Zermatt Magazin 2024

Blindtext | Zermatt Magazin 27
What makes the Patrouille
des Glaciers so special?
People can fiddle with intellectual abilities,
and do sometimes. On the other
hand, fakes do not exist within the Patrouille
des Glaciers. Values such as discipline,
professionalism and team spirit are
the driving force there. You cannot outwit
the mountain.
Do the very well-known touristic
location names such as Zermatt and
Verbier additionally promote the PdG
myth?
They are naturally both independent
strong brands in the heart of the Alps. I
think that the PdG profits from Zermatt
and Verbier, but they also both profit on
the other hand from the Patrouille des
Glaciers. For me, the PdG is also an attractive,
even if also only symbolic bridge
between German-speaking Upper Valais
and French-speaking Lower Valais.
The new motto is "Soaring high together"
How did this slogan arise?
It imparts the team concept succinctly.
And that not only amongst ski mountaineers,
it also refers to the networks with the
partners and municipalities. Nobody can
do a PdG alone. By the way, further slogans
such as "Overcoming borders" also
existed. I liked this less as it implies limitation
or segregation.
The warming of the climate also influences
a race in the mountains and in
snow and ice. What does this mean for
the PdG?
It is clear that warming will also influence
topography. This is our great challenge
for the future, because safety always
comes first. Therefore, we limit the number
of three-member patrols to 1600 on
the route. The actual race tracks were
considerably longer for the previous race
in 2022. The next event will then also be
held earlier in April. But we will have to
occupy ourselves with the date question.
Because the PdG is actually a ski tour
race and not a high mountain walk.
Where will Christian Sieber actually be
during the PdG?
I will not mind the command centre, I
will release myself from this task. In addition
to the ceremony, you will also see me
at the start and the finish.
Also in the night?
Nobody can work 24 hours. However,
the working days three or four weeks prior
to and the two weeks after the competition
will be longer.
The announcement was made
throughout September. How did it go?
Excellently, we’re booked out. Demand
was even a little higher than for the previous
event in 2022. The appetite for the
PdG is undiminished.
The Patrouille des Glaciers is initially
secured until 2028. And then?
We will develop that further in 2024.
However, today I see no indications that
continuation beyond then should not be
possible. I actually cannot imagine that
the PdG will not take place.
Roman Lareida
Who is Sieber?
The 50-year-old
Christian Sieber
grew up in the Biel
Seeland region
and lives in the
metropolitan area
of Berne. He works
60 percent for the
cantonal police in
Berne as a Regional Manager Mittelland-Emmental-Oberaargau.
Additionally,
the brigadier is the Deputy of the
Commander of the Territorial Division
1 as a Militia Officer and also Commander
of the Patrouille des Glaciers.
Sieber has two children.
History of the PdG
The Patrouille des Glaciers (PdG) in
Valais is the largest ski mountain climbing
race worldwide. It is organised
and masterminded by the Swiss Army,
which also always provides the respective
PdG Commander. The big race is
from Zermatt to Verbier (57.5 km, 4386
metres’ cumulative elevation gain), the
small race from Arolla to Verbier (29.6
km, 2200 metres’ cumulative elevation
gain). The competition with 1600
three-member patrols takes place every
two years, the next time from April
15 to 21, 2024.
The Patrouille des Glaciers took place
for the first time in April 1943. Its predecessor
was a competition between
the two companies stationed in Zermatt
and Verbier which had the task
of securing the southwest side of Switzerland.
The central issue was: Who
reaches Arolla first?
In 1949, there was a lethal accident. A
military patrol was lost in an ice crevice
on the Mont-Miné glacier between Zermatt
and Arolla. As a consequence, the
Bundesrat [Federal Council] banned
the PdG until the 1980s. The comeback
took place in 1984.