As of: January 25, 2024, 3:28 p.m
By: Josef Hornsteiner
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There are only three days between these pictures, which were taken in the same place: On the right, the cross-country ski trail on January 21st.
Current photo on the left.
© Private
The weather conditions make the King Ludwig Run impossible.
Nature puts an abrupt end to the organizers' plans.
A whole year of preparation is in vain.
Ettal/Oberammergau – One thing is clear to Marc Schauberger: “Forcing force” doesn’t achieve anything.
The result would be unsatisfactory - for all sides, be it in terms of nature conservation, sustainability or the promotion of popular sports.
Technically, the King Ludwig Run could perhaps have been saved somehow.
Perhaps.
“But I think nothing would have happened this year anyway.” So he had no choice but to cancel the 2024 Luggi Run next weekend.
With a heavy heart, of course.
Because this is bad news for the chairman.
“A year of voluntary work was completely free, three quarters of the total costs had already been paid,” he states resignedly.
The mood is correspondingly bad.
“Good is something else,” he says and still smiles.
He is an optimist: “Next year we will continue at full speed.”
The biggest opponents were warm wind, heavy rain and, to make matters worse, hurricane gusts.
If these phenomena had occurred individually, it might have been possible to help with mechanical snow cover.
“But the combination of everything was deadly for the snow.” His pictures are astonishing: the photos he took on Sunday, January 21st, show a real winter wonderland.
Magnificent glittering snow, perfectly groomed trails.
Cross-country skiing conditions like something out of a storybook.
Just three days later, in the same place, a completely different picture, a sad one.
Green-brown ground, dark gray, slushy remains of snow.
“It’s hard to believe that there are only a few days between recordings.”
The bitter decision was made on Thursday morning: the Luggi run had to be canceled
Popular competition: The King Ludwig Run has existed since 1968, in which athletes from over 30 nations take part.
It has to be canceled for this year.
© Andreas Mayr
On Wednesday, Schauberger walked the trail - or what was left of it - together with route manager Josef Pongratz.
“We then gave ourselves another night to think about it,” says Schauberger.
However, on Thursday morning the time had come.
The bitter decision: “No chance, there’s nothing left to save.” The cancellation took place and the chairman sent out a press release.
“Even if there were a total change in the weather, it got cold and snowed a lot, we would never be able to prepare in time for the start.” But that would be wishful thinking anyway.
“The long-range forecasts do not indicate any further heavy snowfall or significant weather changes.”
Despite technical aids, important sections of the route were washed away
Despite all the technical aids, important sections of the route such as the starting field, the connecting trail and the river crossings were washed away.
In addition, there are some broken branches that endanger participants on the trail.
The hurricane-force gusts did a great job.
“The necessary safety for the 3,100 starters in forest areas simply can no longer be guaranteed at the moment.”
And bringing the race to an artificial stage with a brute technical effort is not an option for Schauberger, especially since it completely contradicts the philosophy of the traditional event.
“The Luggi Run leads through one of the largest contiguous nature reserves in Europe.
We want to preserve this for future generations.” That’s why the organizer is only permitted to apply machine snow to paved paths and roads.
So no artificial cross-country ski trail from the start at Ettal to the finish at Oberammergau.
Just a few days ago, the organizers were optimistic.
The final decision was still open.
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Over and over, Germany's largest cross-country skiing cannot take place this year.
A fact that - apart from during the Corona pandemic - only occurs on average every ten years.
"But there's nothing you can do.
Unfortunately, that’s the case.” Schauberger hopes that the cross-country skiers will remain loyal to him next year.
What to do with the entry fee?
All participants who have already paid their entry fee now have three options: Either overwrite the entry fee as a credit for 2025, have part of it refunded or – the organizers would prefer – donate the amount paid.
All information at www.koenig-ludwig-lauf.com.