The Enduring Allure of the Kulm Ice Rink
By
David Minoretti
Today, winter sport is almost synonymous with skiing. Yet in the early decades of St. Moritz’s winter tourism, it was the ice rink that took centre stage. From the pioneering days of Alpine travel to the Olympic Games and the cultural revival of today, the story of the rink in front of the Kulm Country Club reflects the evolution of winter tourism.
Since the mid-19th century, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz has shaped the spirit of winter in the Alps. Johannes Badrutts famous 1864 invitation to British summer visitors, promising them that winter in St. Moritz would be just as wonderful as summer, became the spark for Alpine winter tourism as we know it.
As winter travel grew, the Kulm Country Club, built in 1906, naturally evolved into the social centre of St. Moritz. Its large outdoor ice rink quickly became a favourite meeting place where guests would skate, gather, and enjoy the crisp Engadin air. At the time, ice exerted the greatest fascination. Nearly every hotel had its own rink. In 1913, St. Moritz alone featured 18 ice fields. A small band played for the ice dancers, while light-hearted pastimes such as “ice gymkhanas” were organised on the smooth surface by the Kulm Hotel’s “Outdoor Amusement Committee”. They even built a kind of sled with a sail to glide across the ice. The more athletic visitors used the rinks as playing fields for bandy, the precursor to ice hockey. Scottish guests introduced curling to St. Moritz – and with it to continental Europe.
It was only with the construction of the mountain railways (Chantarella in 1913) that skiing became the pre-eminent winter sport.
A Stage for Olympic History
The ice rink was more than a leisure spot. In 1928 and again in 1948, it became part of the Winter Olympics, hosting competitions and medal ceremonies. Figure skaters, hockey teams, and speed skaters performed here while spectators filled the stands around the Club. Few places in the Alps can claim such a direct link to the origins of winter sport.
Heritage Reimagined
After decades of iconic moments, the Kulm Country Club entered a quieter period before being beautifully restored in 2016 under the direction of Lord Norman Foster. The renovation respected the original architecture while opening the building to a new era of events, dining, and cultural activity. When it reopened in 2017, it quickly reclaimed its role as one of the most characterful venues in the resort, hosting the ceremonies of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 2017.
Winter 2025/26: A New Season of Playfulness
This winter marks a new chapter. With Carsten Höller’s Pink Mirror Carousel, the Kulm Country Club reconnects with its roots as St. Moritz’s most joyful gathering place. The installation adds whimsy, colour, and delight, echoing its playful legacy.
The rink that once hosted Olympic athletes will once again become a place to meet and celebrate winter’s magic. Whether skating under the carousel’s gentle glow or watching the scene unfold, guests will rediscover the atmosphere that made the Kulm Hotel the original winter salon of St. Moritz.
About the author
David Minoretti is the Brand PR Manager of the Kulm Hotel. This season, he will have no choice but to put on his skates and make his way across the ice to take a ride on the Pink Mirror Carousel.