By DPA
Engadin (Switzerland) : Looking for a new sporting challenge in 2008 that goes the distance but is easy on the knees? Then the Engadin cross-country ski marathon may fit the bill.
It has been running for 40 years and the event in the southeast corner of Switzerland has proved enduringly popular, pulling in 12,000 competitors a year from all over the world, some of them complete newcomers to the sport.
While a cross country skiing marathon is widely considered much easier than running and less painful, this race still requires fortitude if only to survive the freezing cold temperatures on the start line set at 1,820 metres altitude.
It’s the biggest race of its kind in Europe; some entrants have only ever done a few hours cross-country skiing and a great number do it in fancy dress but nearly everyone finishes, even if it takes them all day.
Justin Scott, 36, a Briton who lives in Geneva where he works as a finance director, attempted Engadin for the first time in 2006 when extreme weather conditions nearly saw the race cancelled for the second time only in its 40-year history.
It was minus 30 degrees Celsius, on account of the wind chill factor, and, even worse, competitors were being battered by headwinds of 60 km an hour in the wide open valley.
“I thought it was a great outdoor challenge. It was freezing cold and hard work but not falling over was a plus, so was not being beaten by a man dressed as a shower complete with rail and curtain,” said Scott, a veteran marathon runner with the Kathmandu race under his belt.
He had only started cross-country skiing that year with Engadin as his goal. Using the skating technique, he finished in just under five hours.
The following year, the elements were kinder, and he cut his time down to 3 hours 50. This time his wife Fleur, 37, joined him on the start line just seven months after giving birth to their third child.
“I heard it was a great form of exercise and I wanted to get back into shape,” she said pleased to have finished in just over 4 hours 30. “It was a long hard slog and utterly humiliating to be overtaken by octogenarians but I would recommend it.”
Compared with downhill skiing, there are no environmentally damaging ski lifts, no queues and, unless you are doing a marathon, plenty of time to enjoy the stunning countryside.
The course record is just over 1 hour and 23 minutes for the men but many ski over the finishing line in around six hours, just ahead of the sweeper car.
The race, on the second Sunday of March, was started in 1969 when 945 competitors took part, 23 of whom were still competing in 2007. It has only ever been cancelled once in its 40-year existence when a sudden spell of warm weather in 1991 rendered the course, across several lakes, unsafe.
Today the race attracts people from more than 30 countries across Europe and as far away as Canada, the United State, Japan and Australia.
Though considered easy for the experts, the course is still enough of a challenge for the majority with the final stage known almost affectionately by regulars as the “Golan Heights.”
“Though it was tough, one of the best things was hardly any muscle pain the following day unlike a running marathon when you can barely walk.” said Justin.
This year, for the first time, there is a half marathon too. Anyone can register on line at www.engadin-skimarathon.ch until March 1 with organizers promising they will be part of “this big party” celebrating Engadin at 40.