The Clock’s tickin’: Countdown for Swatch Prime Line

Servus Munich! After somewhat disappointing weather in Les Gets (FRA) it’s up to Swatch Prime Line at MASH this weekend to satisfy the fans’ thirst for FMB World Tour slopestyle action. The FMB World Tour’s best athletes such as Nicholi Rogatkin (USA), Brett Rheeder (CAN) and Thomas Genon (BEL) will be competing at the FMB Diamond Event in hope of securing the win in the Bavarian capital. Set on the grounds of the 1972 Olympic Games, 23 slopestyle stars and a few new names such as the only 16-year-old Emil Johansson (SWE) or young German Nico Scholze, will be sending it big time, overcoming drops, step-ups, step-downs, doubles and berms. The final action will be broadcasted live on Saturday and you can tune in on www.fmbworldtour.com from 4.30pm CEST / 7.30am PDT.

The Swatch Prime Line course is the only city course in the Diamond Series this year. Overlooking the Munich Olympic Stadium, the riders will be sending it around the Coubertin Square from Friday July 1st at 4.30pm CEST. 23 riders in the field will be battling for a spot in the top 15 in order to qualify for the final, which will take place at the same time, same place on Saturday. Beside Canada, France has the most athletes in the lineup: Antoine Bizet, Mehdi Gani, Yannick Granieri, Tomas Lemoine and Louis Reboul will be hoping for a similarly impressive contest as they had in Leogang in the beginning of June, when four of them landing in the top 15 with Bizet and Gani reaching the podium.

In contrast Sam Pilgrim will be the only Brit dropping into the course this weekend. After two attempts at the title in the past two years, Sam is looking to get third time lucky this year: “Over the last years I have had some good results at Swatch Prime Line. I hope to do the same this year and maybe even reach the podium. As long as I have fun then I will do good,” says Pilgrim showing confidence. “The last two courses have been awesome and I’m excited to see this year’s course and start riding!”

For all top riders this FMB Diamond Event is going to be crucial. Due to the cancellation of Les Gets, Swatch Prime Line will be decisive for the title race along with Red Bull Joyride at Crankworx Whistler. So the suspense will be huge – especially for those, who are already setting the tone at the top of the Diamond Series Ranking. The 20-year-old American Nicholi Rogatkin is at the top of the table, but the Belgian Thomas Genon is close behind. Two runs will decide, who will win the third FMB Diamond Series Event of the season. Will it be one of the well-known stars or will someone else be able to break into the scene?

The two FMB Wildcard winners came from 26TRIX. A young Swede, Emil Johannson, made the crowd go ecstatic in Leogang with his run, which not only secured him fifth place at his first ever Gold Event appearance but also the first of two wildcards. The 16-year-old is looking forward to his first gig at the highest possible level on the FMB World Tour: “I never expected to achieve this. It’s huge to be a part of the FMB Diamond Series.” The second FMB Wildcard went to Nico Scholze. The 21-year-old German will be hoping to live up to the expectations in front of a home crowd. “I expect a lot from myself, maybe a little too much. I have been training hard for this. I’m really looking forward to the course, this huge event in Munich and hope the weather will finally be more like summer!” Nico wowed the spectators in Leogang during 26TRIX after sending a huge Tsunami Backflip, which secured him the “GoPro Best Trick” title.

The anticipation is growing and it’s a good feeling knowing that a sick slopestyle weekend in Munich is ahead of us. Don’t miss out all the Swatch Prime Line action. Check out www.fmbworldtour.com on Saturday from 4.30pm CEST / 7.30pm PDT.