Engelberg Magazin Nr. 27

WINTER

It used to be generally thought that sledging was only for people who weren’t any good at skiing, but thankfully attitudes like that now belong to the past. And sledging has always had a high status in Engelberg, anyway. The sport was once such a serious affair that important competitions were held here, and sleds were built right in the village. We hope to convince you that sledging is not only for children and non- skiers. Give it a try and you’ll soon remember just how much fun it is. An unforgettable romp in the snow that’ll leave you with a smile on your face – and firmer tummy muscles!

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WORDS: Andrea Hurschler

A SLEDGE WITH AN EDGE Engelberg’s sledging tradition reaches back many years. If a local sends you to the “Bobbahn” to go sledging, they are referring to the run from Gerschnialp to Engelberg. Until 1934 this run was the venue for two-person bobsleigh com- petitions – and in 1934 it even hosted World Cup races. Until 1972 national and international bobsleigh races took place here. It’s hard to imagine in this day and age, but in the early 20th century no cars could drive into Engelberg in win- ter; instead, the road was kept clear for toboggans and sleighs. There were other

tobogganing runs at Horbis and Kilchbühl, and there was even a skeleton run.

But Engelberg wasn’t only known as a “bob mec- ca” for its breath-taking sledging runs and the Bobbahn. From 1933 to 1955, Engelberg native Fritz Feierabend was a leading light of the inter­ national bobsleigh scene. Over the course of his career he won twelve World Cup medals (in- cluding six golds) and five Olympic medals. The Feierabends were already a well-known family in Engelberg. From 1928, Fritz’s father Karl built the legendary “Feierabend bob”. At that time, only competitors riding one of his bobs had the slight- est chance of winning.

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SCHLITTELPLAUSCH MIT LANGER TRADITION