LAAX Opens Second Freestyle Academy Exclusively For Younger Kids

LAAX, Switzerland has expanded its freestyle offering with the launch of a second Freestyle Academy, aimed exclusively for toddlers and children from 0 - 8 years of age. Located in the STENNA shopping centre, in the village center of Flims, the offering complements the already existing Freestyle Academy LAAX, aimed at children from 6 years, teenagers and adults.

The open day, held at the end of January, attracted over 600 children and parents, with those aged up to 8 years were able to jump, skate, slide and romp around the new hall. The unique indoor playground is home to trampolines, airbags, slides and wooden ramps, all amongst an imaginative, child-friendly setting.

Where the very young can surpass themselves

Whilst LAAX’s primary Freestyle Academy offered ample space for adventure hungry children from 6+ years, the younger crowd had to make do with a restricted Kids Corner. “These times are over, with the construction of the new KIDS Freestyle Academy," says Reto Poltera and adds: ”This belongs entirely to our youngest guests, and they remain undisturbed by older kids,  and teenagers. So, everyone gets their money's worth and long faces at the entrance are a thing of the past."

Versatile Indoor Playground

At approximately 1,000 square meters, the new hall encompasses six trampolines, two airbags with platforms at different heights for jumping down, a slide, two mini ramps and a 19-metre-long and 7.5-metre-wide wave trough track for skating, balance bikes or riding a scooter. The offer is accompanied by a freely accessible crawling corner, café and small viewing platform for parents to watch the action from above. 

Freestyle: From the snow to the hall

LAAX attracts world-class athletes to regularly train in the various snow parks and off the snow in the Freestyle Academy.

The inception is brought about thanks to two initiators of the Weisse Arena Group in Laax: Reto Poltera, member of the group's management board, and Ivan Capaul, head of the Freestyle Academy and the snowboard school. 

The pair have been instrumental in the planning from the outset. "The little ones emulate the big ones. That's always been the case. They also wanted to jump over kickers and fly through halfpipes like the big stars. So we started building snow parks in smaller dimensions. Now we offer something for every age and level," says Reto Poltera. 

The same philosophy is followed in the KIDS Freestyle Academy: "All elements have been built in appropriate dimensions for small children. This means that even the youngest children can slowly and playfully get to grips with freestyle. When they are older, it's finally off to the original Freestyle Academy LAAX," explains Ivan Capaul. 

More information is available at: https://freestyleacademy.com/kids-flims