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#swisshistorypics Fifty years of going flat out on frozen Swiss lakes

Schwarzweiss Foto, Langläufer

1969: just after the start of the first Engadine Ski Marathon in Maloja. A total of 856 skiers of varying ability signed up

Schwarzweiss Foto, Langläufer von vorne

1970: a year later, 2,000 people took part

Luftaufnahme in Schwarzweiß der Langläufer

1973: participants pass Chaviolas, an island in Lake Sils

Farbfoto mit Bergen im Hintergrund der Sportlerinnen

1980: one of the race's few inclines

Schwarzweiss Foto, sierin und sieger beim Posieren

1981: Cornelia Thomas from Switzerland and Bill Koch from the US pose with their trophies

Schwarzweiß Foto, gestützte Sportler

1983: the descent in Stazerwald, where wipe-outs are guaranteed. Few participants are hurt

Schwarzweiss Foto, Pfützen auf dem Silsersee

1991: heavy rainfall caused the marathon to be cancelled for the first time

Bundesrat Ogi

1998: participants include Adolf Ogi, then a member of the Federal Council

toi toi WC Häuschen in einer Reihe

2003: prepared for everything

Luftaufnahme der Langläufer

2007: almost 10,000 skiers form the 'Maloja snake'

Cologna gewinnt

2010: Dario Cologna wins the Engadine Ski Marathon. He has since won four Olympic golds

Luftaufnahme sportler suchen ihre Skier

2011: remembering where you left your skis helps

Langläufer auf einer Schneeschneise

2011: a lack of snow meant the 12,000 participants had to wind along a thin white strip

Luftaufnahme der Sportlerinnen

2013: 'Going up...'

ein Teilnehmer in kurzen Hosen

2014: hot work

Luftaufnahme am Start des Laufes

2016: the start is staggered to avoid crowding problems

Dicht gedrängte Menschen am Start

2017: the 13,000 athletes wait to be able to put on their skis and get going

photos of a ski race

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

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 Marathonexternal link, 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)

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