As soon as the warming rays of the summer sun transform the valley into an El Dorado for athletes, numerous top athletes use the power of the mountains to improve their performance. But also amateur athletes appreciate the Engadin as an "open-air fitness studio with fountain of youth effect.
Those who set their sights high must head high – to at least 1,800 m above sea level. The lower atmospheric pressure and reduced oxygen levels at this altitude present a challenge to the whole body, with the result that sports enthusiasts can take advantage of a natural blood doping and performance boost. The dry and stimulating alpine climate of the Upper Engadin, with an exceptionally high number of sunny days every year, ensures that anyone who plans to train in this magnificent high-altitude valley can look forward to perfect training conditions.
Many professional athletes train in the Engadin, especially before major sporting events. Triathlete Max Studer was one of them before the Olympic Games in Paris. Whether it's swim training at an indoor pool, a running session along the lakes or a road bike ride up one of the major Alpine passes. The triathlete finds the ideal infrastructure for his training here. The national mountain bike team also comes to the Engadin for training camps several times a year. On the trails, the athletes hone their form, test new strategies and optimize their technique.
But take note – responsible planning is fundamental to successful altitude training, as the body needs time to adjust to the new conditions. Whoever pursues the goal of “faster, higher, stronger” should acclimatise gently. Whatever training you undertake, take time to admire the glorious mountain scenery, dip your feet in the refreshing water of the many mountain lakes and simply listen to the magical stillness of the forests.
But once the body has become used to its new environment, visitors are spoilt for choice given the vast range of facilities and activities on offer in the Engadin. Options include targeted preparation for various competitions such as the Ötillö Swimrun Engadin, the St. Moritz Running Festival or the Engadin Ultra Trail; training along a tremendous variety of running trails, on the Vita Parcours or the high-altitude Finnenbahn woodchip trail at 2,500 m; or a full range of sports from rowing, sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing to road cycling, mountain biking, tennis, football, swimming, climbing and various indoor sports. Here, the body can show just what it is capable of!
