High altitude training & training camp

Many athletes swear by altitude training. Endurance athletes in particular appreciate the altitude of Davos at 1,560 m above sea level. Anyone who trains here benefits from the stimulating alpine climate and excellent sports facilities. Davos, the highest city in Europe, is famous for the variety of sports, leisure and cultural activities on offer, the HC Davos and the numerous sports and cultural events.

Our infrastructure is not only available to the sporting elite. Recreational athletes, sports clubs and associations as well as young athletes and juniors also find optimal conditions for varied and promising training stays in urban Davos.

If desired, athletes can stay overnight in accommodation at 1,800 m above sea level, such as at the Schatzalp. Suitable training and competition facilities are available to athletes all year round in the immediate vicinity of all accommodations.

"We have a long-standing partnership with Davos, which is very valuable for our member associations and their promotion of competitive sports. Training camps in Davos are popular because competitive sports are anchored there and are practiced without compromise."

'Davos is an important training and competition venue for us. The national performance centers for alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding are based here. The slopes and trails, the infrastructure such as the cross-country skiing center or Färbi Hall offer our athletes optimal training conditions.'

Sports medicine at Davos Hospital provides comprehensive medical care for professional athletes, members of junior teams, and amateur and recreational athletes. The sports medical assessments and therapies carried out by Davos Sports Medicine are based on Swiss Olympic standards. Doctors and therapists from specialized disciplines are involved.

• Sports center with athletics facility including changing rooms and shower rooms
• Finnish track
• Soccer fields (artificial turf and natural grass)
• Ice stadium & training center
• Artificial ice rink “Eistraum Davos” (December to March) for speed skating, hockey, ice stock sport, curling and ice skating
• Färbi sports hall with tennis, badminton, squash, freestyle facility, archery, indoor golf, table tennis and climbing
• Golf course
• Indoor swimming pool
• Extensive network of paths: biking, hiking, trail running and running
• Three signposted Helsana trails
• Davos Adventure Park (rope and bike park)
• Lake Davos: windsurfing, sailing, swimming, kitesurfing and wakeboarding
• Five ski areas with around 300 km of snow-sure slopes and 57 transport systems
• Freestyle facility at the Jakobshorn
• At the end of October, a 4 km long snow farming trail; Cross-country trails: 150 km classic and 75 km skating
• Cross-country skiing centre Dario Cologna
• Various options for snowshoeing, fatbiking, winter hiking, sledding and airboarding
• Various gyms, including two triple gyms
• Various strength and theory rooms
• Various take-off and landing sites for paragliding and delta

The performance-enhancing effect of altitude training is easy to explain: there is a lack of oxygen at high altitudes. This forces the human organism to adapt. On the one hand, the body activates breathing and the cardiovascular system and increases red blood cells. In addition, cells change the way they function and produce more energy anaerobically. This is ideal for athletes. Even a stay at high altitude has a slight training effect. Altitudes between 1,500 and 2,200 m above sea level are particularly suitable.

Anyone who starts training immediately after arriving will quickly reach their limits. The body needs time to adjust to the new conditions. Gasping for breath on the day of arrival is perfectly normal. After all, you may be coming from the flatlands directly to 1560 m above sea level.

Your body gradually adapts to the altitude. The acclimatization phase in Davos, at around 1500 meters, lasts about two to four days. After that, sleep is just as restful as at sea level. In this situation, you should give yourself enough time to get used to it.

The higher you are, the drier the air. Those who train in Davos benefit from the dry, alpine climate. However, the mucous membranes and the increased breathing rate require more fluid. The body uses more minerals and electrolytes. The motto here is to drink a lot.

Coordinate your competition well with altitude training: either directly in the first two days after returning to the lowlands or after a waiting period of up to 20 days. In days four to nine, the body adjusts again. You should not take part in any competitions during this critical phase.

• Personal information, advice and support
• Creation of individual offers including infrastructure, accommodation and supporting programme
• Reservation of accommodation, infrastructure and supporting programme