Kite flying – Engadine style
Unusual sporting events, carnival attractions and music festivals are high on the agenda of events scheduled across Switzerland at the end of February and beginning of March.
Only a week after the world’s top skiers have left St Moritz, the spectacular skills of some of the world’s best kitesailors will be on show in the Upper Engadine region.
From February 22 to March 2, they will take part in a World Cup kitesailing event on the frozen waters of Lake Silvaplana, which is blessed with strong winds.
Kitesailors race across the frozen lake on snowboards or skis pulled by parachutes, reaching speeds up to 80 kilometres an hour.
It is the winter version of “kitesurfing”. As the name suggests, kitesurfers ride surfboards to speed over the water’s surface behind sails.
Tschäggättä
While kitesailing is a relatively new invention, the Tschäggättä custom has pagan roots.
Taking place over the entire month of February in the villages of the Lötschen Valley in canton Valais, young village men dress up with the intention of scaring away evil spirits.
They drape goats or sheep’s fur and bells over their bodies, disguise their appearances with carved masks and roam through the valley.
Typical to the region, the masks have twisted faces, bulging eyes and sinister wide grins.
The Tschäggättä follow no set route, and often prey on attractive young women, marking them with soot they’ve smeared on their fists.
The highlight is a parade through all the villages in the evening of February 27, and a second procession in the village of Wiler on the following Saturday.
Gstaad reaches musical peak
Now in its third year, the “Musical Summits” festival will take place in Gstaad from February 28 to March 8.
The classical music performances will be held at the Palace Hotel and the historic chapel in Gstaad as well as the church in Saanen.
“Musical Summits” is an attempt to gain some of the attention and praise normally lavished on the Menuhin classical music festival held each summer in Gstaad.
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