Fatbiking - the new winter sport in Andermatt

The Andermatt vacation region is launching a pilot project for winter 2014-15 with the Fatbike Tour, with the aim of turning the trend into an attractive annual event. The short-notice first edition is already a success and needs to be extended from one to two evenings.

For a vacation region like Andermatt, the further development of its products is important. As mountain biking with its new type, fat biking, is also becoming more important in winter, such offers are also being examined. For this reason, Andermatt is organizing the Fatbike Event by Night together with the local company Bike + Event GmbH, which is also responsible for guiding. The announcement was made at very short notice, but the organizers nevertheless extended the event from one planned evening to two, as demand was greater than expected. Eight participants from central Switzerland and the Zurich area will be out on the Oberalp Pass road, which is closed in winter, on Saturday and 14 on Sunday with guide Leo Püntener.

After an instruction in fat bike riding technique, Püntener leads his guests through a warm-up lap through Andermatt. He also provides information about the Andermatt vacation region and Samih Sawiris' major project. The warm-up is followed by a ride up the Nätschen, after which the group takes the snow-covered pass road under its fat tires. To round off the event, Püntener rounds off the evening with his fat bike guests in the Bullskate bar. "This first test run was a complete success. There was a great atmosphere among the participants. We received very good feedback. Voices like: "Wow, you have to experience this" were not uncommon," says a delighted Leo Püntener.