The fastest earn the Devil’s title
From a historic adventure of daring pioneers on wooden skis to today’s celebration of snow sports, the Diavolezza Glacier Race continues to write its story—untamed, wild, and true to its origins.
1930 – The birth of a legend
Since 1930, the Diavolezza* Glacier Race has brought together generations of skiing enthusiasts. It is considered a people’s ski race - one where the focus is not solely on time, but on a shared passion for the glacier and the mountains. In those early days, 300 participants climbed the 885 metres to the start on skis fitted with skins, before racing down more than ten kilometres and 1,000 metres of vertical drop into the valley. It was not until 1956 that the Diavolezza cable car began transporting spectators and athletes to the start.
The route across the Pers and Morteratsch glaciers, past the icy giants Piz Palü and Piz Bernina, was - as it still is today - technically demanding. Renowned skiing greats claimed victory and with it the golden pin of the Diavolezza Devil. Among them was Dumeng Giovanoli, who won the race in 1962 and later went on to secure victories in the Ski World Cup in Wengen and Kitzbühel. After 34 editions, this tradition came to an end in 1980, for reasons unknown.
*Romansh for she-devil