Product test
Super Air R Spherical Mips from Bell: this bike helmet has you covered
by Patrick Bardelli
Backflip to Winterthur
19.2.2020
Translation: machine translated
Pictures: Thomas Kunz
It's holiday time and the kids are coming in droves. The Skillspark in Winterthur is buzzing. In the middle of it all are four riders with a special mission: one backflip in four steps.
Monday afternoon in Winterthur. The Skillspark is bursting at the seams. It's a hive of activity. No wonder, after all, it's the sports holidays in the canton of Zurich. What's more, this facility is the only one of its kind in Switzerland. Those who are not on the ski slopes race down the ramps on dirt bikes, BMX bikes, skateboards or scooters. It seems that half of freestyle Switzerland meets here today. And honing their backflip, tailwhip or barspin. Including Dan from Obwalden, Alain from Möhlin in Aargau, Alexandre from Bulle near Fribourg and Kian from Winterthur.
Kian and Dan are ten and twelve years old respectively. Freestyle sports are not for old bones. Alain and Alexandre, aged 19 and 23, are already oldies. All four are members of the Madd Gear flow team. Alexandre was the first Swiss rider to do a 540 Flair on a scooter. A number of riders in Switzerland have now mastered this backflip with a one-and-a-half turn of the rider and deck.
Alain too. His dream trick, which he would love to master, is the double flair with barspin. In other words, two backflips including a half turn of the rider and deck and a turn of the handlebars on their own axis. He works on this when he's not busy with his job as a construction machinery mechanic. And the youngsters? They dream of a flip drop. They train practically every weekend in Winterthur and spend eight to ten hours travelling through bowls and pipes on Saturdays and Sundays. International titles are still a long way off. Today I want to know how they learn a simple backflip. First of all, it's off to the trampoline.
One backflip in four steps
The backflip is a backward somersault. It is one of the basics in many sports with an acrobatic background. To perform a backflip, you jump into the air, rotate 360° around the horizontal axis and then land back on your feet. Or on the air cushion for now.
Step 1
Once the backflip is bomb-proof, it's on to the big air. According to the operators, the Skillspark is home to the world's only indoor big air with a steep airbag landing. And now the sports equipment, the Freestyle Scooter, has also had its first outing.
Step 2
After countless failed attempts, painful falls with burns - long trousers and long-sleeved shirts are recommended - the 360° are finally completed one fine day. The next step awaits.
Step 3
We are in the so-called "park", which consists of many larger and smaller ramps. Photographer Tom risks everything to get some good shots. Kids race past him on their bikes, boards and scooters to the left and right. Always look over both shoulders before every step, otherwise you'll crash. Here, the rider either lands on a safety mat or two mates are ready to help with the landing.
Step 4
And then the time has come: the backflip on the scooter without assistance, net or false floor. The compulsory part is done, now it's time for the freestyle. Dan, Alexandre, Alain and Kian let off steam in the "bowl" at the end of our little scooter session. The bowl looks like an empty wooden swimming pool. At some point, Alain will do his first double flair with a barspin here and Dan and Kian will celebrate after a flip drop. At some point.
The scooter range from Galaxus. And for the collected articles by me, backflip this way.
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
Sport
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
