Fifty years of going flat out on frozen Swiss lakes

1969: just after the start of the first Engadine Ski Marathon in Maloja. A total of 856 skiers of varying ability signed up Keystone
1970: a year later, 2,000 people took part Keystone
1973: participants pass Chaviolas, an island in Lake Sils Keystone
1980: one of the race's few inclines Keystone
1981: Cornelia Thomas from Switzerland and Bill Koch from the US pose with their trophies Keystone
1983: the descent in Stazerwald, where wipe-outs are guaranteed. Few participants are hurt Keystone
1991: heavy rainfall caused the marathon to be cancelled for the first time Keystone
1998: participants include Adolf Ogi, then a member of the Federal Council Keystone
2003: prepared for everything Keystone
2007: almost 10,000 skiers form the 'Maloja snake' Keystone
2010: Dario Cologna wins the Engadine Ski Marathon. He has since won four Olympic golds Keystone
2011: remembering where you left your skis helps Keystone
2011: a lack of snow meant the 12,000 participants had to wind along a thin white strip Keystone
2013: 'Going up...' Keystone
2014: hot work Keystone
2016: the start is staggered to avoid crowding problems Keystone
2017: the 13,000 athletes wait to be able to put on their skis and get going Keystone

Switzerland’s largest cross-country ski race is turning 50. On Sunday 14,200 athletes will take part in the Engadine Ski Marathon.

Ester Unterfinger (picture editor), Renat Kuenzi (text)

Images of endless lines of skiers snaking across frozen lakes have become a trademark of Switzerland as a winter sport location. The 42-kilometre (26-mile) race is the most popular in the country – to the extent that organisers have been forced to limit the number of places in order to guarantee the event’s quality.

When a group of stalwarts got together in 1969 for the first Engadine Ski Marathon, they were probably unaware that they were real pioneers. Today, similar events pop up everywhere in all endurance sports. The aim is always to attract thousands of hobby athletes to the region where the event is being held.

The images document the development of the marathon from a local cross-country run for a few people bitten by the cross-country skiing bug to a massive sporting and logistical event, which attracts not only hobby skiers but also the world’s top professionals.

(All images: Keystone)

This article was automatically imported from our old content management system. If you see any display errors, please let us know: community-feedback@swissinfo.ch

Share this story