The Engadin Ski Marathon Week, Switzerland 2023

Race series: Worldloppet  
Race website: https://www.engadin-skimarathon.ch/en/
Location: The Marathon ‘village’ in Pontresina + various start locations for races
Dates: March see race website for current details

The Engadin Skimarathon is the second largest cross-country skiing event in the world. More than 14,000 participants from over 60 nations [including a 100 or so from the UK] ski the 42km main race through spectacular scenery every year.

Travel

• Fly: Zurich airport then onward by train to Pontresina [or other Engadin villages].  Journey time approx. 4 hours.
• Train: Zurich then change trains at Chur and at St Moritz [a walk across the platform in both places]. See Seat 61 international rail guide and Swiss railways.
• If you don't want a walk uphill into Pontresina there is a bus stop at the station.
• The race entry package includes a reduced train fare voucher for the latter part of the route.

Accommodation

See the Engadin tourist office website or use Booking.com or a similar site. Pontresina is a good choice but Samedan, Celerina or indeed St Moritz itself are all good alternatives. If you stay further away, try to be near the railway line into Pontresina for easy travel to the Marathon village.

The Skiing

• Based on the cross country ski centre in Pontresina below the Youth Hostel in front of the station where you can get loipe passes, ski hire and waxing etc.  [There are several other ski shops in the town]
• The Youth Hostel cafe is a popular meeting place and you can eat there at reasonable prices at lunchtime as well as in the evenings even if you are not staying in the Hostel.
• Coaching is available from the local ski school.

The Races

There is a week-long programme starting with the Women's race, a 17 km night race and relay leading up to the marathon on Sunday, with a shorter half marathon distance option, in free or classic technique.  See the race website for full details.  

NB Take care - Pontresina is at just below 6000 feet in altitude so you will feel the effects as you acclimatise over the first few days.