Patrouille des Glaciers’s future is guaranteed, say organisers

The organisers of the Patrouille des Glaciers, an iconic ski mountaineering race between Zermatt and Verbier in the Swiss Alps, have signed a “roadmap” to ensure the continuation of the biennial event. A recent controversy had cast a shadow over its future. The roadmap, signed between the Swiss Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport, canton Valais and the Association for the Support, Management and Promotion of the Patrouille des Glaciers (ASPdG), guarantees the organisation of the next four editions until 2028. Under the agreement, a public foundation has been set up to take over most of the work of the association, which was created in 1995 to deal with marketing and sponsorship issues. The Swiss army will continue to be responsible for the organisation of the race, together with the cantonal authorities, a statement published on Monday said. The 2022 edition will continue as planned, the organisers added. The gruelling ski mountaineering race, which began in 1943...