Spot Guide: Engadin, Switzerland

(Report: Alois Muehlegger, surf 5/94)
(Translation: Renato Pajarola, Nov. 1994)

Top of the World - with this superlativ St. Moritz tries to entice the international Jet-Set to come to the 'Oberengadin'. In the midsummer, this posh place has strong winds like Tarifa, River Gorge or the 'Gardasee'. The difference in temperature between the flat and warm Northern Italy, and the cold nights in the Engadin mountains is the source for the thermal Maloja- wind which gets additionally strengthed by the narrow valley. In 1800 meters altitude, just behind the pass and after the Italian influenced village Maloja the lakes of Sils, Silvaplana, Champfer and St. Moritz lie there like strung on a thread. Therefore the low water temperatures - 15 degree Celsius is the maximum. Without a long wet-suit you are underdressed even in August which is the best wind month besides September.

Each year about 500 long distance freaks come to attend the "Engadin Surf Marathon" which was first held in 1978. The premiere was won by a 15 year old boy from Hawaii. Robby Naish started his victorious career on his first Europe-Tour with the victory in the Engadin Surf Marathon. For the 20th Marathon, it will be in 1997, ex-champion Naish wants to come to the Engadin again. "Amazing country and good food" says Robby, "my wife Katie could like this too". "I have to go there every year" completes enthusiasticly regatta freak M. Auer from Augsburg (Germany), and his friend Aloisius agrees with him on this: "Since 1985 I travel to the Engadin in August. Always sunny and windy, just perfect".

"Big sails may be reasonable there" supposes Bjoern Dunkerbeck. Dunki is right, because the air in this high altitude is thinner and demands a big sail surface. Even slalom freaks rigg 7m sails on their carbon masts. "There have been days you were too slow unrigging the big sails" jokes Andri Niggli, the Nitro-Cup organizer and hotel owner. "If south-west wind supports the Maloja wind you'll have enough at all with a 5.5 sail." Then, grand master Andri races with the sinker until the fin glows. Consequently, in the evening the speed records are celebrated in the comfortable bar of the Susom Surlei hotel.

Location

From Munich over Austria, from Stuttgart to 'Bodensee' to Chur, over the 'Julierpass' to Silvaplana. Sizes of the lakes: Lake Sils 5000 meter long, up to 1500 meter large; Lake Silvaplana 3000 meter long, 1500 meter large; windsurfing is prohibited on the Lake Champfer because of protection of nature; Lake St. Moritz 1500 meter long, 500 meter large.

Wind

The main wind source is the high pressure thermal Maloja wind, it starts at noon with about 3bf up to 5bf and comes from the south-west through the valley. Exactly the opposite direction takes the cold and gusty bad weather wind from the Julier pass and hammers down on the south bank of the Lake Silvaplana.

SPOTS

CAMPING MALOJA

Idyllic campground at the upper side of the Lake of Sils. Flat water and weaker Maloja wind are the features of this beginner and longboard spot. The few available parking places keep the daily tourists off this place. Police tips the wrong parked cars.

ORTSENDE MALOJA

Just on the road from Maloja to Silvaplana. A stony path leads down to the lake, the wind is a little bit better than on the other side by the campground.

PLAUN DA LEJ

Every year, this is the regatta spot for the Engadin Surf Marathon, it offers lawn for rigging the sails and a comfortable entrance, however, at the same time it's in lee. To recommend only for longboarders. Gourmet Tip: after surfing go to the fish restaurant Murtaol.

BASELGIA

At the east end side of the lake in Sils are two bays with parking places. The descend over the steep bank is quite arduous. Slalom pilots however, will find the best wind conditions and take off place here for flat water jibes.

SURFZENTRUM SILS

The brothers Mechsner lead the comfortable and ideal surf center at the Lake of Silvaplana, which was built at the west bank of the lake near Sils. The small training bay is ideal for beginners and ascenders. Shortboard pilots have to cross against the wind to get back, but, they will find absolutely flat water speed conditions. An easy and damage preserving entry.

WINDSURFING SILVAPLANA

Here is the crowd of regatta cracks and freaks to speed on the strip right in front of the funboard center. Arnaud Missiaen, once successfully in the regatta scene, leads the school, Conrad Curdin the surf center.

SURFSCHULE ST. MORITZ

Only beginners still do windsurfing on the Lake St. Moritz at the surf school. Advantage: the wind is definitely weaker here, moreover, the beginners don't disturb any cracks here.

Schools / Shops / Clubs

Surf-Center Sils, CH-7514 Sils Maria, phone +41 (0)81/ 826 58 77
Courses: beginner 180.-, advanced 200.-; Rental: funboards 29.-/h
restaurant, restrooms, showers (1.-), children- and volleyball playgrounds, mountainbike rental, free parking.

Windsurfing Silvaplana, Funboard Center
CH-7514 Silvaplana, phone +41 (0)81/ 828 92 29
Courses: beginner 230.-, advanced 360.-; Rental: funboards 25.-/h
beginner courses on Lake St. Moritz and Lake Silvaplana, restaurant, surfshop 'Windsurfing Silvaplana', restrooms, changing room, video room, board and sail repair, mountainbike rental, pay-parking (1.-/h; 5.-/half day; 9.50/day). URL: Windsurfing Silvaplana

Surfclub-Silvaplana
Email: info@surfclub-silvaplana.ch, URL: http://www.surfclub-silvaplana.ch/

Other Sports

In the Engadin the surfers can easily plan their day. Since the wind starts only from noon, the morning can be used for alternative sports. The possibilities are huge: mountainbiking, paragliding, gliding, hiking, skiing, tennis ... Sluggish people can take the ropeway to the Piz Corvatsch (3451m altitude) and the Piz Nair (3057m), or they can pass by train in an open car the beautiful Bernina Pass down to Tirano in Italy, passing also the glacer lake Lago Bianco where it is also very windy, but, the water temperature is just above the freezing mark.

Events 1997

At regatta times space is rare, especially on the Lake Silvaplana near the Funboard Center. The World Cup Tour will visit Silvaplana from 5. till 10. August 1997.

Camping

The campground in Maloja has a perfect location (about 110 places for 300 people, reservations recommanded for July/August). Max Pittin who maintains this campground is very open to the surfers. Attention: use of the driveway to the campground is only allowed for campground guests and residents, the police checks often and distributes tickets (50.-) for wild parking.
Phone: +41 (0)81/ 824 31 81
Prices: adults 5.-/day, tent 5.-/day

The campground Silvaplana connects seamlessly to the Surf Center, the entrance however, although well signed, leads complicated through the village. However, the best places entice with a direct access to the lake. Furthermore, the campground offers all amenities with international standard.
Phone: +41 (0)81/ 828 84 92
Prices: adults 7.-/day, tent 3.-/day, caravan 6.- to 8.-/day

Not well suited for surfers is the campground Olympiaschanze in St. Moritz. It's located at the entrance to St. Moritz coming from Silvaplana but, it has no access to a lake.
Phone: +41 (0)81/ 833 40 90

Housing

Hotels or apartments are highly available. Informations can be obtained from the local tourist information offices.
Maloja: phone +41 (0)81/ 824 31 88, fax +41 (0)81/ 824 36 37
Silvaplana: phone +41 (0)81/ 838 60 00, fax +41 (0)81/ 838 60 09
St. Moritz: phone +41 (0)81/ 837 33 33

26-Jul-1999 / pajarola@acm.org