Swatch Rocket Air 2016 : Top Three Runs - Video

May 1, 2016
by Flying Metal  
What an end to the 7th annual Swatch Rocket Air. After the Teambattle on Friday, the riders had to fight for FMB world tour points in the final. The winner of the Swatch Rocket Air 2016 was American, Nicholi Rogatkin. Many exciting side events completed the show and made it to a spectacular adventure into the jungle of Thun in front of 10’000 spectators.


Rogatkin Wins Final
The atmosphere at the ice rink of Thun was ecstatic. In a sold out arena, riders brought their best tricks and impressed the audience with spectacular runs. The winner of the final was last years second place, Nicholi Rogatkin. His first run featured difficult tricks such as a cork 720 and a triple tailwhip, topped off with a lot of his own unique style. With this remarkable run, Rogatkin convinced the judges and brought the audience to their feet. Although Rogatkin’s victory was set before his second run, he completed half the course and preformed his famous trick, the twister. The winner not only won mentionable price money but also critical points for the Freeride Mountain Bike World Tour (FMB). Thanks to the Swatch Rocket Air now being a Gold Event, the points will now also count towards the Diamond Series. With a super high cork 720, the Swedish rider, Max Fredriksson landed himself in second place. The Italian rider, Diego Caverzasi showed one of his best runs here at the Swatch Rocket Air and received third.

FMB Gold Event in Thun Switzerland on April 29th-30th 2016 Photo www.andremaurer.ch

FMB Gold Event in Thun Switzerland on April 29th-30th 2016 Photo www.andremaurer.ch

A Weekend of World Champions
Once again the Swatch Rocket Air was a huge success. Not deterred by the bad weather on Saturday, a record number of 10’000 people visited the Swatch Rocket Air and helped create an awesome atmosphere. When the riders weren’t hitting the big jumps inside, there was still plenty to see outside. The world champion of BMX, Viki Gomez put together a spectacular show and impressed visitors. Noël Niederberger broke the world record of the Pumptrack World Series by riding the track in 7.206 sec. It is safe to say the organizers out did themselves, adding even more to the event line up and put a smile on many faces.

FMB Gold Event in Thun Switzerland on April 29th-30th 2016 Photo www.andremaurer.ch

FMB Gold Event in Thun Switzerland on April 29th-30th 2016 Photo www.andremaurer.ch

Photos: andremaurer.ch

MENTIONS: @flyingmetal


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46 Comments
  • 77 14
 Slip the pedal cost a lost of points for any rider, except for rogatkin
  • 11 29
flag FilipeRosa (May 1, 2016 at 9:29) (Below Threshold)
 10 or 20 points I believe. And max got helped by the judges, that was a maybe 91 run, not a 94.7. Diego should have won. This judges...
  • 24 35
flag Joebro1995 (May 1, 2016 at 13:06) (Below Threshold)
 Someone call the waambulance. No one cares about a slipped pedal, this isnt sychronised swimming in the olympics where everything has to be perfect. Gnarliest run wins, who cares about the rest. If he slipped a pedal but still had speed, so what?
  • 18 7
 @Joebro1995: i think i slipped pedal should lose you some points but rogatkins run was still the best and for the most part very clean.
  • 7 1
 Slip a pedal costs about 5 points deduction, but it changes depending if the foot touches the ground or not.. 10-20 is when you slip a pedal two times or miss both pedals
  • 2 1
 @Joebro1995: Think about it objectively. The level wouldn't be the same if the judging was more permisive, it does good to the sport
  • 5 2
 @Joebro1995: No one cares? Tell that to the riders that got huge deductions in their runs because of a slipped pedal...
  • 18 1
 Slipped pedals suck, but it definitely shouldnt negate a gnarly run. The day they stop rewarding progression and reward nice, clean pedal connection instead, is the day the sport stops progressing. I for one would rather see a balls to the wall run than a simple run with nice clean pedal connection. I guess you lot are different though
  • 11 2
 A slipped pedal is going to cost him more than having tricks that seem almost double what the guys behind him are throwing? Slow speed cash roll, a double tailwhip out of the quarter, a triple tailwhip, the creative 180 whip with a clean roll out, etc. 2nd and 3rd were clean but they were a notch below on what they brought to the table.

After I watched the video, I was thinking that the slipped pedal at least kept the rest of the field from getting smoked, because his run was extremely impressive. I'm sure it cost him points, just not enough to lose first
  • 2 6
flag bikerguy957 (May 1, 2016 at 18:14) (Below Threshold)
 - 20 points
  • 2 3
 @Joebro1995: Dude I like rogatkin and he was my favorite to win, but I think the slipped pedal was a bit unfair not have cost in points as cost to other riders, just that... Desides that his run was definitely the winning run, he is a beast and no one is in that same level!
  • 6 0
 @FilipeRosa: I'm just going off of the video, I haven't looked at any scoring breakdowns or anything, but it seemed like it definitely cost him something since he only won by .3. If he had stuck everything, I feel like he would have scored a bit higher. What I was saying is that he clearly went all out, and should have clearly scored higher, which was enough to overcome the lost points for the slipped pedal, especially considering the trick it was on (i.e. perhaps a slipped pedal triple whip = clean double whip?)
  • 1 0
 Yes, he should drop a few points, but, did you freaking see the stuff he just threw down. He was a clear winner. So what difference does it make?
  • 27 6
 Top 3 runs were all close and positions can be easily argued about, but sending the twister just for the crowd makes rogatkin a worthy winner in my book. Kids not lacking enthusiasm or commitment that's for sure.
  • 9 22
flag eddardstark40 (May 1, 2016 at 14:52) (Below Threshold)
 hey he never did the twister the last trick was called a cashroll
  • 4 14
flag n-lagasse (May 1, 2016 at 17:51) (Below Threshold)
 @eddardstark40: not sure why you're getting the negs from our dysfunctional and awesome community. I can hardly do a whip, but I'm with you, that shit was a cashroll. Either way, it was super cool.... Winter's here!
  • 14 1
 @n-lagasse @eddardstark40 he came out and did his final run and threw the twister, even though his first run, which was in the video, already got him 1st place. Read, kids.
  • 4 1
 Welp you got me there!
  • 22 3
 He does Rogatkin do a cash roll when he's going that's slowly? The man's a legend!
  • 15 3
 #gwingotrobbed
  • 8 1
 Who gives a fuck if Rogatkin slipped a pedal, his run was by far the knarliest.
  • 6 2
 I have 2 questions. Does landing backwards help or hurt your score? And do all the riders have to drink redbull at the end of their run?
  • 10 2
 Landing backwards obviously adds to your score, it's more unique as well as harder to pull off and no of course they don't all have to drink red bull after there runs
  • 9 0
 drink water
  • 4 0
 @Partigiano: ... and beer
  • 9 3
 Rogatkin's grown on me, love that kid!
  • 4 1
 I feel that Lemoine got robbed, he dropped a sick run and was still outside of 5th place. By the way, Tommy G's bike was too sick, and Rogatkin's bike better be the 2017 colorway for the P3
  • 15 10
 #maxwasrobbed
  • 6 2
 Damn diego's run was so smooth and dialed :o
  • 4 0
 total fukkin class, balls of steel.
  • 1 0
 Stainless steel
  • 5 0
 Is that a 29er ?
  • 8 7
 Props to the riders BUT man do these flat courses suck. 'SLOPE'style?????!!

I'd rather they make them proper flowing dirt jumps. The slow pace and all the pedalling sucks. Keeps MTBs on the mountain!!
  • 1 0
 that'll be a cool& classic course
  • 1 0
 The world's best riders like it. Did you ride the course? Seems like you know a lot about it Wink
Don't watch it if you don't like it Smile
  • 7 2
 #rogatkinistheman
  • 3 0
 Rogatkin has been putting in work. He's been looking cleaner and more dialed each contest. Well deserved win here.
  • 3 0
 3 whipping a drop is insane!!!! props man holy fuck
  • 3 0
 I would like rogatkin so much better if he wore a visor
  • 7 7
 "topped off with a lot of his own unique style"
Ball riding is a style now? Throw in a few cases for good luck.....
  • 14 4
 Actually, his crok 720 was really beautifull, the 180 tailwhip too, the 360 foot plan also, the cashroll too and the 180 double whip. the only not so stylish trick is the triple whip.
  • 14 2
 @GabrielDugas: The difficulty and uniqueness of the triple whip makes up for the lack of style IMO
  • 3 0
 @mtshakira: Absolutely, and did not mean to downgrade the trick. It was mostly a reply to watchmen underligning that all his tricks were absolute style at the exeption of one bangner (were they not all bangner?)
  • 6 9
 Rogatkin's run was really good, but slipped pedal and the top section of max was pretty casual, Diego should have won each trick beside the flip table on the step down was top notch
  • 10 2
 I don't mean to be an ass, but I can't see how you guys are saying that. He threw nice, clean, dialed tricks but I have literally seen all of these tricks done in person by bmxers (yes I know it's not an mtb) or by dirt jumpers, except the front flip barspin. I've also seen them done in hundreds of videos, sometimes just on "Joe Schmoe Local Ripper's" instagram. Of course I'm impressed by them, and of course they're being done bigger, smoother and better by these guys. However, when you can show up to a park or set of dirt jumps in dozens of places and it's not unusual to witness good riders do these tricks, I just don't see it as a winning run at an FMB event. 540 with a "meh" landing off the quarter? Pretty bland, imo. Two win an international event, you need to throw together a line of (mostly) bangers.

That being said it was a well deserved 3rd. I just think y'all are looking for a controversy where it seems pretty clear what order those runs should have been ranked.
  • 2 0
 Really bro? I don't mean to be an ass but are people Really throwing 360 tailwhips of 3 meter drops and triplewhips, in Wyoming........I'm one to talk I live in Idaho lol but I've been to woodward west and seen danny way attempt some of the first ever skate double backflips on a mega ramp I've also seen nitro circus live (great fyi) but I've never seen before all the things done at swatch air 2016 especially so smooth. No disrespect through I'm just saying new tricks were pulled! And that was truly truly outrageousSmile







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