The Engadin ski marathon on Sunday starts in Silvaplana. The large amounts of fresh snow and mild temperatures over the past two weeks have made it impossible to prepare the trail on Lake Silvaplana. Thursday evening's Engadin night run now takes you from La Punt to Pontresina.
Knee-deep water and slush on the ice layer of Lake Silvaplana make it impossible to prepare the cross-country skiing trail between Sils and Silvaplana. The start of the Engadin Ski Marathon 2024 must therefore be postponed to Silvaplana. From there, a 38 to 40 kilometer long route will lead to S-chanf. The journey for participants does not change significantly, the start times remain unchanged. The bus transfer to the start and the transport of effects will be retained.
Emergency scenarios prepared
“Our cross-country skiers, municipal factory teams and numerous volunteers have given everything, but safety must come first,” says Menduri Kasper, CEO of the Engadin Ski Marathon. “Our hearts are bleeding, but a safe trail across Lake Silvaplana is unfortunately not feasible this year.”
It is the first time since 1969 that the Engadin Ski Marathon does not start in Maloja and that the run cannot be conducted across the two largest Engadin lakes. However, the OC is prepared to postpone the start: “Emergency scenarios like this are part of our preparation. They enable a flexible response to weather conditions such as this winter,” says Kasper.
Engadin night run starts in La Punt
The Engadin night run on Thursday evening cannot be started from Sils. It now starts in La Punt and leads to Pontresina via the airport and golf course. It will be around 16 kilometers long. The start time remains unchanged here too (19:00), and runners and effects transport is provided. Information about the start schedules is constantly updated on the Engadin Ski Marathon website.
“Our participants should feel as little as possible about the difficulties of preparing the trails,” says Menduri Kasper. “We are trying to set up as complete and pleasant an infrastructure as possible for them in a short time. The Engadin Ski Marathon should be a great experience again this year.”
Information about the half marathon
Some of the runners in the Engadin Ski Marathon only run half the way to Pontresina. Since this Engadin half marathon would only be 9 to 11 kilometers long due to the start change, they will be given the opportunity to rewrite to the shortened marathon.
This option is only available when handing out start numbers in Pontresina.
Information about the start delays on www.engadin-skimarathon.ch
Media release of the Engadin Ski Marathon dated March 7, 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.