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Engadin Skimarathon to run across frozen Lake St. Moritz

Samedan, 28.2.2023. The upcoming edition of the Engadin Skimarathon will see racers crossing Lake St. Moritz for the first time in the marathon's history. Due to the current snow conditions, changes had to be made to the traditional course between St. Moritz and Pontresina and along Lake Sils. Nonetheless, the race is expected to be held on its total distance between Maloja and S-chanf.

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The current snow conditions and higher-than-average Alpine temperatures have made changes to the course of the Engadin Skimarathon necessary. For the first time, the 12,500 participants will ski across Lake St. Moritz. In St. Moritz-Bad, the course will be rerouted across the former summer polo field onto the lake. The new course will see the field race along the magnificent backdrop of St. Moritz, then head for the climb at the Meierei, where the tracks will follow the snow-covered road to Lake Staz. After crossing the lake, another ascent will lead to the race's highest point, from where it will loop back to the original course on the descent to Pontresina.

The icy surface of Lakes Sils and Silvaplana will be roughened using special machinery; the shaved ice is then blended with the natural snow and groomed into a  cross-country track for skaters. It will, however, not be possible to prepare tracks for the classic technique across the two big lakes. «Thanks to the additional grooming work and the changes to the course between St. Moritz and Pontresina, we can offer the full 42-kilometre race between Maloja and S-chanf,» says Menduri Kasper, the CEO of the Engadin Skimarathon. «The process we are using to prepare the icy lakes isn't new: In 2008, we converted the top-most layer of ice into snow. The tracks were hard and compacted but worked well.»

The route across the frozen Lake St. Moritz has been tested too: In 2021, when, due to the pandemic, the Engadin Skimarathon made way to a World Cup 50-kilometre race, the athletes raced along this route. «It is important not to overtax the sensitive moorland in the Staz woods in the current snow conditions. Working closely with the neighbouring municipalities, we found a good solution to safeguard nature and with a bonus of a new highlight for the Engadin Skimarathon. Once again, the support we receive from the municipalities of the Engadine Valley is outstanding.»

Women's Race and Night Race over 17 kilometres each «Individual» to start in Pontresina

On Sunday, 5th March, the 22nd Engadin Women's Race kicks off the traditional Marathon Week. Switzerland's most popular cross-country skiing competition, second only to the Engadin Skimarathon, will be held on the classic course between Samedan and S-chanf. It is possible to sign up for the race up until the coming Saturday. Pro biathlete Selina Gasparin from Pontresina will be at the start.

On Thursday evening, the 5th Engadin Night Race will be held. It is run over 17 kilometres, as is the Women's Race, but it will start in Sils and finish in Pontresina. The tracks on Lake Silvapalna and the new routing between St. Moritz and Staz will be groomed on Thursday and will thus be ready for the Night Race.

The current snow conditions will impact the «Engadin Skimarathon - individual», which individual skiers can race from Monday through Wednesday. It will unfortunately not be possible to prepare the tracks between St. Moritz-Bad and Staz by then. The «Engadin Skimarathon - individual» will therefore start in Pontresina and lead along 21 kilometres to the finish in S-chanf.

The Engadin Skimarathon will publish any updates on the course and organisation on its website www.engadin-skimarathon.ch/en/. The town of St. Moritz will shortly announce traffic routings and restrictions that will be in place in St. Moritz-Bad on Sunday, 12 March.

Overview of all Engadin Skimarathon races

22nd Engadin Women's Race

Samedan – S-chanf (17 km)

Sunday, 5 March 2023

Engadin Skimarathon - individual

Pontresina – S-chanf (21 km)

Monday, 6 March – Wednesday, 8 March 2023

37th Youth Sprint

Samedan, golf course

Wednesday, 8 March 2023

5th Engadin Night Race

Sils – Pontresina (17 km)

Thursday, 9 March 2023

53rd Engadin Skimarathon

Maloja – S-chanf (42 km)

Sunday, 12 March 2023

14th Engadin Half-marathon

Maloja – Pontresina (21 km)

Sunday, 12 March 2023

 

Further information is available on the website:
www.engadin-skimarathon.ch/en/

Contact

Engadin Skimarathon
Menduri Kasper / Aline Hautle
+41 81 851 60 60

presse@engadin-skimarathon.ch

 

Engadine Skimarathon logo and press images for editorial use can be downloaded from:

www.swiss-image.ch
User name: skimarathon
Password: engadin

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