Engadin Ski Marathon 2025

Hello all!  I have sent you a link to this page as you have, at some point in a moment of drunken foolishness, expressed an interest in doing the Engadin Ski Marathon with us in March next year.


There's a whole lot of info to squeeze in so I thought this would be the best way of sharing!


Who's Going


The following have, at one stage or another considered skating for 42km!

  • Pete Clapperton
  • Hilary Clapperton
  • Isabella Clapperton
  • Alex Clapperton
  • Nicola Lucas
  • Alasdair Bushby
  • Lucy Bushby
  • Angus Bushby
  • Tosh Bushby
  • Katherine Ellis
  • Simon Straker
  • Mary Straker
  • Malcolm McLean


Pleas can you let me know one way or the other ASAP! 

When is it


The race is on the 9th March 2025.  It kicks off at 08:30 but in waves.  On the assumption that we won't be medal contenders, we won't be in any of the first waves!


However, speaking entirely for myself, I will need some training and pointers.  I was planning of getting to the region on Wednesday 5th March so that I can get kitted up and do some lessons on Thursday, Friday & Saturday before the race on Sunday.


Rather than be chased out the door on the morning after the race, I was thinking of leaving on Tuesday the 11th March.

What is it


The 55th Engadin Marathon is the biggest participation sporting event in the Alps.  The participants are limited to 14,200 this year.  The route is along the Engadin Valley from Maloja, past St Moritz and finishing in S-Chanf.  Its about 42km.  The majority of it is flat but there is a descent around Pontresina.  Going downhill on thin skis is always entertaining!

Can you Manage it


I found quite an encouraging article online you should read if you have doubts!


Essentially, he says anyone with a modicum of fitness can manage so long as they've done a few lessons and a bit of practice beforehand (hence going out early!)  He says to expect to take around 3 - 5 hours.

Where we could stay


Plan A has been debunked.  See Plan B

How Much Would it Cost


As ever, this depends on how many of us there are, actual dates, car hire etc. but I've worked out rough outline budgets.  Including:


  • Flights from the UK
  • Car Hire
  • Race Registration
  • Accomodation
  • Food & Drink
  • Ski Hire


The budget should be between £1,250 and £1,500 per head all other things being equal which, of course, they are not!


The other cost I know we will incur, but haven't managed to source yet, is someone to teach us how to do it!  I know ski lessons are not cheap but if we have an instructor to cover all of us I can't imagine it would be that horrific per head.


Once we have final numbers I will confirm prices.

Travel

There are a myriad of ways out there.  Innsbruck is closest but, bizarrely, has the most expensive car hire.  Milano is only 20 a minutes longer drive but half the cost of car hire.  Easyjet fly there from Gatwick so that would be my favourite if I was flying.  I will be driving my van out so will bring frozen blocks of lasagne etc so we dont have to thing about cooking and shopping out there.  I can take (within reason) kit for others to save on hold baggage.


If everyone on the list comes (or we fill up the house) then my van alone won't be enough so car hire is sensible in that it becomes the transfer car and another shuttle while we are out there.  I priced for a medium sized SUV.  If Nicola comes (hope so!) then presumably she will drive over as well in which case we will have another car.  If we fill up the house, we will need it!

Payment


You will need to register and pay for your race entry directly.


I will need to put a deposit down on the house pronto so I will be asking for some input from those who want to ski shortly thereafter.  The next installment would be in February.


I think it would be a good idea for everyone who needs it to book ski kit.  If we choose the same rental shop it will save driving up and down the valley.  We can organise that later but, if 14,000 skiers are descending on the valley that weekend, I think we should reserve them soon.


The car rental depends on peoples flights.  Ideally a group can come out together and share the car, but that is phase 2!


At some stage, I might ask for a victually contribution but that is a long way off!


First things first: Who's in!?