Grindelwaldmagazin 14 15 e winter

magazin

Edition no. 03 2014/2015 Preis CHF 14.80 EUR 12.30

WINTERSPORTS A PARADISE FOR ALL KINDS OF WINTER ADVENTURES

in collaboration with 速

V-BAHN PROJEcT INTERVIEW WITH URS KESSLER, CEO JUNGFRAUBAHNEN

REAL ESTATE Markus Friedli president and CEO GriwaGroup, talks real estate and investment

WITH SKI PISTE M AP

editorial

A mountain village full of surprises Grindelwald is taking big steps into the future. Shortly before Christmas 2014, the new village centre will be inaugurated. With it the commune shall realize one of the biggest infrastructure projects of recent years. This milestone finally gives Grindelwald what it has deserved for a long time – namely an attractive face in the centre of our community. As in times of yore, there will be spaces in the village to linger, places to take in the fantastic mountain world. The parking spaces will be located in the underground parking garage, and the new service centre will offer a significant improvement for shopping that visitors and locals alike can benefit from.

The expansion project of the Jungfrau railways and t he Männlichenbahn is anot her fut ureoriented project for Grindelwald. For me it is clear: the beauty of the majestic scenery alone is not enough to remain competitive when up against the best of alpine tourism. Investments in infrastructure and projects that inject new life while maintaining the value of nature, the diverse cultural expressions of our valley, and the character of Grindelwald, are exactly what is needed. From Markus Friedli on a winter hike in the Jungfrau area. a tourism and development point of view, I greatly ABOVE value that a local company, the Jungfrau railway, is able to and has the courage to bear such large investments mostly by itself.

I believe in Grindelwald as a business location. I am convinced of its potential, and I am persuaded by the charisma of the village, uniquely combining local traditions, alpine agricultural history and mountaineering with the modern and international world. Get to know this diverse place through the Grindelwald Magazine – in this issue pay a visit to the pickaxe blacksmith whose reputation extends to Mount Everest; ski through a wondrous whirl of powder snow; or even enjoy a ski lesson in Chinese: Grindelwald is full of surprises!

Welcome!

MARKUS FRIEDLI President and Chairman of the management GriwaGroup

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A lex My business: G as supply My passion: E xploring th e w orld My name:

J u lius B ae r, b ecause I c an rely on th eir financia l expe rtise w h e re v e r I g o My private ba

nk:

Investment advisory · Wealth management · Retirement planning · Tax planning · Real estate financing www.juliusbaer.ch Julius Baer is present in 14 locations all over Switzerland. From Basle, Berne, Crans Montana, Geneva, Kreuzlingen, Lausanne, Lucerne, Lugano, Sion, St. Gallen, St. Moritz, Verbier, Zug to Zurich (head office).

140807_BJB_Adv_Alex_Switzerland_Grindelwald_Magazin_225x287_RA_e.indd 1

07.08.14 10:44

SUMMARY

Winter

Grindelwald invests Inauguration of the new village center

V-Bahn plan Interview with CEO Urs Kessler

Winter sports A paradise for winter adventures Special events for the season

Freeride guide Advice for off-piste skiing

Skischool Skiing Chinese style

Product quality from Grindelwald Pick axe blacksmith Ruedi Bhend

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Real estate Markus Friedli talks about the future of the market

Books on Grindelwald

Eating & Shopping

30 32 33

13 17 – 21

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Publisher: GriwaGroup Designed by: GriwaGroup in cooperation with Ville&Casali Layout: Ville&Casali Editing: Marketing Director GriwaGroup, Susan Lerch-Stettler Texts: Annette Marti, Christine Kopp, GriwaGroup Photos: Michael Ackermann, Rainer Eder, Speedy Füllemann, Björn Gosswiler, Jungfraubahnen, Marianne Tiefenbach, Zvg Translation: Eva Ferguson, Enrico Morelli, Cristina D'Andrea Printing: Arti Grafiche Boccia, via Tiberio Claudio Felice, 7- 80131 Salernoo

Alpinice AG Sandweg 1 3818 Grindelwald

Telefon 033 854 40 40 Telefax 033 854 40 41

Bauunternehmung/Ingenieurbüro

Alpinice AG Sandweg 3 3818 Grindelwald

Telefon 033 854 40 40 Telefax 033 854 40 41

Building Contractor Civil Engineers

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GLACIER'S VILLAGE

A NEW HEART for Grindelwald Shortly before Christmas 2014 the newly designed village centre of Grindelwald opens. After 18 months of construction, the village centre will once again belong to pedestrians.

L

ots of traffic, parking everywhere and yet not enough parking space, narrow sidewalks, barely room for events and shopping facilities pushed to the edges: the centre of Grindelwald used to be dominated by cars – but not anymore.

Shortly before Christmas 2014 the newly designed village cen-

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tre is to be inaugurated. After 1½ years of construction and an even longer planning time, the new parking, the service centres at prime locations as well as three squares are to be opened.

Thus, the commune is going to conclude its biggest infrastructure project of recent years.

Historically open squares have been part of the centre of Grin-

delwald, such as the area surrounding the old Hotel Baer on the Dorfstrasse which burned down in 1941 that has been used as an ice-skating rink in winter. The newly designed village centre is going to reflect this history with three new squares.

Above the 250-space parking garage, there will be a multipurpose area little in the way of

Grindelwald

Photos

Before the end of works the new village centre

that will offer several facilities. decoration so that the space can be used for various events. The new service centre is going to dominate the upper side of the street with the curved facade towards the train station. The Bernese Kantonalbank (BEKB) is going to move into the front part and the 1,000 square meter retail space behind it shall be used by Coop. An additional 450 square meters will be rented out to different shops, which shall be directly connected to the parking garage via a passage under the street.

Above the Coop, where motorists used to fight over the few parking spaces in front of the shop, there will be a panorama square – a zone to stroll for pedestrians.

The commune will already be finished with the landscaping in December, a project that was estimated to take longer when it began. There will be seating

inviting people to linger around the skylights of the shops of the lower level, and an alpine garden with indigenous plants will feature along the edge of the square. The third of the new squares will extend between the street and the sport centre. A new playground will dominate this green space.

Modelled on the popular alpine playground on Bort, it will be equipped with climbing and stone-related items. And of course it is the Eiger and the surrounding mountains that will set the scene for the new squares, with guests as well as locals being able to savour the incomparable panorama of Grindelwald from December on, calm and relaxed from the village centre. t Text: Annette Marti; Photos: Michael Ackermann

Bruno Hauswirth, CEO Grindelwald Tourism Soon the new village centre of Grindelwald will be opened. How important is this from a tourism perspective?

Bruno Hauswirth: The project is very important for tourism because Grindelwald is finally going to have a beautifully designed centre. To play devil’s advocate one could say that until now the most beautiful places in Grindelwald were used as parking spaces. Now space is going to be created to stroll in the village centre and hang out. This is fantastic. Moreover, the new squares are going to open up new possibilities for events. However, there is yet another dimension that also seems important to me…

What do you mean?

Grindelwald has adopted a tourist mission statement in which various goals are set. Among them are the improvement of the atmosphere in the village centre, the calming of traffic in the core zone and thus a general increase in quality of life. I think it is crucial that these goals are being accomplished with the project ‘village centre’. A mission statement should not just collect dust but be actively pursued.

Has G r i ndelwa ld Tou r i s m cont r i buted to t he realisation of the new village centre?

Only a little bit as our financial resources are limited. The main credit for this great project goes to the investors, the commune and the voters of Grindelwald who had to give a green-light to the plans. Grindelwald Tourism is financing the equipment and installations for the new playground in front of the sports centre. GT is also planning a textile roof for the entrance area of the parking garage that can be used for events.

Do you already have concrete plans for events on the squares?

Actually the lower square is supposed to be a multi-purpose place where events can take place. We have a number of ideas for what could be done but there is nothing concrete yet.

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V-BAHN

«It is now time to roll the dice» Jungfrau Railways and the Grindelwald-Männlichen cable car company are seeking to invest CHF 290 million in a new cable car project. In order to realize the so-called "V-Bahn" project a positive decision of the Grindelwald municipal assembly is required. The outcome of this vote was unknown at the time of interview.

You are planning a completely new cable car between Grindelwald Grund and the Eiger glacier.

Is this a summer or winter season investment?

Urs Kessler: “Both – our region needs two strong seasons, a good summer as well as a strong winter season. This is important for the entire chain of service providers.

Winter is an especially competitive market. If you are not seen as a premium winter destination, then you are considered mediocre.

This is a trend that can be felt in Grindelwald in the form of declining winter numbers.

Additionally, the GrindelwaldMännlichen cable car concession is going to run out in 2016 – a replacement is needed.

With winter being such an insecure business, do you consider it sensible to invest such a large sum?

Wouldn’t a step-by-step approach be more appropriate?

No, precisely not. We have seen with our existing businesses that small investments are not enough.

We have invested around CHF 66 million in winter sports, for example for snowmaking and several new installations in the Kleine Scheidegg/Männlichen area. That is not an insignificant amount of money and yet we were not able to stop the negative trend.

Major investment is needed – only then can we remain competitive in

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ABOVE

Urs Kessler, CEO Jungfrau Railway: “We could never invest so much into winter sport without an existing successful operation”.

the long term.

What are the benefits of the project V-Bahn for the winter season?

There are a number of positive aspects. Firstly, the attractiveness of public transport is increased with the new Rothenegg station.

Thanks to new rolling stock on the new BOB ( Bernese Oberland Railway) line, volume can increasingly be moved to public transportation and journey times significantly reduced. The Rothenegg station will stop right next to the terminal of the two cable cars in Grindelwald Grund.

This leads to a shift of traffic from road to rail. Next benefit relates to the overall size of the ski area, which nowadays is crucial. We

will be able to better connect the Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen and First ski areas with direct bus connections. The waiting times in Grund get shorter with the new cable car to Männlichen and the new Eiger-Express to the Eiger glacier. This makes it attractive to make the descent into the valley during the day instead of just in the evening as now.

The driving force of the Jungfrau Railways is the ride up to the Joch – what improvements does the new project offer in this respect?

The quality of the journey is better and the travel time is significantly shorter. Thanks to the new rolling stock on the Jungfrau Railway today’s standing-room-only

Grindelwald V-project facts In order to realize the “V-Bahn” project of Jungfrau Railways Grindelwald-Männlichen cable car companies, the decision of Grindelwald municipal assembly is necessary. The Jungfrau Railways started to intensively promote the plans during the summer of 2014..

Jungfraujoch Eigergletscher

The eight elements of the V-project: • New

rolling stock on the BOB (Bernese Oberland Railways) and a new station at Rothenegg with direct access to the terminal of the two cable cars.

• Grindelwald Grund terminal: base station of the new Grindelwald-Männlichen and Eiger-Express cable cars lines, with various shops and storage facilities for ski material.

• Grindelwald Grund parking area with about 1,000 spaces.

• New 8-person cable car on the Grindelwald-Männlichen line, doubling the capacity from 900 to 1,800 people per hour • Eiger-Express cable line: 3S-Bahn from Grund to Eigergletscher, with a capacity of 2,400 people per hour • New rolling stock on the Wengernalp railway • New rolling stock on the Jungfrau railway • Direct bus connection from Grindelwald Grund to the First cable car

situations shall be eliminated. Today the travel time from Grindelwald Grund up to the Jungfraujoch takes almost 1½ hours. With the new cable car between Grund and the Eiger glacier it would only be 45 minutes. In the future guests could take the Eiger Express to the Eiger glacier in just 15 minutes. The route also includes a very attractive stretch right in front of the Eiger North Face. Shorter ride times are crucial to ensure the international competiveness of the Jungfraujoch.

Critics fear that the new cable car in front of the Eiger North Face is too big and spoils the landscape.

Obviously we are not looking to damage the landscape. After all, nature is one of our major assets.

The route of the new Eiger Express cable car was examined on site with federal and cantonal authorities and is the environmentally best option.

During the planning, natural hazards were considered and environmental impact studies were made. The cable car is planned in such a way that it only needs seven pillars, the tallest being 62

Firstbahn

Kleine Scheidegg Grindewald

Rothenegg

Männlichen

Grund Wengen Lauterbrunnen

ABOVE

The yellow marked lines represent the route of the two new cable cars: one arm of the V goes along the present cable car route to Männlichen, the other one goes from Grindelwald Grund directly to the Eiger glacier. Graphic: Jungfrau railways.

meters high. In this way no forest clearing will be needed. The cable car pillars are in fact strikingly small when seen within the context of the Eiger North Face. What seems very important to me is that we do not open up new territory but make the already-developed area more accessible, and that we integrate the terminal as well as the cable car into the landscape in the best possible way.

There is almost no other mountain railway company in Switzerland that can make such a large investment from its own resources. What enables you to do this?

Obviously we could never invest so much into winter sport on the Jungfraujoch and the entire region without an existing successful operation. 10 years ago we had 500,000 guests on the Jungfraujoch, in 2013 we had 800,000. Thanks to these results we were able to continuously increase the value of the company and generate positive cashflow.

Right now it is still unclear whether the voters of Grindelwald will say yes to the basic elements of the

plan. What will you to do if the decision is negative?

We will accept the outcome of the vote and we will have to see how we develop further without the V-project. A direct alternative does not exist because the V-project is already a revised plan B project. Originally the idea was to build on a Y-shaped cable car route, with the Männlichen and Kleinen Scheidegg sections of the line initially running alongside each other before splitting to their respective destinations. However, the resistance to this proposal was significant from the start so we changed the project. The V-project is now an all-encompassing project that consists of eight elements and economically it would not make sense to only realize one element. As mentioned before it is the inter-related nature of the eight components that makes their integration of critical importance -only the overall project can really work. t Text: Annette Marti; Photos: Michael Ackermann

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winter sports activities

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Grindelwald

A paradise for all kinds of winter adventures Grindelwald and the Jungfrau region offer more than just 200 kilometres of ski slopes.

There are also countless other winter sports activities tempting you to try your hand, and bad weather is no obstacle.

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rindelwald and sporting activities go insepara bly together.

T h e r e g i o n' s f i r s t g uests came to t he va l ley to cl i m b t he high wilderness and open up new ter r itory. Today it does not have to be a pioneer i ng ac t to peak the Eiger or another of our world-renowned peaks, a nd Gr i ndelwa ld a nd t he Jung frau reg ion a lso now offer a rich range of winter sports activities suitable for every taste and skill level.

W hy not t r y out c u rl i ng ?

Cross-count r y sk i i ng ? Go with a Velogemel – a cross bet ween a bic ycle a nd a sledge? Or perhaps bouldering? Or climbing through the rope park? Granted, with the right mindset an afternoon on the balcony can also be pioneer i ng work, stretching the legs, admiring the panorama, and enjoying the luxury of peace and nihilism

without disturbance – all of wh ich ca n cer ta i n ly g ive as much satisfaction as a strenuous athletic exertion.

Choose what fits t he moment, vary your choice, enjoy your favourite sport and try out new things.

Night-skiing Skiing and snowboarding a re a mong t he big t rad it ion s of t he Gr i ndelwa ld and Jungfrau region. A total of 214 kilometres of slopes wind their way through the three regions, GrindelwaldF i rs t, Mä n n l ichen-K lei ne Scheidegg a nd Mür renSchilthorn. From death-defying descents to epic wide runs, skiers will find everything they wish for. Accompanying your every turn is t he magnificent backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch, Jungf rau a nd t he ot her major peaks. A special treat is the night-skiing in the Bodmia rena, wh ich ta kes place

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winter sports activities ever y Tuesday and Friday from 19:00 – 22:00. In the evening the ambience is unbeatable, the mulled wine ta stes even b et ter u nder the starry sky, and a whole day of bad weather can be spent sleeping without giving up the skiing experience.

Moreover, a Big-Air jump has been built for freestylers in the Bodmi.

Off-piste nature experiences A winter holiday in Grindelwald without a sled run is not to be contemplated, especially as Europe's longest sled run is in Grindelwald. It runs for over 15 kilometres from the Faulhorn down to Grindelwald. There are also two night runs, one on the Bussalp and the illuminated Eiger run from A lpiglen to Brandegg. The combination

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Grindelwald

of sledd i ng a nd eat i ng a fondue is a classic experience which should not be missed under any circumstances.

There are also various locations at which you can rent a Velogemel, a nifty snow bicycle that was invented in Grindelwald.

Further information for sledd i ng c a n b e obta i ne d at Grindelwald tourism. Those searching for solitude should choose one of the numerous winter hiking trails. For nature lovers, there are many m a rke d s now s ho e tou r s.

GrindelwaldSPORTS (www. grindelwaldsports.ch) and Hans Brunner (www.grand-

bazar.ch) offer guided tours.

Cross-country skiing in the fairytale landscape Than ks to the top athlete D a r i o C o lo g n a , o v e r t h e past few years Switzerland has become a competitive cross-country skiing nation.

In Grindelwald avid crosscountry athletes as well as newcomers w i l l get t hei r money ’s wor t h. T he t wo loop trails on the Talboden (Grund-Schwendi or GrundGletscherschlucht) are small but nice, very scenic and the snow is reliable. There are also trails that follow long

stretches of the black LĂźtschine along the fair y tale tree la ndscape a nd riverbank. Trail stickers and maps are available at Grindelwald tourism. You can also call GrindelwaldSPORTS for lessons.

Indoor adventure On t he few occasions t he weat hers gets rea l ly bad in Grindelwald, there is the sport centre to offer respite.

In addition to the indoor pool and the wellness area there is also an ice rink where public ice hockey and ice skating is offered. Guests and groups can also try out curling dur-

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winter sports activities

ABOVE High above the ice rink is the only indoor rope park in Switzerland, a perfect adventure

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for bad weather days.

ing the winter months, with a trainer if desired. Curling is one of the ancient sporting traditions of Grindelwald. The distinguished guests of days-gone-by were wont to play curling, the locals love curling, and in March 2014 a curler from Grindelwald, Franziska Kaufmann, won the world curling championship in Canada with her team CC Flims (GriwaPlan sponsored her in her development phase).

High above the ice rink is the only indoor rope park in Switzerland. Five trails under the roof provide real thrill. Balancing on the swaying ropes is a unique experience for young and old and should definitely be on the program even during a perfect weather holiday week. Those who get a kick out of climbing should visit the climbing room in the sport centre just next to the ice rink.

Grindelwald

Art from ice and snow World Snow Festival www.jungfrauregion.ch/de/Ferien/aktuell/Top_Events

For many years in January the village centre of Grindelwald has been transformed into an openair art gallery.

At the World Snow Festival, teams from different countries create snow sculptures. Over the course of a week they work on transforming high snow blocks into huge figures, objects or figments of imagination. Besides water, snow and ice no other aids are permitted. At the end of the week the sculptures are evaluated by both participating artists and the viewing public.

During the World Snow Festival the pieces of art develop day-by-day until the whole village is enchanted by their unique ambience.

A perfect combination of tradition and modern lifestyle Just travelling to the Derby is a pleasure in itself. The journey by rail could hardly be easier. We are passionate about hospitality and welcome you with a very special combination of attention to detail and unobtrusive service.

Lean back and be our guest and engage in an experience for all senses. Relax on our rooftop terrace or in one of our stylish rooms, discover the culinary art of the traditional Swiss cuisine, try one of the creations of our experienced kitchen team and enjoy one of the excellent wines.

To give your stay a touch of Swiss living. We look forward to welcoming you!

Family Baum-Ziegler & Team Derby Hotel Grindelwald – Dorfstrasse 75 – CH-3818 Grindelwald Tel. +41 (0) 33 854 54 61 – Fax +41 (0)33 853 24 26 – info@derby-grindelwald.ch www.derby-grindelwald.ch

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winter sports activities

Swiss companies put their ski talent to the test

Companies race, www.firmenrennen.ch

Every winter, teams of companies from all over Switzerland compete in Grindelwald at the companies’ race for the honour of their company. It is all about the question: which company in Switzerland is the fastest on skis?

T h e e m p l oye e s co m p e te i n te a m s o f two or four in this amateur race, a giant slalom in which the teams start parallel to each other skiing as closely together as possible.

The timing stops when the last skier crosses the line. This race format encourages team spirit and also guarantees a spectacular ski experience for the audience.

DIREKT AM BAHNHOF • NEAREST TO TRAIN STATION

SKI RENTAL SKI SCHOOL INFO/ BOOKING

033 853 33 53

B E S T PR I CE! 18

Grindelwald · www.burisport.ch

FREE S KI D EPO T !

Grindelwald

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winter sports activities

Become a World Champion!

Velogemel World Cup, www.velogemel.ch

There are probably only a few sports where fans can spontaneously register for a World Cup. This is possible when driving a Velogemel. Every year in early February, the Velogemel World Championships take place in Grindelwald and they are open to everybody. The Velogemel is a single-track, steerable sled - a mix between a sledge and a bicycle. Wagon maker and carpenter Christian B端hlmann from Grindelwald invented it more than a hundred years ago after tinkering with the snow bicycle in search of an easier way to get around in winter.

On April 1 1911 he got a patent for his invention and still today Velogemels are only produced by the Rubi Holzbau and Sawmill AG in Grindelwald. The snow bicycles can be rented at various locations for test drives, including at the train station in Grindelwald, at Graf or Bernett Sport or at Egger Ski Service in Grindelwald Grund.

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Grindelwald

An historic competition of OLD sledges Traditional horn sled race, www.eigerness.ch

The horn sled is another traditional work-utensil which, like the Velogemel, has become a sporting attraction. Before the times of tractors, the huge sleds with large horns, known as Horischlitten, were used by mountain farmers to transport hay, wood and other materials.

For the past few years in March, about 100 teams have tested their skills at a horn sledge race between Alpiglen and Talboden in Grindelwald.

The race, organized by the Trychlergruppe Grindelwald, is a fun spectacle for the audience. Many teams participate in period clothing, and lots of courage and good technique are needed as the big sledges are not easy to steer. The event includes food and music and brings together fun and sport in an entertaining way while also affording a fascinating insight into the history of mountain transportation for alpine farmers.

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winter sports activities

Professional ski display Swiss Snow Happening, www.snowsports.ch/de/events/happening

Picture-book skiing technique and lots of winter fun are guaranteed at the championship of the snow sport instructors. Every year at the end of the season, over 100 snow sport instructors compete against each other and determine the queen and king of their ranks.

The instructors compete in a total of eight different categories, with the winner being the Swiss snow instructor who has demonstrated excellence in three different disciplines and on three different types of snow sport equipment. For spectators, the highlight is the formation run, with teams conjuring up fascinating images reminiscent of the legendary ski films of the 1980s.

WINTEr TIME – bärgELEgg-TIME

SWISS MOUNTAIN HOTEL Hotel Jungfrau Lodge – Swiss Mountain Hotel Renata Märkle Nufer, Dorfstrasse 49, CH-3818 Grindelwald 22 854 41 41, F +41 (0)33 854 41 42 T +41 (0)33 info@jungfraulodge.ch, www.jungfraulodge.ch

vOUcHEr

for 1 homemade nut-filled croissant Bärgelegg Hütte, First

E

nt

Freeride Guide

FREERIDE GUIDE, the happiness in powder snow Roger Fischer is an investment adviser and passionate freerider that’s why he lives in Grindelwald and why he has done what he never dreamed of doing: writing the ‘Freeride Guide to the Jungfrau Region’.

H

e is probably the only banker in the world who goes to work with his paraglider. An infectious grin spreads on Roger Fischer’s face as he explains: "In Grindelwald everything is slightly different. We are not your typical bankers, definitely not the ones with bonus payments." His bonus is the privilege of living in the mountains and the freedom

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to do what he likes best: namely to be in the mountains as much as possible. That’s why he goes sledging in winter with suit, tie and winter jacket so he can swoosh from home to the bank.

Or he takes his paraglider to the office in order to get the last gondola up the mountain and fly home from there.

His enthusiasm for mountain sports is the reason why Roger Fischer, originally from Luzern,

moved with his girlfriend to Grindelwald years ago. His passion for skiing also led Fischer to do what he never thought possible: to write a book. With his ‘Freeride Guide to the Jungfrau Region’ Fischer has closed a gap in the market for mountaineering books. In the book he describes more than 40 different freeride descents in the Jungfrau Region, each documented with a detailed map. Such a

Grindelwald

LEFT AND ABOVE

Grindelwald offers many choises for freeriders, says author Roger Fischer.

guide is a first in Switzerland and has drawn lots of attention.

"The trend is clearly towards freestyle skiing and freeriding," says Fischer who is also a certified snowsports teacher. "More and more people can be found off-piste." He created the guide in order to help such people orient themselves better in the region. It is aimed at a wide audience, offering a wide context, useful tips to beginners, and a catalogue of ideas for professionals. But most importantly all the published descents have the blessings of the relevant wildlife authorities.

This aspect is important to Fischer: "Freeriding should not and cannot be forbidden, but for me it is clear that we must also respect the concerns for wildlife protection." The collaboration with gamekeepers and hunting inspectors has paid off handsomely. They even refer to the guide as a pioneering work. In

order to avoid conflict, the author considers it important to not only facilitate knowledge and understanding of freeriders with regard to protecting wildlife, but for them to also consider the dangers of the mountains.

Ultimately it is much more useful to offer basic knowledge than having daring off-piste skiers follow the first powder trail they find without knowing the terrain. They would often put themselves in danger, especially when speed-flying where a ski track over a cliff can sometimes end abruptly. The success of the ‘Freeride Guide’ concept is shown not only in the sales figures but also in the interest from professional circles. There is already a second freeride guide along the same lines in the works for the region of Davos.

Freeride Guide to the Jungfrau Region The most beautiful freeride descents of the Jungfrau region

By Roger Fischer, October 2012, www.freerideguide.ch Available in German in local sports shops and bookstores, in the stationary shop, at the tourist office and online. Price CHF 36.-

t Text: Annette Marti Photos: Björn Grosswiler, Jungfrau Zeitung

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SKI SCHool

Skiing Chinese STYLE Skiing is getting popular in China. Last winter Grindelwald had its first experience with a Chinese ski instructor.

C

hinese people are discovering skiing – also in Grindelwald. An adventure in the snow is at the top of Chinese travellers' wish-lists. So last winter in Grindelwald a Chinese ski instructor took care of guests from his home country for the first time. Zhongxing Xu, a young ski instructor and tourism expert from near Beijing, goes simply by the name of Johnson since people find it hard to pronounce his real name. He is one of eight Chinese ski instructors who came to Switzerland under a program of Swiss Tourism and Swiss Snowsports, the umbrella organisations for Swiss ski schools. With this endeavour Swiss Tourism is seeking to position itself as a ski destination of choice for this new market.

Johnson sits with a broad smile at the table. Around his eyes you can clearly see his ski-goggle tan lines, just as it should be for a ski instructor, remnants of his many days in the sun. After the last winter, everybody in Grindelwald has come to know this congenial, young Chinese. As he speaks of his experiences in Switzerland he is constantly waving and greeting passers-by. He felt comfortable from the very beginning: "Every day was the best," says Johnson. "Being able to work in a ski paradise in the Alps is fantastic". When he arrived everyday life was quite challenging for the 26 year-old, who is living outside

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ABOVE

Teaching Chinese guests skiing: Johnson (left), from China, and Christoph Estermann, head of GrindelwaldSPORTS.

China for the first time. It took him a while, for example, to find his way when shopping. For the ski school the happy and communicative Johnson is a stroke of luck. "He has become the soul of our school," says Christoph Estermann, head of snowsports at GrindelwaldSPORTS. He not only took care of the Chinese guests, but also showed the local ski instructors how to design a lesson the Chinese way. "One of the most important things is a pause to take pictures very shortly after starting the lesson.

For Chinese people taking home a picture is almost as important as skiing itself," explains Johnson. "Chinese guests frequently decide spontaneously to try skiing for half a day," explains Christoph Estermann as he recounts his first experiences with the ski-loving Asians. Many Chinese who travel individually are young students who explore the world while studying abroad. "It is primarily about the fun," con-

tinues Estermann. He hopes to hire Johnson for another season and to specifically advertise the offer. For the Chinese ski instructor the trend is clear: the interest in sports in China has risen markedly over the past few years and Johnson is certain that skiing will establish itself in a few years. This can also be seen in his home town, Wan long, where ten years ago most people lived off agriculture, and where today upwards of four ski areas are planned. Hotels, apartment buildings, restaurants and sport facilities have been built and tourism development is the need of the moment. This new mentality is perhaps best summed up

by Johnson: "The Chinese who come to Switzerland today do not necessarily want to buy a watch.

They want to take a trip up to the Jungfraujoch and go skiing – preferably both." t Text:

Annette Marti; Photo: Michael Ackermann

HANDWORK

From Grindelwald TO Everest Grindelwald's art of forging is world known. A visit with the pick axe blacksmith Ruedi Bhend.

D

orfstrasse Grindelwald.

The door opens to the workshop of the metal construction shop. Ruedi Bhend, 68 years-old but not even slightly tired looking, is standing next to an original, old cart, a kind of service cart for pick axes. It is winter and Bhend, who represents the fourth generation of the family business, works on his side business. He grinds and polishes numerous pick axes and provides some with new ashwood handles. Freshly restored, they go back to their owners, often mountain guides who still

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cherish their legendary Bhend pick axe, the tool for the mountains and an instrument that can soon look back on 140 years of history. It all started with Ruedi Bhend's great-grandfather Karl.

He came to Grindelwald around 1880 where he took care of the roadway between InterlakenGrindelwald as the blacksmith for horses and carriages. It was the golden age of Alpinism, and Karl Bhend realized that he could fill quiet times by making pick axes. With today's pick axes just 55-70cm long, local mountain guides gave world-renown to then-standard 120cm pick

axes, especially in England.

The craft was passed on, even though it was only a side job for Ruedi Bhend's grandfather. But his father, Alfred Bhend, made it his main source of income. His time of success came after the war. He was a mountaineer and understood the need for a good pick axe. Moreover, he developed revolutionary, elegant and light crampons. During the 1950s and 60s, Bhends pick axes conquered the world. The English Everest expedition of 1953 was equipped with his crampons, pick axes and ice hooks. So when Edmund Hillary and Sher-

Grindelwald LEFT

Ruedi Bhend, the fourth generation pick axe blacksmith in his forge in Grindelwald. pa Tenzing Norgay were the first humans to reach the summit of the Everest, they brought craftsmanship from Grindelwald with them! The Swiss expedition of 1956, which succeeded in the second and third ascent of Everest as well as in the first ascent of Lhotse, were also equipped by Bhend. Ruedi Bhend remembers: “As a boy I was always in the workshop and I saw these men – that was very interesting!” He would have loved to become a blacksmith but even then it was a job with limited future.

Therefore he learned the craft of locksmith from his father and became an enthusiastic climber and mountaineer, of course with homemade crampons and pick axes. The forging of a pick axe is “not that easy”, remarks Ruedi modestly. You have to do a lot by eye, seeing curves and pro-

portions without measuring and without working from a forging mould. Laughing he adds that his father was much better at it: “He could not just grind, but had to clear away the excess material by hand. I forge less accurately and so have to grind more…”

The shape of the tip is crucial as it determines whether or not one can shape steps into the ice – the most important area where Bhend pick axes are used. Ruedi Bhend comments: “A modern pick axe has to hold when you strike it in – a pick axe like ours that is used to shape steps has to break the ice but must not get stuck.” Today Ruedi Bhend seeks to produce tools that are pleasing to the eye, as nowadays the pick axe has become more an object of affection than a working tool.

“I only started to forge pick axes in 1994, he says. "For a while I

did not quite know what to do.

A wooden shaft might break, and I spent my time worrying about the product liability! Then some mountain guides said that I should keep going.” Today he produces 40 to 50 new pick axes each year and restores about 30, an output that gives him a lot of pleasure. So while Ruedi Bhend maintains the tradition, he also engages himself in tourism – proof that global, forward-thinking combined with an awareness of history and heritage have a place side-by-side. And who knows, maybe the love for old craftsmanship will instill a fifth family generation and propel the forged Bhend pickaxe into our high-tech age.

t Text: Christine Kopp; Fotos: Rainer Eder

visit o e xhib ur ition!

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REAL ESTATE

“Grindelwald will not lose its TRUE value” Markus Friedli, CEO of the GriwaGroup, addresses the specifics of the real estate market in Grindelwald following the Swiss voters’ March 2012 decision to place further restrictions on the sector.

It has been two years since the vote on the second home initiative. What options are there for someone who wants to b u y a h o l i d a y h o m e i n Grindelwald?

Markus Friedli: Thankfully GriwaGroup planned ahead and already requested building permissions in 2011 and 2012. So we still have some new projec ts which have been approved and also some that have been partially realized. The availability of 2½ to 5½ room apartments is good and these are available for sale to both Swiss and foreign buyer s.

There is also availability for existing single-family homes that were planned as second homes.

But this cannot continue for much longer. After the decision of voters to limit the number of second homes is it not the case that it is no longer possible to build new property?

It is true that there will be no further properties added t o e x is t ing o ne s o r t h os e that have already been approved. In the next t wo or three years the current crop of new construc tions will likely be sold. After that only objects with a cer tain fo r m of manag e m e nt will be available on the market.

Within the GriwaGroup we have b e e n t h i n k i n g fo r a

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ABOVE

"Now it's the right time to invest", says Markus Friedli, President and CEO of Griwagroup .

while about how to meet this challenge and we are trying t o d e ve l o p n e w c o n c e p t s for holiday homes. With the Aspen Alpine lifestyle hotel we already own an operating multi-use business concept.

This hotel is, by the way, a model case in Switzerland.

How does multi-use work?

The apartments in the attached multi-family chalet ar e available so m e of t he time for their owner s and are otherwise rented out for several weeks or months to h ot e l gu e s t s . T he ow n e r s are only allowed to use the

Grindelwald apar t ment for t hemselves for a maximum of 120 days a year, but they earn a 50% share of the net proceeds of the property’s use by the hotel. This form of ownership is called timeshare. The other possibilit y is t hat a buyer invest s into an apar t ment on a buy-to-let basis. So he does not use the apartment himself but rent s it out all year long. An investor can expect a return of 60 % of the net sales, corresponding t o a ve r y at t r ac t i ve gr oss yield of 4% .

Do you see other possibilities for holiday homes in the future?

I am sure that we could get to a point where apartments outside of hotels could also be def ine d as “manage d ”, as long as t hey are being rented out by a professional organisation. Right now the political parameters for this are not clear. The G r i wa G r o u p has b u i l t u p it s GriwaRent depar tment over t he c our se of re c ent years which rent s out and

manages holiday homes and apartments professionally. I am sure that there is still a lot of potential in this area.

With our area restricted by the Swiss “Lex Koller” statutes, how is it for foreigners buying real estate?

Yes, the ‘Lex Koller’ statutes contain various restrictions on size of proper t y and plot. Foreigners also need a permit to buy proper t y.

I n G r inde lwald addit ional r e s t r i c t i o n s a p p l y, f o r example that only one third of a l l n e w b u i l d i n g s m ay be sold to foreigners, and that 30 % of the apartments have to be owned by local resident s. It must be s aid though that it is definitely possible for foreigners to live in Grindelwald, particularly for people from EU and EFTA countries. I can ensure you that Grindelwald is a ver y good place to live. I have been living here for 27 years an d r e all y ap p r e c iat e t h e advant ages of the re gion, especially the beauty of the n a t u r e a n d t h e e xc e l l e n t

infrastructure.

Wo u l d i t n ot be e x p e c te d that the value of the existing homes will rise as soon as there are fewer second homes on the market?

Yes, this is another reason why it is attractive to invest now. In the last few year s the prices for good second homes have doubled and as long as the market principle remains in effect a fur ther inc re ase in value is t o b e expec ted. I also think that new buildings will be able to be sold in the next few years without any problems. We have observed an increase in demand, and it seems as if real estate is also of interest in Asian countries and the Gulf States – indeed GriwaGroup already has customers from 35 different nations. I do not think that Grindelwald will soon lose its good reputation and therefore it will be able to maintain its value.

t Text: Annette Marti; Photo: Michael Ackermann

Facts on the second home market

THE GriwaGroup

In March 2012 a surprising majority of Swiss citizens voted in favour to significantly restrict the construction of second homes. Districts exceeding a limit of 20 % of second homes are no longer allowed to build any new second homes.

In Grindelwald the percentage is already at approximately 57% . That means that in the future new concepts are needed for holiday homes. How the so-called ‘second home initiative’ is going to be implemented is right now the subject of political consultation in parliament. The Swiss Federal Council submitted a draft for a second home law in February 2014 which lays down the principle that the construction of second homes is forbidden in communities where the share of such homes is already at or greater than 20% -- but several exceptions are said to be possible.

GriwaGroup includes five independent companies which work closely together. They offer a wide range of services, encompassing planning and realisation of real estate, property sales and rentals, and property management. Even hotel projects are part of the GriwaGroup portfolio. Approximately 100 three, four or five-star holiday apartments are rented out, as well as 80 apartments for long-term rental.

More recently GriwGroup has added the GriwaCongressCenter as a new field of business. Organizers of congresses and seminars can take advantage of flex-use space in the Silberhorn featuring the most modern technical equipment for all kinds of events (see pages 11 and 12). Markus Friedli is a trained carpenter, HTL/STV architect and qualified real estate trustee. He laid the foundation for GriwaGroup’s success in 1987 with the founding of GriwaPlan AG. Today Friedly is CEO and president of GriwaGroup.

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BOOKS THE VISION OF GRINDELWALD GUIDES Mountains are mountains – or are they? They can be viewed from different angles, in the morning or in the evening, when the sun is shining or when they are shrouded in clouds. For some it is the detail that matters, for others it is the view beyond the horizon. There are therefore countless different perspectives, each with its own personal perspective.

A new book about the mountain guides of Grindelwald reflects this diversity and this personal view of the world in a very beautiful way. In honour of the “Year of Views”, the Eigerness Club together with various partners has published 50 portraits of Grindelwald mountain guides in one book.

The initiators asked for the most emotional experience of the guides, for their favourite stories and their best perspectives of the Alps. The result is a well-crafted homage to mountain guides and the mountains themselves, a thought-provoking work that often makes you smile. Take a look behind the scenes and discover new horizons for yourself accompanied by the very best mountain guides from Grindelwald.

«Grindelwalder Bergführer Aussichten» is available at www.eigernesswebshop.ch, at Grindelwald Tourism or GrindelwaldSports.

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Eiger: The Vertical Arena Daniel Anker, Mountaineers Books, English language edition, 2000 ISBN 978-0898866797

A treasure trove of Eiger stories and tragedies. Suffer with the climbers of the first ascents, bivouac in the ‘Todesbiwak’ and think about the future development of mountaineering on this mountain. The author Daniel Anker climbs the key points of the Eiger North Face with his readers.

“The White Spider – the classic account of the ascent of the Eiger”

Heinrich Harrer, ULLSTEIN VERLAG EDITION 3, 2003, ISBN 0-00-719784-2 The definitive work regarding the Eiger North Face. In July 1938, Heinrich Harrer’s four-man rope team successfully scaled the peak for the first time. Since its first publication in 1958, the book by Harrer is seen as one of the major adventure sports tomes of the 20th century. The most recent edition is supplemented with new pictures and updated to the present day – a fascinating document about one of the most important chapters in the history of mountaineering.

EATING & SHOPPING

Nordwand-Praliné Bäckerei Ringgenberg Dorfstrasse 123 www.grindelwald-bakery.ch

The Eiger made out of chocolate: pack it, take it with you or give it as a present. The North Face chocolates are a special treat and a perfect souvenir from Grindelwald.

Velogemel

Alpkäse - ALPINE CHEESE

The Velogemel is an invention of Grindelwald – it is a kind of snow bicycle invented about 100 years ago as a means of winter transportation. In recent times the Velogemel has come to enjoy popularity as a sporting passtime.

Cheese making is a science in itself. The alpine farmers of Grindelwald are professionals in this discipline. The denominated Alpine-Cheese is actually produced on the Alp and can only be bought there or at the Zenger specialty cheese shop in Grindelwald.

Rubi Holzbau Schwendi www.velogemel.ch

Eigeralp Bussalp Mittelläger www.eigeralp.ch

Grindellounge Dorfstrasse 119 www.grindellounge.ch

Tarte Flambee, «Chäschüechli» and comfortable sofas to chill out directly on the main street: from the Grindellounge you can keep track of the goings-on in the village.

MOUNT CUSHION

Dorfstrasse 165a www.mount-cushion.ch For your next alpine getaway sink into cushions by Mount Cushion. Handcrafted of high-quality materials, they are the perfect companion for your cosy mountain retreat.

Zenger’s Fondue Spezial Käsespezialitäten Zenger Dorfstrasse 62 www.zenger-bringts.ch

The Swiss have a saying that fondue spreads good mood. Try it - the fondue mixture from Zenger is one of the best ready-tocook mixtures. Order online, and enjoy stress-free preparation and good times.

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