Until now, the cross-country skiing season in Engelberg began sometime in December - when, for example, people in Davos have already been training on the four-kilometre-long "snowfarming trail". But if Mother Holle has her way, the season in Engelberg will also start earlier this year. The Titlisbahnen are endeavouring to open the training track on Trübsee as early as November. This is open to hobby skiers as well as ambitious athletes.
Engelberg is on the move
In Engelberg, the Nordic Commission, which was set up two years ago, is campaigning for the cross-country skiing. Roger Bütler and Eskil Läubli as co-presidents are the big drivers. When they hear the word commission, many people expect a rigid structure in which long discussions are held and little is achieved. "We are all members with a lot of emotions and enthusiasm for cross-country skiing. We want to promote cross-country skiing in Engelberg," counters Roger Bütler.
Swiss Championships on the Gerschnialp
And indeed, what the commission has achieved in just two years is something to be proud of. The course on the Gerschnialp was newly homologated so that it is FIS-compatible. Already for the coming winter (2/3 February and 29-31 March 2019), the commission was able to bring the cross-country skiing elite Swiss championship to the attractive course. "For sporty guests, this completely new route is a very exciting affair. You can train where the Swiss cross-country skiing elite also compete," says Nadia Christen, Technical Director of the Swiss Ski School Engelberg Titlis AG.
Andrea Hurschler started cross-country skiing about twelve years ago. Because the sport was anything but cool back then, she mainly went out on the cross-country track in the dark. Today, she no longer has to hide and enjoys meeting up with friends for cross-country skiing. She is therefore very pleased that Engelberg is increasingly becoming a cross-country skiing destination.
Photo: Oskar Enander
