Find out why Pippa Middleton Enjoys Cross-Country Ski Racing

13th March 2013

As rousing music echoed across the valley my excitement rose. This is what the months of dragging myself to the gym on cold, dark winter evenings were all for. Here I was surrounded by 13,000 other participants, about to take place in one of the biggest and best cross-country ski races in the world, the Engadin Ski Marathon! The weather couldn’t have been more perfect with bright blue skies and a good covering of snow, my newly waxed skies were primed and ready to whisk me around the course as fast as my legs would carry me.

All woman competing the race in ‘skate’ style skiing were put in one starting pen (to avoid be trampled by the men) and allow more space for the start when you need to jostle for position. As we lined up listening to the music pumping out (which had by now moved on to some excellent Euro pop) and participating in rather amusing warm up exercises we spotted that we had 4 times ironman winner and triathlete Chrissie Wellington in front of us. She was buzzing with excitement as much as the rest of us but was happy to pose for photos and was impressed that we had such a big UK contingent competing the race.

Before we knew it the starting gun sounded and the battle for position was on. Surprisingly it wasn’t as chaotic as you might think but you did need to have your whit’s (and ski legs) about you. The following 42km passed in a hilly blur, mostly it was good but there is no doubt about it – the last 3km were tough. I crossed the line in 3hr 42 exhausted but exhilarated. As I fired off texts to friends and family I heard back that Pippa Middleton had also taken part in the race, who consequently finished in an impressive 2hr 48 minutes.

These racing weeks are a fantastic way to challenge yourself and enjoy being part of an exhilirating and memorable event. Engadin is perfect for first timers as you can choose between classic or skate style over broad trails and relatively easy terrain. Being the biggest and probably best known race in the Alps with over 10,000 participants, you will need good stamina given the altitude.

And if you love this one so much you want to try another one, your next challenge would be either Konig Ludwig for the skating enthusiasts or Dolomitenlauf for those who prefer a classic cross-country skiing race. Both are smaller events with around 1,000 participants and each offer varied scenery as well as some exciting undulating terrain.

For the ultimate challenge Exodus' brand new race, Marcialonga, is one of the oldest and most famous cross-country skiing races in Europe, and it is also one of the most challenging! 70km classic cross-country skiing in the beautiful Val di Fassa, in the Dolomites. And if you book this trip by 25 April 2013 you'll receive £100 off the price of the holiday!

By Chloe Knott, Exodus' Product Manager