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Gantrisch Loppet cross-country ski event
“Dario Cologna on the last metres of the race. That’s Olympic gold! What an incredible performance once again from the Swiss athlete.” Switzerland celebrated a cross-country ski victory at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Participants at the Gantrisch Loppet are equally motivated, but the whole thing is slightly less serious, and the focus is primarily on enjoying the sport.
The event is taking place for the fourth time, this year on Sunday, 25 January, and as always on the Gurnigelpass in the Gantrisch Nature Park. Participants compete in their age group over their chosen distance: The Loppet covers 20 kilometres and an elevation of 523 metres, the short-distance trail is eleven kilometres long with an elevation of 292 metres. And for the youngest participants, a 1.07-kilometre (Mini) and a 2.58-kilometre trail (Midi) await. They pass the stadium, perfect for family members and friends to cheer on the little athletes.
Despite its relatively short history, the Gantrisch Loppet was recently included in the official Swiss Loppet series, Switzerland’s largest cross-country skiing event for the general public. Anyone who wants to compete in the Swiss Loppet overall rankings will find it hard to avoid participating in the event in Gurnigel.
By the way: Loppet stands for a large cross-country ski event on a groomed trail over a distance of 5 to 40 kilometres with free choice of technique.
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The trails lead through (hopefully) snowy forests and beautiful alpine landscapes with breathtaking panoramic views. You might just forget all about the competition and lose yourself (figuratively!) in the beauty that surrounds you! Food and drink as well as excited well-wishers await past the finish line (on the longest trail, there’s a feed station after twelve kilometres).
And at the subsequent presentation of the ranking at Berghaus Gurnigel, all participants are applauded for their performance, no matter the ranking – now that’s true sportsmanship! You are free to choose your preferred technique for the race and are not required to have a public licence to participate. It goes without saying that performance-enhancing substances are prohibited, with possible testing on site.
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The best way to get to the event is by train from Bern or Thun to Thurnen. After changing to the PostBus in Thurnen, participants can travel directly to the “Gurnigel, Berghaus” stop, where race numbers and changing facilities are available. Spectators can continue one stop further to reach the starting area. The entire journey takes around one hour. Parking is available at the start area but is subject to a fee and very limited. Carpooling points are also available for shared travel.
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