Engadin Skimarathon

The Engadin Skimarathon is an annual cross-country ski race (ski marathon) held on the second Sunday of March in the upper Engadine valley (Switzerland), between Maloja and S-chanf. It debuted in 1969 and has been a part of Worldloppet as long as Worldloppet has existed.[1] It is one of the major cross-country skiing events in the Alps. Between 11,000 and 14,200 skiers participate each year. The total distance covered is 42 km, although it is also possible to complete the half-marathon of 21 km (finishing in Pontresina) or the 17 km Women's Race (Samedan to S-chanf) . While it is a freestyle race, there are separate tracks for skiers practicing classic style for all but the narrowest parts of the race. Participation is open to anyone from the age of 16, and no licence is required to sign up.

Tha track record of 1:16:10h was set by Hervé Balland in 1994. In the same year, Silvia Honegger completed the race with the female track record of 1:22:08. As the race was extended by 2 km in 1998 to match the distance of a full marathon and the track was changed slightly in the Stazerwald section, resulting in a more difficult topography, longer racetimes are now standard.

The start of the race takes place at the Maloja Palace Hotel with an elevation of 1,820 metres (5,970 ft). The track than leads over both Lake Sils and Lake Silvaplana (which are frozen at this time of year). After passing St. Moritz there is a forested climb in the Stazerwald. The proceeding descent to Pontresina is regarded by many as the most spectacular part of the race for spectators, due to the high number of falls and crashes by skiers. The race then follows the runway of Samedan Airport and afterwards continues on the right side of the Engadin valley, passing several small communities before reaching the Finish in S-chanf at an elevation of 1,670 metres (5,480 ft).