Where cross-country skiers come at their expense

In Davos, arrived in the Winter. At least a little bit. On Monday night the Thermometer fell for the first time, deep enough that light precipitation has a hypoglycemic episode in the valley. So it is a fairly natural image, which is presented in the flüela valley: On the trail will sweat. Round and round and round the turning runner. Only those who look closely will notice that this is not yet the real Winter, has arrived. But the man-made.

snow farming is the name of the Davos recipe. Here, a large pile of snow is covered through the summer with sawdust added. The melting loss is surprisingly low, 80 percent of the snow to survive the summer and be rolled out by the end of October in the flüela valley to a four-kilometre-long trail.

As pioneers in Central Europe, the Davos through the project for the Swiss cross-country skiing elite. This has here base their Performance – and thanks to snow farming, snow - and training safety.

Soon, the Davoser is not realized, is that the professionals are the Only ones who crave the first kilometres on snow-induced. Also the Amateurs it attracts cross-country trail in the Flüela. Therefore, a clear System is in place: in the Morning the professionals have the trail to yourself. Over lunch it is then the people open, to five francs per training session, with larger time Windows at the weekend.

Davos has 20'000 Swiss francs taken

How many of the long-runners and cross-country skiers cavort on a daily basis, will not be collected, says Norbert Gruber, head of technical services of the municipality of Davos and is therefore responsible for the cross-country trails in the ski resort. But the onslaught is so great that Gruber is in these days on a daily basis – that the time Windows are respected.

a year Ago, the Davos took during the nearly three weeks, in which only the snow farming-trail was open, approximately 20'000 Swiss francs – power 4000 entries (including professionals).

A trail for professionals

This doesn't change the fact that the offer is primarily geared to professionals. Because the Davos cross-country has a very high barrier to entry: The diluted round is quite challenging. For professionals it makes it attractive for Amateur runners only to a limited extent: Without a basic level of fitness and safety on the Ski ascents and rapid descents to feel uncomfortable. Say: beginners and pleasure skiers to wait until Winter is actually here, and the usual cross-country trails are open.

Or, take the Lenzerheide, if you like the long to run on a narrow snow band on the green, not irritated. The biathlon centre was prepared for the fifth Time, a trail of fresh snow. With 1.4 kilometers is clearly shorter than the Davos. But also not quite so demanding. "Many Working people turning on lunch or in the evening after their rounds," says Silvio Baselgia, the managing Director of the Biathlon Arena, even cross-country courses are all the rage.

Also Pontresina rises a

Also on the Lenzerheide, the project for the top-level sport was launched. The aim, in December Biathlon world Cup races align, the snow guarantee is mandatory.

On the Lenzerheide, they realized also, as the trail existed, how very interest in Amateur athletes. The long runner is no different than the Alpine skiers, the bands on narrow Snow its turns pulls. Winter idyll? No matter. The calls to other destinations on the Plan: a snow farming test project starts at the end of this winter in Pontresina.

As environmentally friendly as possible.

The Davos produce 20'000 cubic meters for the snow farming in the Winter in ideal conditions. Operations Manager Gruber stresses that your variant will implemented in a way compatible with the environment, as in the case of artificial snow possible.

snowmaking at Lenzerheide

The Lenzerheide, in contrast, relies on a more complex and therefore less efficient method: 200 m3 produced in your plant every day, total you are in need of 6000 cubic meters. "The Davos dimensions to come with us due to the space constraints, and because of the climatic conditions is not in question," says Baselgia. Specifically, the space for such a big snow is missing you heaps.

in Addition, is located in the Biathlon Arena, nearly 300 meters deeper than the flüela valley, which is also very shady. Also, it is limited to a shorter trail, which is then expanded in December with a little snow farming-Depot (just under 3000 cubic feet) to a 3-km round – the minimum requirement of the international biathlon Federation.

Cold it must be in spite of everything to be

During the Davos cross-country-presented at the beginning of the week as a true winter trail, the ride to Lenzerheide, more like in late spring with a low spring snow. Because even with art or übersommertem snow, the winter sports regions are not completely independent from the weather. "If we interpret the cross-country trail, we need three cold nights. She is frozen, she can make it through a Heat break-in," says Baselgia.

Only The cold nights announced until these days, the trails keep. The weeks before were difficult. The Davosern frass of the hair dryer at the end of October on a weekend, more than half of the 50-centimeter-thick snow-way, in-ceiling, you managed then with the abrasion of the ice rinks.

Created: 07.11.2019, 12:03 PM