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Step back into ski racing’s nostalgic past with the anniversaries of amateur ski race events, when wool sweaters and towering skis were the norm.
Published December 6, 2023
4 min read
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK)
In the early 1900s, the British embraced skiing with competitive fervor, establishing clubs and organizing amateur races that continue to attract large crowds to this day. The Inferno, celebrating its 80th event in 2024, is held in the charming Swiss town of Murren and is the largest public ski race in the world. With 1,850 entrants racing over a nine-mile run, dropping from almost 2,970 meters to 790 meters, the sheer madness of the event is electrifying.
This season’s event kicks off on Saturday 27 January, with festivities starting on the Wednesday before with a cross-country race, followed by a slalom on Thursday, and a parade on Friday night. Saturday revolves around the big race and the resort-wide celebrations. The organizing Kandahar Ski Club, which turns 100 on 30 January, was founded in Murren by British skiers, including the renowned mountaineer Arnold Lunn. While the club has 1,400 members, the events are open to all.
The Inferno’s closest competitor is the Parsenn Derby in the posh Swiss resort of Davos-Klosters. The event, marking its centenary in 2024, was the brainchild of Englishman Fred W Edlin, a regular at the Swiss spa hotel. The race starts at 2,660-meter Weissfluhjoch, descending 2,000 meters in eight miles to Klosters. Formerly a major event on the ski racing circuit, it’s now a lively gathering for spirited amateurs and fun-loving former professionals.
A more modern take on ski racing is the City Ski Challenge, a frenetic long weekend of food, drink, music, networking, and ski racing. Competitors are drawn from London and Europe’s business community. Initially started in 2000 in Courmayeur, Italy, by travel company Momentum Ski, it is now held in the Swiss town of Crans-Montana. Whether you are a competitor or not, these amateur challenge events in the Alps are a seriously lively affair.
Published in the Winter Sports guide, distributed with the December 2023 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).
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