For the first time in 2024, the Engadin Ski Marathon starts not in Maloja but in Sils. The heavy snowfalls of the last few days have prevented a trail on Lake Sils from being prepared in the usual quality. Since more fresh snow is expected by March 10, the start must be moved to Sils.
At the start of the Engadin Ski Marathon in Maloja and on Lake Sils, almost one and a half meters of fresh snow fell last weekend. More snowfalls are expected over the next ten days. This leads to problems on the first section of the route: The enormous weight of the heavy fresh snow pushes the ice sheet on frozen Lake Sils deep into the underlying lake water. Through cracks in the ice sheet, water rises from below onto the ice rink. It has mixed with some of the fresh snow to form slush. For safety reasons, large cross-country vehicles cannot currently be used on Lake Sils.
However, these would be necessary to prepare the fresh snow in such a way that, together with slush, it becomes a compact cross-country skiing trail and can freeze. Since further snowfalls, sometimes heavy, and rather mild temperatures are expected in the next ten days, the situation will not improve significantly. The trail across Lake Sils cannot be prepared in the usual quality until March 10. The start of the largest cross-country skiing course in the Alps must therefore be postponed by almost seven kilometers to Sils.
Familiar infrastructure at the start
For up to 14,000 participants, this will not change much: The usual start infrastructure will be set up in Sils and the start times will remain the same. It is not yet clear exactly how long the marathon route will be on March 10. The organizers are examining options to compensate for at least part of the shortened route on additional sections of the route.
Apart from Lake Sils, the Engadin Ski Marathon route is in excellent condition. Lake Silvaplana and the routes in the countryside are constantly prepared with heavy machinery. The Engadin Women's Run on Sunday, March 3, and the Engadin Night Run on Thursday, March 7, take place on normal routes.
By Monday, over 12,500 cross-country skiers have already registered for the Engadin Ski Marathon. They make it the second-largest cross-country skiing event in the world. Online registration is possible until March 7, the last late registrations will be accepted on Saturday, March 9, in Pontresina.
Media release of the Engadin Ski Marathon dated February 27, 2024.
Christian Gartmann has been Communications and Media Officer at the Engadin Ski Marathon since 2014 and advises organizers on crisis management and crisis communication.