Eidgenössisches Schwing- und Älplerfest Mollis

• 270 wrestlers and 100 stone throwers are taking part.
• About 350,000 spectators are expected over three days.
• The arena has 56,500 seats.
• You’ll witness the best wrestlers in Switzerland competing for the title of wrestling king.
• In stone throwing, athletes try to throw a heavy stone as far as possible.
• There will be musical performances, culinary specialties, and a variety of entertainment.
• An impressive mountain world surrounds the festival grounds at Mollis Airport.
• You can also watch exciting games of Hornussen, a mix of golf and baseball.

The highlight of the festival is the wrestling competition, where the best wrestlers from Switzerland face off in a total of eight rounds across seven wrestling fields to crown the new wrestling king. Besides wrestling, stone throwing is also part of the program.

At ESAF events, you often find other traditional sports like hornussen being played.

Wrestling at the Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival

Wrestling is a traditional Swiss sport where two opponents compete against each other in a sawdust-covered arena. The goal is to throw the opponent onto their back, ensuring that at least one shoulder touches the ground. The wrestlers wear special woolen pants that they use to grip each other while executing throws. A match lasts a maximum of five minutes and is judged by referees. The winner taps the defeated opponent on the shoulder to show respect, brushing the sawdust off their shoulders.

Stone Throwing at the Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival

Stone throwing is a traditional strength sport where athletes compete to toss a heavy stone as far as possible. They compete in various weight classes using stones of different weights, including the Unspunnen stone weighing 83.5 kg. The throw can be made from a standing position or with a running start, depending on the competition rules. Strength, technique, and coordination are crucial for achieving a great distance. This sport has a long-standing tradition and is often featured at alpine sports events.

Hornussen at the Swiss Highland Games

Hornussen is a traditional Swiss sport where a small flying puck, known as the "Hornuss", is hit into a field using a wooden racket. The goal is to hit the Hornuss as far as possible while preventing the opposing team from catching it. The defending team aims to stop the Hornuss with a net or racket before it hits the ground. The game is played by two teams, each consisting of six players, and can last several hours. Hornussen requires both precision and teamwork.