Davos Klosters’ is usually in the headlines for hosting world leaders at the annual World Economic Forum or when members of the British Royal family head there for a winter holiday, but the area has so much more to offer than this newspaper fodder and it is one of Switzerland’s snowsport capitals.
PHOTO: Davos Klosters
The neighbouring ski areas are linked by lift and piste and this season sees the opening of a new cable car to the Jakobshorn and the renovation of its summit station. Jakobshorn’s mountaintop hostel and panoramic restaurant (2,590m) has been completely revamped, but has retained its distinctive circular structure.
The resort also sees the return of the famous Parsenn Derby races this season after a three-year hiatus. This dates back to British connections with Davos Klosters in the 19th century, when winter sports developed from the mountain area’s popularity as a health resort for those suffering or recovering from tuberculosis, as documented in Thomas Mann’s epic novel, The Magic Mountain.
Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was an adventurous early skier, and it was an après-ski conversation among members of the Davos English Ski Club which raised the question ‘how long would it take to ski the Küblis run non-stop?’ that led to the inauguration of the Parsenn Derby.
Open to amateurs, the original long-distance downhill ski race returns this season (2-4 March 2023), 99 years after its first edition. The annual Anglo-Swiss parliamentary ski race is also a tradition dating back to the 1950s.
Davos Klosters offers around 300km of combed pistes served by 57 lifts across six distinct areas. There are off-piste and ski-touring opportunities and beautiful cross-country and winter walking trails in secluded locations.
At the heart of it all, Gotschna-Parsenn connects the two resorts and has skiing and snowboarding opportunities on open slopes at high altitude and long runs through forest and snowy pastures, including the famous 12km top-to-bottom marathon from the Weissfluh (2844m) to Küblis (800m).
PHOTO: Davos/Marcel Giger
Jakobshorn is the boarder and freestyler’s choice, with a great snowpark and a vibrant après scene on and off the slopes. Pischa is a dedicated freeride mountain, while families have fun in the sun on the Madrisa and on the uncrowded slopes of the Rinerhorn.
You need to purchase a seperate lift pass for the nearby Schatzalp but it is attractive for those who prefer a slower pace of life where they can enjoy nature and rediscover the unhurried mood of skiing in times gone by.
A special thrill for experienced skiers is the Funi Line, a 50km day tour on unprepared slopes skiable from mid-December to mid-April subject to snow conditions.
Davos is a cosmopolitan ski town, with buzzy nightlife, interesting museums and the full range of shopping, accommodation and restaurants. Klosters is a stylish place with a more villagey charm. British families bring their children back to join in the club racing on the slopes where they learned their skills, and their parents and grandparents before them. The region is easily accessible by train: 2 hours from Zurich to Klosters, 2½-hours to Davos.
Event highlights winter 2022/23
* 2 –18 December: Songbird Festival: Switzerland’s biggest singer-songwriter Festival
* 16–18 December: Christmas Concerts in Klosters
* 17–18 December: FIS Cross Country World Cup – Davos Nordic
* 26–31 December: 94th Spengler Cup 2022: Oldest club ice hockey tournament in the world
* 1 January: Traditional Hotschrennen (Pig Racing) on New Year’s Day in Klosters
* 1–8 January: British-Swiss Parliamentary Ski Week 2023
* 11-12 February: Art on Ice 2023: The most impressive figure skating show in the world
* 2–4 March: 88th Parsenn Derby: The most traditional People’s Ski Race in Switzerland
* 30 March–2 April: Coverfestival Davos 2023: Music and fun on the mountain and in the valley
Holidays to Davos Klosters can be booked through one of the Skier & Snowboarder partners such SNO Holidays
PHOTO: Davos Klosters/Matthias Paintner
Categories: Racing, Switzerland