Cradle of winter sports

The origins of winter sports date back to the seventies and eighties of the 19th century, after Englishmen had dared to travel by horse-drawn sleighs to St. Moritz in winter of 1864, on the initiative of Johannes Badrutt. They were looking for recreation and pleasure even in this time of the year.

Above all, and simultaneously with skiing, ice skating and curling were the most popular sports. 1882 the first ice skating competition was held with participation of Vienna. Followed in short intervals by the foundation of the first curling clubs, the tobogganing clubs and others. Bandy (now hockey) was also played, the first bobsleighs were invented and designed, and with the beginning of last century there was a peak development in all sorts of winter sports. Later, in the years 1928 and 1948, even the Olympic Winter Games have been carried out in St. Moritz.