysis of jumps.
The parkour zone has also been improved with a more creative design. A jump tower and an airbag have been added, and a large Public Zone with a cafe as well as a TSG and Vans Store offer plenty of space to chill and watch the action in the hall.
(top) The build team hard at work in April 2024.
(middle) The vert ramp in its new home.
(bottom) Bounce, baby, bounce. Philipp Ruggli
(middle) The vert ramp in its new home.
(bottom) Bounce, baby, bounce. Philipp Ruggli
Construction based on the Greenstyle principles “Reduce, reuse, recycle”
The underground location of the new hall presented unique challenges. This complicated the delivery of construction materials, many of which were reused from the old hall. True to the motto of “reduce, reuse, recycle,” as much material as possible was reused. For large pieces that couldn’t be disassembled, some creative maneuvering was required to get them into the hall. Around 200 cubic meters of new wood was also used in the construction.
In the unforgettable words of Lt. Aldo Raine, "Fightin' in a basement offers a lot of difficulties. Number one being, you're fightin' in a basement!"
Philipp Ruggli
Who is the new Freestyle Academy for?
The main focus is on development of freestyle sports for everyone, from beginners to pros. Kids, families, youth and adults should all be able to use and enjoy the new facility. “Whoever is interested in this community, here they have direct access to it,” says Ivan Capaul, the director of the Freestyle Academy. However, the progression from casual sport to professional sport is also a central focus of the new academy. It offers first-class training possibilities for both current and would-be professional athletes. Ivan Capaul explains: “The atmosphere on the mountain, where kids can ride next to their idols in the park and the pipe, is the same here. That’s the motto of the Freestyle Academy: Freestyle is for everyone.”
Learn more about the new Freestyle Academy LAAX facilities here.
