Countdown on Lauchernalp - Lötschental, Switzerland

An exploration of the storied Lötschental Valley in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. This 1974 documentary by Erik Friedl chronicles the valley's preparation as first-time host of the Swiss National Women's Ski Championships and includes scenes of high-mountain skiing, traditional mask-carving and the yearly Fasnacht celebration, complete with jagged-toothed Tschäggättäs dangerously on the prowl.

The film ends with a dazzling solo skiing sequence featuring British Olympic skier Richard McLennan.

Narrated by Jack de Manio. Directed, filmed and edited by Erik Friedl. Produced by David McLennan. Sound editor: Peter Ferris.

Distributed as theatrical short in Europe by CIC, London.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Lötschental
• Wiler
• Kippel
• Valais
• Wallis
• Switzerland
• skiing
• Fasnacht
• Marie-Theres Nadig
• Bernadette Zurbriggen
• Richard McLennan
• Paul Mauriat
• Jethro Tull
• Bourée
• Jack de Manio
• Lise-Marie Morerod
• Lauchernalp
• Erik Friedl
• Tschäggättä
• Armin Ebener
• Hans Ritler
• Thomas Rieder
• Ambros Ebener
• Marianne Ritler
• Leander Jaggi
• Beethoven's 7th
• Peer Gynt
• Grieg
• Herbert von Karajan

[aiglon27]

Thanks for posting a comment, Harry. By the way, you might recognize Austin Elliott @ 15:50. And of course that's Richard McLennan who delivers the bravura solo performance in the deep powder at the very end.

[cliffin22]

What is the song in the beginning? =)

[zutah13]

Erik,

Thanks for reminding us all of the beauty we were surrounded by! I was at Aiglon with Richard and Fiona and had dinner on a few occasions with the family. Interesting to hear the names of Zurbriggen, Morerod and Nadig in the background. All great champions. Adam B.

[LouiseHallett]

This is superb! What memories!! So great to be able to see this and see so many familiar faces from those wonderful times ... How young we all were!! Thank you!!

[ch5698]

Thanks for uploading this. For people of the younger generation of the Lötschental, like me, it is really interesting to see how vastly things changed since then. The ski area nowadays tops at 3111, there are more beds in Lauchernalp then in Wiler and there are triple as many lifts as there where in 1974. Again, thanks for sharing.

[harryreinhardt]

Erik,

Thank you for making the film accessible to view. Love seeing you and Richard, the mountains, it all brings back so many great memories. Bravo. Harry