Saas Fee ready for 28th Allalin Race
Saas-Fee will stage its annual end of season Allalin Races down the Allalinhorn from 16th to 18th April this week. The race course starts at 3,600 metres above sea level, and the finish line is 1,800 metres below, at the Kalbermatten sports ground.
The high-speed, 9 km (six mile) course is certainly no easy challenge, although there are several speed options available, top speed isn’t essential in several rare categories.
The course highlights just how great Spring skiing remains in Saas Fee after most other resorts have closed for the season. If they take the time to look around, participants will see they pass through an awe inspiring glacial landscape, over impressive escarpments and through hair-raisingly narrow passages, such as the infamous Kanonenrohr (barrel of a gun), before heading for the safety of the
finish line at the Kalbermatten sports ground.
The Allalin Race is a breathtaking challenge for amateur and professional racers alike. Each year it attracts several hundred competitors from all over Switzerland and abroad. Participants have the option of entering four different racing categories: the Team Race, the Fun Team Race, the His and Hers Race, and the individual men’s or women’s races.
The Fun Team Race is the perfect option for those who want to take it a little easier, as this event is all about the fun of taking part. Stopping at the various mountain restaurants along the way is almost mandatory and dressing up is actively encouraged.
Believe it or not, some teams in this category have apparently taken over five hours to “race” down to the finish line. By contrast, the ambitious, highly trained athletes who take part in the individual men’s or women’s races can complete the course in less than five minutes! An incredible achievement, given the difficulty and length of the descent.
“Of course, onlookers may well question the sanity of the skiers and snowboarders hurtling down the mountain at such speeds. They may be crazy, but they’re certainly up to the challenge.” said a resort statement.
After the races on Friday and Saturday, participants and spectators will gather at the finish area to celebrate the day’s events and dance the night away.
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