Ski your own Olympic downhill
If you cannot get to the Olympics in Vancouver, try the tiny Swiss resort of Mürren, which is where the sport began in January 1928. Then Sir Arnold Lunn and 16 other members of the British-run Kandahar Ski Club slowly zigzagged their way up the Shilthorn on hickory skis lined with sealskins. They spent the night in a spartan mountain hut before pointing their tips downwards and racing back to Lauterbrunnen the next morning. According to the records, all 17 finished the winner in a time of one hour 12 minutes.
The start is at the famous revolving Piz Gloria restaurant which was the location for the ski chase in James Bond’s film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and sitting having lunch or a quiet drink you will see the 360-degree panoramas it offers of the Bernese Oberland that few are in a rush to leave. Interestingly, this is the only lift that makes a charge for a descent, which many are happy to pay when they see the top of the run down, it’s not called ”Oh God” for nothing! For what awaits the brave participants is a white knuckle descent of epic proportions. The course runs from the top of the Shilthorn to the bottom at Winteregg, a journey of six miles, dropping 7,140 vertical feet. Welcome to your very own Swiss Olympics!
Mürren is a popular Ski resort and is a car-free village situated in possibly the world’s most beautiful ski area with a wealth of off-piste skiing. Along with the more famous Wengen, it is In the same Jungfrau ski region and has incredible Alpine village charm with the added appeal of being less crowded and less commercialized, The ideal place for a ski holiday and family friendly too.
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