Exclusive:
Mirror reporter Cyann Fielding went behind the scenes at Europe’s first freestyle academy for extreme sports — where snowboarders become skateboarders to perfect their tricks
A look at the LAAX Freestyle Academy home to world’s largest half-pipe
Cedi Romanens, a freestyle coach and co-designer of LAAX’s Freestyle Academy, slips over the edge of the skating half pipe, his board gliding across the smooth wooden surface as he descends at speed.
The wind ruffles through his hair, his body leaning instinctively into his turns. Every movement appears effortless — years of training evident in each second he skates.
Like eyes tracking a Wimbledon match, my head darts from side to side as I follow his movements. He maneuvers the pipe with total control, weaving gracefully between its walls. With a powerful push from his foot, he scales one side with force, launching himself into the air. A moment later, he lands on the top edge of the pipe — standing still. It’s a display of skill, confidence, and mastery that embodies the spirit of the LAAX Freestyle Academy.
The LAAX Freestyle Academy is located in the Swiss Alps at LAAX Ski Resort, approximately 90 minutes from Zurich airport. It is Europe’s first freestyle academy and is paving the way for a future generation of extreme sports athletes.
The academy boasts a state-of-the-art facility featuring an extensive range of training areas, including trampolines, a skate bowl, a parkour zone, and a jumping tower equipped with a large airbag for safe landings. Spread across multiple levels, these spaces cater to a variety of skill levels, allowing both beginners and seasoned athletes to test, refine, and master their techniques before taking them to the slopes.
For parents accompanying young athletes, the academy offers a café with a prime view of the action.
Walking around the centre, the scent of fresh pinewood lingers in the air, adding to the eco-chic charm of the space. The rhythmic sounds of skateboards rolling across wooden surfaces fills the centre, blending with the occasional laughter and chatter of athletes perfecting their tricks. Though the facility is pristine now, its surfaces will eventually bear the marks of countless training sessions — a testament to its purpose.
In addition, the use of sustainable materials is prominent, reinforcing the academy’s commitment to eco-conscious design. Over two years, the Academy was built under the resort’s sustainability initiative, ‘Greenstyle.’ Many of the materials used in the current facility were repurposed from the original academy, emphasising LAAX’s commitment to reducing waste through reuse and recycling.
The academy is also accessible year-round. Unlike traditional ski resorts that rely on seasonal snowfall, this facility allows skiers and snowboarders to train and refine their skills regardless of the weather. This means that even in the middle of summer, aspiring athletes can practice technical moves such as Frontside and Backside 180s and 360s on specialised indoor equipment, before taking them to the slopes when winter arrives.
The center encourages winter sports enthusiasts to train in cross-discipline sports such as skateboarding, parkour, gymnastics, and trampolining through sessions and courses, including in summer for surf skating and skateboarding.
The academy is open to anyone over six-years-old, which includes families, teenagers and adults. In addition, any ability and skill level is welcome.
Book it
Prices to enter the academy cost 30CHF (£26.65) for an hour for non-members or 24 CHF (£21.32) for members.
