St. Moritz: How St. Moritz Is Shaping Bobsleighing – And Vice Versa

The sport of bobsleighing was born in St. Moritz 125 years ago. Since then, this winter sport has thrilled spectators all over the world and put St. Moritz in the spotlight as the centre of the bobsleigh universe. The Saint Moritz Bobsleigh Club celebrates its 125-year anniversary with various bobsleigh highlights on the programme for the 2022/23 winter season.

HOW ST. MORITZ IS SHAPING BOBSLEIGHING...

Bobsleigh is part of St. Moritz’s DNA. On 21 December 1897 the first bobsleigh club in the world was founded here at the Kulm Hotel: the Saint Moritz Bobsleigh Club (SMBC). The first trials with a “new sport”, sledging with a bobsleigh, took place a few years before. The founding of the SMBC marked the birth of a fascinating winter sport as well as one of the most legendary sport clubs in the world.

... AND VICE VERSA

In order to fittingly celebrate the anniversary, the SMBC compiled a diverse programme for the 2022/23 winter season together with St. Moritz. From the beginning of November, the St. Moritz Design Gallery will have pictures depicting the 125-year history of the oldest bobsleigh club in the world on display in Parkhaus Serletta. And on 5 January 2023 – exactly 125 years after the world’s first bobsleigh race – the SMBC will hold a “historic race”. Historic sledges and clothing from that time will take visitors back to the 19th century. Another highlight this winter is the opening of the Cresta Run and the St. Moritz Bobmuseum in the newly renovated Scala cinema.

TRAINING GROUND FOR NEW TALENT

Besides its role as a bobsleigh pioneer, St. Moritz has also made a name for itself as a training ground for young bobsleigh enthusiasts and athletes as well as a venue for major bobsleigh races in the last 125 years. Two Olympic races and numerous European and world championships have been held at the St. Moritz-Celerina Olympia Bob Run. With the IBSF bobsleigh, skeleton and parabob sport world championships, another major sporting event is due to be held from 22 January to 5 February 2023.

THE OLDEST AND MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY BOBSLEIGH RUN IN THE WORLD

Like the SMBC, the Olympia Bob Run also plays a pioneering role: built in 1904, it is today the only remaining natural ice track in the world and the oldest bobsleigh run in the world. Every winter, 15,000 m3 of snow are processed to form the 1,722 metre ice track using 10,000 m3 of water over three weeks. No chemical substances at all are used, which also makes the Olympia Bob Run the most environmentally-friendly bobsleigh run in the world. For those who dare, there is also the opportunity to enjoy a thrilling ride thundering down the famous bobsleigh route as a guest along with a pilot and a brakeman.