While the rest of the world has yet to figure out that you can run races on frozen lakes, the Swiss have discovered that you can do Skijöring on the frozen lake of St Moritz. What's more. You can do it three times a year. Every year. In Feburary. On consecutive Sundays.
Skijöring is nothing if not fast and furious. And a hit with the spectators. Each jockey follows his stead, at full tilt, on a set of skis. The requisite skills of balance, confidence, daring are all on full display during the first corner of the race as the competitors bunch up - each jossling for position.
St Moritz - 2013 White Turf - Pictures from the middle weekend of the 2013 White Turf event at St Moritz
White Turf - Colin Keane rides Duchess Andorra to victory - Duchess Andorra winning at White Turf riden by Colin Keane
Switzerland - festivals not to miss - Fantastic Swiss festivals to visit through the year
St Moritz - gallops at White Turf - Gallop racing at White Turf on Lake St Moritz
St Moritz - Gallops at White Turf - Gallop race at White Turf on the frozen lake of St Moritz in the Swiss Alps
St Moritz - Jockey at White Turf - A gallops jockey at White Turf at St Moritz
St Moritz - Skijöring at White Turf - Skijöring at White Turf on the frozen lake of St Moritz in the Swiss Alps
St Moritz - The Trots - Trotting race at the St Moritz White Turf event 2013
St Moritz - gallops at White Turf - Gallop racing on the frozen lake of St Moritz at the annual White Turf
St Moritz - White Turf trotter - Racer at the trotting event at the White Turf event at St Moritz
St Moritz - Official website of St. Moritz Tourist Information
Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook