A new, spectacular and tough swimrun race to be launched in the Engadin Valley, Switzerland.

 

On July 12th 2014, the first Swimrun race outside of Sweden will take place in the Swiss Alps; the Engadin Swimrun. The spectacular scene for the race is the Engadin Valley in Switzerland, known by many because of the famous Alpine village St. Moritz. The organisation behind the internationally acclaimed ÖTILLÖ is now, after eight years of swimrun racing in the Swedish archipelago, starting to take the concept to other places in the world.

 

Michael Lemmel, one of the Race Directors said, "When we started eight years ago many people told us we were crazy to try to build a concept around a race that very few would manage to finish. The sport has since then grown hugely popular and today there are around 14 similar but shorter races in Sweden. The registrations are always full! The international interest for Swimrun is exploding and we have found the perfect location for the international launch of the sport and concept".

 

The Engadin Swimrun will be held on Alpine trails, between and through beautiful mountain lakes. The total distance is 46,5 km of which 40 km are trail running (in your wetsuit) and 6,5 km are open-water swimming through nine mountain lakes (in your running shoes). The race is then spiced up with about 2 100 vertical meters of ascension. The race will be brutal and a good quality standard as a qualifier to ÖTILLÖ. In its first year the race will only be open to 100 teams of two.

 

ENGADIN

The Engadin Valley in Switzerland is known throughout the world because of the town of St Moritz which is situated at one end of the valley. It is centrally located in Europe with good communications, primarily by train from Zurich airport. In the valley you can also enjoy the genuine alpine villages of Maloja, Sils, Champfer and Silvaplana. The race will pass through these villages. During the winter months the Engadin Valley is a beautiful ski destination, for both nordic and alpine skiing. In the summer months many people visit the Engadin Valley for hiking, windsurfing and mountainbiking. 

 

SWIMRUN

 

Swimrun is the new endurance sport from Sweden which is expanding rapidly and which is now beginning to get a good international foothold. Teams of two run and swim along a clearly marked race course. The Swimrun trend started with ÖTILLÖ, which is also the most famous and toughest race.

 

ÖTILLÖ

 

ÖTILLÖ is the Swimrun World Championship and is always held on the first Monday of September, between the islands of Sandhamn and Utö in the Stockholm Archipelago. In December 2012 CNN ranked ÖTILLÖ as "One of the toughest endurance challenges in the world". ÖTILLÖ is 75 km long of which 65 km are trail- running and 10 km are open-water swimming, over and between 26 islands. See http://www.otillo.se for more info.