Switzerland – Norweigan World Cup veteran Tor Arne Hetland won the 2008 Engadin Ski Marathon – Switzerland's Worldloppet event. With extremely fast conditions welcoming racers, Hetland set a new course record of 1:24.30.5 for the 42 kilometer course. The race is almost completely flat with one section of significant downhill. Hetland out-sprinted Dario Cologna, edging the Swiss skier by one tenth of a second while leading a large pack across the line. Only 19.5 seconds separated 1st and 21st place.
Zach Simons (Rossignol) was the first American across the line – in 21st place, finishing just behind Jerry Ahrlin, the Swedish marathon skier who was third in last week's Vasaloppet. Simons also beat former Norweigan World Cup skier and distance specialist Anders Aukland. Aukland was second in the Vasaloppet.
Canadian World Cup and Paralympic World Cup skier Brian Mckeever finished 31st in the second pack, +3:13.5. This pack was led by World Cup veteran Markus Hassler (LIC) and included Vassaloppet winner Joergen Aukland (NOR).
Josh Smullin was the second American, finishing 56th, +5:38.7.
In the women's race, German Katrin Zeller skied to a 14 second lead over Swedish marathoner Elin Ek, winning in a time of 1:33.27.3. Tatiana Jambaeva (RUS) was third, +33 seconds. American Evelyn Dong (Factory Team) just missed the podium, crossing the line 4 seconds behind Jambaeva – an excellent result in a very tough field, including Olympic Champion Katerina Neaumanova (CZE) who finished 7th. Kate Whitcomb (Fischer/Craft) finished 15th, 5:37 behind Zeller.
This year's SuperTour sprint champion, Swiss Karin Camenisch (Rossignol) finished 13th.
A total of 7925 men and 1704 women completed the 42km event. Another 1500 skiers particpated in the half marathon.
