50 years of the Engadin Ski Marathon - more than just a reason to celebrate
The 42 kilometres in the snow-covered Engadin, over icy lakes, through idyllic forests and in the bright Graubünden winter sun are a dream come true for every cross-country skier. The "Engadiner": Where stars mingle with the crowds, celebrities watch and even beginners outgrow themselves.
Although the course does not cover the full 42,195 metres that an official marathon should include, it is a real gem. The frozen lakes in the Upper Engadine, surrounded by a fantastic mountain world and in the middle of it all, over 13,000 sports enthusiasts. An event that is unrivalled. Unfortunately, I've only ever made it to the "Engadiner" as a spectator. But I'll tell you why that won't be the case in the following sections.
Big very quickly
A total of 945 people registered for the very first event in 1969. The organisers were surprised by this number, but recognised the potential that cross-country skiing already had back then. Inexpensive equipment, no lifts to maintain and the snow-sure Engadin - a combination predestined for this popular sport. By 1976, when the number of participants had already broken the ten-thousand mark, the Engadin Ski Marathon had already become a must for every cross-country skiing fan.
More runs added
In addition to the highlight on the second Sunday in March, the Engadin Ski Marathon, other races have been added over the years. The so-called "Marathon Week" is now opened on the first Sunday in March with the women's race - exclusively for women. In addition to the night run, you can also register for the half marathon on Sunday if you don't want to tackle the really big calibre. With participants from 60 nations, one of Switzerland's biggest sporting events is no longer just a national event.
Inventiveness is required
The high number of participants - and the trend is rising - forces the organisers to make adjustments every year. However, they have always met this challenge with great success. The fact that the route has been adapted several times, for example, has not caused the number of participants to shrink - on the contrary. The marathon only became really interesting when the finish line was moved from Zuoz to S-chanf in 1998. The new pit start introduced in 2014 was also largely welcomed by cross-country skiers. And the inclusion in the FIS Wordloppet Cup, a series of 7 to 10 cross-country races for professionals, further increased the popularity of the "Engadiner". Incidentally, the race is run using the free or skating technique.
Incredible effort
As the number of participants increases, so does the amount of work that the eleven Upper Engadin ski clubs from Maloja, Sils, Corvatsch/Silvaplana, Suvretta/Champfèr, Alpina/St. Moritz, Trais Fluors/Celerina, Berninan/Pontresina, Piz Ot/Samedan, La Punt, Zuoz/S-chanf and Sarsura/Zernez have to do each year. In addition to planning, preparation and sponsorship, a lot of manual labour is also required. A few figures that underline the sheer size of this event:
- About 90,000 ovis
- About 80,000 water bottles and cups
- Approx. 70,000 portions of Isostar
- About 30,000 cups of tea
- Approx. 18,000 litres of hot water
- About 15,000 bouillons
- Over 13,000 participants
- About 8,000 bananas
- Over 1,500 volunteers
- About 80 representatives from radio, TV and the press
I'll be back
Once you've been there, that's all! Think again, not at the Engadin Ski Marathon. Since 2012, the organising committee has officially awarded the title "Giubiler": To be eligible for this honour, you must have taken part in at least 40 events. The word comes from the Romansh language and simply means jubilarian. So if you register today for the 50th edition on 11 March 2018, you'll only need 39 more participations to proudly call yourself a "Giubiler". You think you'll never make it anyway? That's what I thought at first. But it turns out that almost 150 people can already claim this title today.
The focus is on fun
Although the who's who of the cross-country skiing elite regularly take part in the race, the focus is clearly on fun and participation. Due to the large number of participants and the sometimes very narrow course (especially in wooded areas and on climbs), it is difficult to achieve a top time. But as I said, that doesn't really count at the "Engadiner". Surrounded by mighty rock faces, in the middle of a snow-covered fairytale landscape, warmed by the Swiss mountain sun and in harmony with thousands of other skating aficionados, the sport itself takes a back seat for once. But nobody really takes offence.
Galaxus for fellow runners
We very rarely report on topics, events or people that have absolutely nothing to do with our range. The Engadin Ski Marathon should be no different. Because at Galaxus you will of course also find various cross-country skiing articles. So you can't use the excuse that you don't have the right equipment as a reason for not registering for this year's "Engadiner". And who knows, maybe we'll meet soon on one of the many kilometres of cross-country trails in the Engadin? [[product:5889134,5915096,5888508]]
You can find our complete cross-country skiing range here.
When I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis.