Alpine Athletes

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“3…2…1…CANYONING!” I shouted before I jumped off the edge of a waterfall and let gravity pull me fifteen feet into one of the many rivers running through the Swiss Alps. Interlaken, Switzerland is one of the only places in the world where you can participate in adventure sports like canyoning, among many others. Interlaken’s identity lies with its athletic nature, but also as part of a larger country of Switzerland depicted through its support of national sports as well.

Sports and outdoor activities are heavily dependent on Interlaken’s geography. Interlaken lies in a prime location in the nestled between the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains at an elevation of 568 meters (1,864 feet) above sea level. It was deemed Interlaken for its position between the two lakes, Thunersee and Brienzersee. Many of the rivers and streams that originate in the Swiss Alps flow down through Interlaken and its forests, specifically the Aare River, making it a nature lover’s paradise. Of this beautiful geography, over a quarter of it is used for parks, recreation, and sports, a representation of the importance placed on active lifestyles.

Besides the breathtaking view of the Alps, the wide variety of activities available in Interlaken draws thousands of people to visit this town in the mountains every year in both the summer and winter seasons. Interlaken’s economy used to depend on the printing, textile, and watch-making industry of the old religious convents that used to saturate the area. Present day Interlaken depends on tourism or its main source of income.

The climate of this region is a result of influence from the Atlantic Ocean as well as the mighty Swiss Alps. The wind brings moisture and rainfall north of the Alps, while south of the Alps experiences a warmer more Mediterranean climate with less precipitation. The elevation also has some effect on the climate, producing lots of snow in areas much higher than sea level. Therefore, Interlaken experiences all kinds of weather including snow in the winter and rain in the spring, which floods the rivers. This variety of conditions makes the area good for all types of sports. In the winter, sports like skiing and snow boarding are popular. In the summer, when the weather is warmer and snow caps are melting, there are more sports to try. These include canyoning, canyon jumping, paragliding, bungee jumping, sky diving, hiking and biking,

You can sign up for activities like this almost anywhere. Many hotels and hostels offer discounted prices and even better deals when you travel in large groups. You can also book trips through travel agencies or at one of the many stands along the main streets in the city. Some of the companies to look for are Alpin Raft, Outdoor Interlaken, and Balmer’s Herberge.

Not only is Interlaken, Switzerland heavily interested in adventure sports, but has strong pride in its national sports teams. Its biggest sport is “football” (a.k.a. soccer). For the World Cup they even have public viewings set up to play the game on a movie-theater sized screen. Switzerland also has world-class sailing and hockey teams. The 2003 America’s Cup Champions, Team Alinghi, was lead by a Swiss sailor. The Zurich hockey team, the ZSC Lions have also won multiple international hockey championships, beating the Chicago Blackhawks in 2009. So whether you’re into trilling adventure excursions, or simply want to sit at a bar and cheer on a good sports team, Interlaken, Switzerland is the perfect place to be.