Lighting up the Engadin
From first steps on skis to 17 kilometres under the stars.
By: Holly Garbett
10.03.2026
Seven creators started this journey with almost no cross-country skiing background. What began as curiosity quickly turned into something bigger.
Training sessions. First falls. First kilometres on skis.
And finally, the moment they had been working toward.
The Engadin Skimarathon Night Race.
17 kilometres. Headlamps in the dark. A trail lit only by snow, stars and skiers.
The night unveiled more than they all expected. This is how it unfolded.
Engadin after dark
The valley is buzzing with energy. Headlamps glow across the snow as a thousand skiers gather at the start. Poles strike the ground. Skis shuffle into place. Conversations mix with nervous laughter. Among them are our creators, stepping into unfamiliar territory. And suddenly, the moment has arrived.
The start line
For many of them, the race began with nerves. A new sport. A first race. Surrounded by skiers waiting for the same countdown. For some, the weight of the challenge suddenly sets in.
“Standing in the ski trail thinking ‘now there is no way back’.”
— Adrienne
The night
Racing at night transforms everything. The trail becomes a glowing line of headlamps moving through the dark. For some creators, the beauty of the experience stood out.
“Being on my own in the woods by night under the stars.” — Aurora
For others, the atmosphere was unforgettable.
“Crazy, special, beautiful.” — Danny
And sometimes the biggest surprise was not the landscape. It was the people.
“The unexpected cool factor was the community.” — Jorgen
Built for the night
Seventeen kilometres in winter conditions quickly teaches you the importance of the right layers. Warmth without overheating. Freedom to move while pushing through the cold. Several creators were surprised by how little they needed to stay comfortable. “I only needed two layers to be warm.” — Franziska And how the Odlo kit allowed them to focus on the experience rather than the temperature. “The Odlo gear made me feel strong and confident.” — Kadi
The challenge
Nordic skiing has a way of humbling even experienced mountain athletes. Balance. Technique. Endurance. Many discovered just how demanding the sport really is. “I used to think cross-country skiing was easy. Now I think it is definitely not, but I love that.”— Franziska “I used to think cross-country skiing was hard. Now I think it is even harder.” — Danny But somewhere between the start and the finish line, something changed. Confidence grew. The rhythm of skiing clicked. And the sport started to feel different.
“Somehow cross-country skiing made me feel like a kid again.”
— Aurora
The finish line
17 kilometres later, the lights of the finish line appeared.
The creators who once called themselves beginners now see Nordic skiing differently.
“I used to think cross-country skiing was boring. Now I think it is super fun.” — Kadi
For some, it sparked something even bigger.
“Learn to love the winter and what comes with it.” — Adrienne
The journey does not end here
What started as a challenge became something more.
A new sport to explore. A new respect for endurance. A new winter ritual.
And maybe the most important lesson of the night:
“Every expert was once a beginner.” — Danny
And one thing they all agreed on when the race was over.
They would do it all over again.
7 creators. 17 kilometres. One night to remember.
Until next year.
#TheresMoreOutThere