For this Swiss version of wrestling, competitors wear special shorts of coarse drill over their trousers with a slit at the back allowing the stipulated grip on the
belt. A contest consists of one round lasting 10-12 minutes. The winner is the wrestler who throws his opponent onto his back with both shoulder blades touching the
ground, without losing his own grip on the opponent’s shorts. If neither wrestler succeeds within the allotted time, the round is considered a
draw. A contestant receives 8-10 points per round, depending upon whether and how he won or lost.
A one-day Alpine wrestling event is made up of six rounds with the top-scoring contestants always in the ring against each
other. Around 120 wrestling festivals take place in Switzerland every year, from March to
October. If American-Swiss events are included, the number reaches about 200.
A National Wrestling Festival takes place every three years, with eight rounds fought over two
days.
The winner of the National Festival holds the title of “Wrestling King” for three
years. |
