Allalin Saas-Fee. The race that burns your thighs

From April 12th to 13th the legendary Allalin Races take place in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. Around 1000 participants are expected at the amateur downhill race. The track descends over a length of 9 kilometers and overcomes an altitude difference of 1800 meters – no wonder your legs start burning!
This year the worldcup skistars from Valais Fränzi Aufdenblatten and Silvan Zurbriggen will open the His&Hers Race on Friday. The other participants of the race can challenge themselves by trying to be better than them. Afterwards Fränzi and Silvan will give their autographs at the VIP-tent.
The Allalin Races in Saas-Fee belong to the four most popular amateur downhill races in Switzerland. The “Super Vier” amateur downhill series consists of the four races Belalp-Hexe, the Inferno Mürren, the Parsenn Derby Davos and the Allalin Races Saas-Fee. Every year the overall masters of the whole series will be announced. The award ceremony and the presentation of the much-coveted cup always take place at the Allalin Races in Saas-Fee as it is the last one of the series.

For over 30 years the Allalin Races and the famous afterparties attract ambitious amateur racers as well as wintersports fans who join the competition just for fun. Surrounded by the highest mountains in Switzerland the race starts on an altitude of 3600 meters above sea level and aims the village on only 1800 meters.

The challenging downhill race was mastered for the first time in 1946. Back than the participants had to hike up to the mountain hut on Längfluh, only to get up the next morning and hike further to the top of the Allalinhorn on 4027 meters. The following race down didn’t happen on perfectly prepared slopes like nowadays. No, they had to pass the dangerous crevasses while getting through powder snow.

Participants can enter four different categories: the Team Race, the Fun Team Race, the His&Hers Race, and the individual men’s or women’s races. Men and women in the individual races usually intent to aim the best time. The participants in the Fun Team Race descend just for fun at a leisurely pace. A pit-stop at a mountain restaurant along the way is almost mandatory and dressing up is actively encouraged. Apparently, in the past a team has even plonked themselves down in the snow for a quick cheese fondue. It’s no wonder, then, that teams in this category have been known to take over five hours to “race” down to the finish line. By contrast, an ambitious, highly trained athlete can complete the course in less than five minutes!

The catering in the finish-area of the race will reward the racers with food and drinks. The atmosphere already heats up around lunch time, when the duo “Alpenflieger” starts playing their partysongs. In the evening the rockband “Wildbach” all the way from Austria will get everybody to dance.

9th Glacier Bike Downhill Race in Saas-Fee

On March 24th, 2012 the 9th annual Glacier Downhill Bike Race will be held in Saas-Fee. This is no usual ride over hill and dale. Rather this race goes over ice and snow down to the glacier village. The riders will start en mass at 3’500m. During the first half of the race, enthralling fights are guaranteed to ensue for the lead position. It’s a race without spikes and of high velocity, with riders reaching speeds of 144 km/h. This year, the prize pool has a total value of 5‘000 Swiss Francs.

The mass start is on the Mittelallalin station at an altitude of 3’500m and goes down over the snowy and icy slopes to the glacier village at 1’800m. The riders have to manage 1’700 metres of altitude difference and 7 km of distance. First they ride on a narrow trail along the Fee glacier, which leads them to the panorama hill. For less experienced racers this is a real challenge. The hill is steep and has to be crossed at high speed. On this part of the trail, riders have been measured, per GPS, travelling at speeds of about 144 km/h.

Further down, the ride leads past the restaurant Morenia before entering the Valley run. This is going to be a very exciting part of the race with extremely steep passages, flat transits and narrow curves, and it is a real assessment of the rider and his material. The last part of the ride, a very flat passage, needs strength to be managed. The outcome of the race is often decided during this section of the course.

Shortly before the finish, the route becomes a little steeper. After reaching the desired end of the race, the award ceremony will take place and in the evening the riders party will be held at the Metropol Nightlife.

30th anniversary of the Allalin Races – Feel the burn on the glacier

Legendary Allalin Races celebrate 30th anniversary in 2012.

by Raúl Revuelta

On 13 and 14 April it will once again be time to say: on the slopes, get set, go!

The two-day event will see over 1,000 participants race the almost 9 km course, descending from 3,600 metres into the valley at 1,800 m. World-famous skier Silvan Zurbriggen will once again be at the starting gate. For 30 years the Allalin Races in Saas-Fee have been part of the Super Vier –a series of the top four amateur downhill races in Switzerland.

Each year the races and after-parties attract ambitious amateur racers as well as winter sports fans who join in simply for the fun of taking part. Alongside the races, there will, of course, be a colourful and varied programme of events. An array of charmingly decorated wooden chalets will be offering a feast of delights at the festival site. They include a wine/champagne bar, a raclette hut, a barbecue lodge or an Asian food stand.A fun party atmosphere is guaranteed, with live music starting from 11 a.m.and going on into the night. There are also many attractions for kids, including face painting and a bouncy castle. To top it off, Silvan Zurbriggen –the famous World Cup skier from the Upper Valais – will be mingling with the crowds on Saturday. Zurbriggen will take part in individual races before giving interviews and even conducting a few of his own on the village square. Fans of all ages will then be able to pick up an autograph from the star skier.

Just over 1,000 participants have registered so far for the 2012 Allalin Races.This gives the organisers strong hopes of surpassing last year’s number ofparticipants and seeing the event’s popularity continue to rise. A total of 552 skiers have already registered for the individual races. The categories with the highest numbers of participants are "Individual Men’s 18 –35" and "Individual Men’s 36 – 50", each with almost 200 on the starting list. At the moment 373 people are registered for the team races. They make up 66 teams in the "Team Race", 23 in the "Fun Team Race" and two in the "Team Snowboarding Race". In addition, 144 skiers have signed up for the His and Hers Race.

This year, most participants in the Allalin Races are from Switzerland (over 90 percent), whilst 5.8 percent are from Germany. The rest come from Italy, the UK, Spain and Austria. Among the Swiss participants, the highest proportion comes from Berne (43 percent), considerably more than the 12 percent from the Valais region. Close behind are the skiers from Aargau, who make up just under 11 percent, and from Zurich, who make up 8.9 percent. Hardly any skiers from Eastern Switzerland have registered.The oldest male participant comes from Germany. Born in 1936, he is participating in the highest glacier downhill race in the world at the grand oldage of 76. The oldest woman, born in 1949, will be competing at the age of63. The youngest male competitor is 16 and the youngest female 19. Invitation to all over-all winners from the past 30 years For the 30th edition of the Allalin Races, the organisers have come up with a very special idea. All the over-all winners from the past 30 years have been personally invited to this special occasion. For several of the former competitors this is sure to be a happy reunion with like-minded people and a chance to indulge in unforgettable memories of lightning-speed descents, comic moments and fierce competition. It will certainly be a great opportunity for all involved to enjoy the races in a jovial environment and to be up close tothe action once more.

Unforgettable winter holidays in the Free Republic of Holidays Saas-Fee!

by Raúl Revuelta

Those who only associate Saas-Fee and the Saas Valley with skiing, snowboarding and après-ski are missing out. The resort offers a wide variety of other activities that make any winter break in the "Free Republic of Holidays" an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
Those longing for pure mountain air, bright blue skies and a snowy winter wonderland surrounded by lofty mountains will love the Saas Valley. Eighteen 4,000-metre peaks – some of the highest in Switzerland – encircle its four rustic mountain villages, and with sunny days 80 percent of the year, a 100- percent chance of snow in winter and the prospect of ascending 4,545 metres above everyday life, there’s no better place to go on holiday than the "Free Republic of Holidays". Skiers, snowboarders and Telemark skiers can whizz down over 140 km of slopes, while cross-country fans can explore the 26 km route between Saas-Balen, Saas-Grund and Saas-Almagell or glide along Saas- Fee’s 5 km route. But the Saas Valley has plenty more winter activities on offer, both on and off the slopes.

To give you an idea of just how much is on the activity and events calendar in Saas-Fee and the Saas Valley, here are some top tips for the coming winter.
Those who want to take some time out after their exertions on the pistes can enjoy a range of other winter activities. For adventure-seekers there are the sledging runs in Saas-Fee and Saas-Almagell and the 11 km sledging slope in Saas-Grund. Or how about racing down the Feeblitz toboggan run? Those who like even more action can try adrenaline-pumping activities like ice climbing or snowtubing, and sporty types can visit Bielen leisure centre for a swim or to play tennis or badminton. But the Saas Valley also offers plenty for those who are looking to take it easy. For example, guests can stroll along the well-signposted trails though the picturesque winter landscape – with or without snow shoes. The Saas Museum is well worth a visit too, thanks to its enchanting exhibits that bring the valley’s past to life. There is also a variety of wellness hotels where you can let go of all the stresses and strains of everyday life.

To ease the burden of holiday planning, the Saas Valley also offers numerous guided activities. The guided village tours are a great way to familiarise yourself with the resort. They also feature lots of interesting information about the history of the Saas Valley. During magical torch-lit walks through the snowy forests, visitors can enjoy views of the twinkling villages below, and wine-lovers can discover the fruits of Valais vineyards at various tastings.

Thrill-seekers will love the Gorge Alpine, where they can make their way from Saas-Fee to Saas-Grund via zip-lines, ladders, rope "vines" and suspension bridges, kept safe all the while by a mountain guide and via ferrata safety kit. The gorge is particularly impressive in winter when snow and icicles adorn its walls. The particularly bold can even cross the gorge by night. This extremely cool experience is followed by a warming mug of mulled wine and a cheese fondue.
If you’re not feeling quite that daring, you can enjoy a Nordic walking or snowshoe tour and leave your tracks in the snow on the sunny slopes of the Hannig.
Visitors to Saas-Fee and the Saas Valley can also look forward to a variety of concerts and events. Here are some of the highlights from this winter’s programme:

• Ice Climbing World Cup/Ice on Tour, Saas-Fee (14-21 January 2012).

Also in 2012, the Ice Climbing World Cup will take place in the glacier village. The 30 meter high ice wall is located in the parking garage. In a unique atmosphere, guests will experience the world's best ice climbers. In addition, there will be exciting week-long competitions under the title Ice On Tour (incl. the Ice Climbing World Cup): Ice Climbing Youth Championship, nighttime ski touring race, a.m.

• Glacier Bike Downhill, Saas-Fee (24 March 2012).

On the 24 April 2012 the spectacular Glacier Bike Downhill race will be held again in Saas-Fee. At the Glacier Bike Downhill the adrenalin in the glacier village Saas-Fee purely flows. The Downhill Mountainbiker go not like used on land or tar routes, but on ice and snow. On this unusual material, the riders have to master 1800m elevator. After the mass start on 3500m it approaches to the valley in a high speed.

• Migros Grand Prix Final, Saas-Fee (30 March-01 April 2012).

Starts like Didier Cuche and Lara Gut in the biggest youth ski running of Europe! The biggest ski running of Europe for youths between 8 and 15 years offers an unforgettable experience on the ski run for every skier! Whether beginner or ski crack: Completely after the motto "the start is the aim" everyone is welcome to the Grand Prix Migros.

• 15th Schneegaudi at Kreuzboden, Saas-Grund (08 April 2012) .

One of the best parties of the year, surrounded by the mighty Saas Mountains. In the afternoon the keyword is FUN and at night it's PARTY!

• 30th Allalin Races, Saas-Fee, Saas-Fee (13-14 April 2012).

Ski & Snowboard: The Mittelallalin open downhill races are the highest races on a glacier in the world. Participants from all over Europe compete in various disciplines. On the 13 & 14 April 2012 the races take place again in the glacier village.