Bernhard Russi Run: On the trail of the Olympic champion

The former ski racer Bernhard Russi is one of the most famous Andermatt skiers. He achieved legendary successes at the Winter Olympics and World Championships. One of the longest downhill runs in Switzerland was named the Bernhard Russi Run in his honour. 

Six kilometres of fast-paced fun

The Bernhard Russi Run leads steeply down from the almost 3,000-metre-high Gemsstock lookout peak over the Gurschen glacier to the Gurschen cable car mid-station. The piste is always well prepared so that you can get the full performance out of your racing skis. Just like Bernhard Russi has been doing here for years. 

Gemsstock: highlight for freeriders and professionals

The area on the Gemsstock is well-known among demanding skiers because of its steep, long pistes and numerous deep-snow runs and is also considered an insider tip among freeriders. There are runs over 1,500 metres in altitude, glacier slopes or the Bernhard Russi Run. Freeriders are drawn to the deep snow-covered slopes next to the pistes. You don't have any freeriding experience yet? The courses at the Avalanche Training Centre ensure a safe deep-snow experience and our mountain guides show you the most exciting slopes. 

Innovative snow and glacier protection 

On the Gemsstock, the winter lasts even longer than usual. Through the use of snow farming, we keep around 25,000 m3 of top-quality snow from melting on the Gurschen glacier and the St. Anna glacier. This means that the season lasts from November to May, i.e. seven months. In addition, we have been working to protect the glaciers for many years. The Gurschen glacier was the first glacier in Switzerland to be wrapped in a fleece from spring to autumn. This helps to stem the melting of snow and ice. The pilot project, supervised by ETH Zurich, has also prompted other ski resorts to protect their glaciers. 

The Bernhard Russi Run 

Start: Gemsstock (2'961 m a.s.l.)  Finish: Gurschengrat chairlift valley station (2,010 m above sea level)  Length: approx. 6 kilometres  Height difference: 950 metres  Level of difficulty: black piste (continuously groomed)