König Ludwig Lauf

The German König Ludwig Lauf in Oberammergau was founded in 1968 and had 796 competing skiers on 17^thMarch the first time. The distance in the early years of the race was 90km consisting of two rounds of 45km, but was changed in 1984 into one smaller round of 65km before the race distance finally was reduced to 50km. When the Vasaloppet in Sweden gave women the permission to compete in the race in 1980, the König Ludwig Lauf followed this example.

Since 1976 the race is held on the first weekend in February and the 50km course leads trough the areas of Ettal, Graswang and Linderhof before it finishes in the Stadium of Oberammergau. On this course it passes the Castle Linderhof, which was built by the Bavarian King Ludwig II. between 1869 and 1886. During the race the skiers conquer an altitude from 850m to 1003m.  2010 there started participants from 34 different nations all around the world.

The region where the König Ludwig Lauf takes place is known as one of the most scenic and attractive landscapes in Germany, the nature reserve "Ammergebirge". Frequently it is described as a paradise for cross-country-skiing and several times honoured by tourism magazines.