The Engadin ski marathon falls victim to the Covid-19 pandemic for the second time. Due to uncertainty about the development of the pandemic and future regulations for events, the biggest cross-country skiing festival in the Alps cannot take place this winter either. However, Engadin fans” can travel the distance from Maloja to S-chanf individually during the Engadin Marathon Week. The Engadin Ski Marathon provides a time measurement for this purpose.”
The biggest cross-country skiing event in the Alps must also be cancelled this winter. The Engadin Marathon Week 2021 with the Engadin Ski Marathon, the Engadin Women's Run, the Engadin Night Run and the St. Moritz Supersprint has been cancelled for the second time due to the pandemic. The registrations that have already been made will automatically be carried over to the upcoming 2022 edition.
Since the summer, the organizers had developed comprehensive protection concepts and examined alternative implementation formats, such as a race over several days or with a massively reduced number of participants.
However, two months before the start of the event week, there is still a very significant risk that the races would still not be approved. “We need at least two months in advance to be able to hold the Engadin Marathon Week events in the usual quality, atmosphere and safety,” explains Menduri Kasper, CEO of the Engadin Ski Marathon.
He deeply regrets the cancellation: “Our hearts are bleeding, but the health of the participants and our volunteers is paramount to us. Unfortunately, it is still unclear how the pandemic and government protective measures will continue to develop. That's why we had to decide at the turn of the year to cancel the marathon week once again with our popular popular runs.”
Individual run with time measurement and possible elite race
Despite the unfortunate cancellation, the Engadin is expecting many cross-country skiers in the first two weeks of March, and they should not have to completely forego the “Engadin”.
From March 5 to 14, the organizers, in collaboration with Datasport, will therefore carry out a permanent time measurement. In the “Engadin Ski Marathon Individual”, the original marathon route from Maloja to S-chanf can be completed individually without large crowds of people forming. If you want to take advantage of the offer, you can register on the Engadin website and receive a timing chip.
Participation requires a contribution towards expenses of 20 francs.
The holding of a purely elite race is also being considered for marathon Sunday, March 14. This would not be affected by the current ban on events and could be broadcasted in the media worldwide. A decision on the holding of a purely elite race is expected in January.
The biggest cross-country skiing festival in the Alps
An elite race is of course no substitute for the right “Engadin”, says Kasper: “The Engadin Ski Marathon is a popular run, but it is also very popular with many world elite athletes and receives worldwide media coverage. That's why we're checking whether we can run a race for the elite. But without the many thousands of popular runners and the tens of thousands of spectators on the track, the 'Engadin' won't be the same for them either.”
The Engadin Marathon Week, with its four races and almost 20,000 participants and volunteers, is the biggest festival of cross-country skiing in the Alpine region.
“For the participants, their families, friends and our more than a thousand volunteers, there is no substitute for the marathon week,” says CEO Menduri Kasper. “With the 'Engadin Ski Marathon Individual, 'we still want to try to create a bit of a marathon atmosphere without forgetting the safety of the participants.”
The next “real” Engadin ski marathon will then take place on Sunday, March 13, 2022.
Information and registration for the “Engadin Ski Marathon Individual”
Christian Gartmann has been advising and supervising the Engadin Ski Marathon in communication, media relations and crisis management since 2014.