If you want to experience a truly Swiss sports tradition, then you should head out to the Baselland Kantonal Schwingfest—a competition of Swiss-style wrestling, or “Schwingen.”
Schwingen has been around for hundreds of years. In contrast to traditional wrestling, the events are held outdoors, on circular arenas matted with sawdust. In addition to their traditional clothing, the two wrestlers wear short pants made of burlap and held up by a belt. To start the match, the wrestlers hold each other by those pants and then, as in traditional wrestling, try to trip or throw their opponents so that they end up on their backs. There are numerous throws they can use, many similar to those used in traditional wrestling or judo. The match ends when the winner manages to throw his opponent to the ground so both of his shoulders touch the ground while holding on to the loser’s pants. At the same time, the fighters are awarded points for the throws they use, so if neither of the two manages a winning throw after a given period of time, the more active fighter receives the higher number of points. As a sign of respect for each other, the competitors shake hands before and after each bout, and the winner brushes the sawdust off the loser’s back after the bout.
On this Saturday, the Baselland Kantonal Schwingfest will be held for the 108th time! At the same time, the Pratteln Wrestling Club will be celebrating 75 years! Participants include around 130 active wrestlers from all over northwestern Switzerland as well as the guest wrestlers from the Kerzers and Entlebuch Wrestling Clubs.Wrestling bouts will take place from 8:00 to about 17:00; after that the party continues with live music from 20:30, and the bar is open until 4:00 in the morning.
Standing and lawn seats are CHF 20.

Website
pratteln2024.ch/

Where
Sandplatz Erli
Erlihölzli 1
4133 Pratteln

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