ICE man Ronnie Kessel
Glamour, priceless cars, super-luxe watches and collectors of all types mix it at The ICE, now the most desirable event in the St Moritz calendar. Co-founder Ronnie Kessel gives Fabienne Amez-Droz his insider tips
LUX: How is The ICE St Moritz different?
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Ronnie Kessel: The magic of The ICE springs from its venue; a place that for more than eight months of the year doesn’t even exist. When the St Moritz lake freezes over, a miracle of nature occurs, turning the lake into a perfect white canvas to show those beautiful cars like true works of art.
Enjoying the glamour on the frozen lake
LUX: Courchevel or St Moritz, and why?
RK: It might sound predictable, since part of my roots are there, but there’s no other place like St Moritz, where sports meet art, culture and leisure in such an incredible way.
Ronnie Kessel and LUX’s Fabienne Amez-Droz
LUX: What’s the most underrated spot in St Moritz that even locals love to keep secret?
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RK: Rather than just a spot, I’d say that St Moritz has a hidden season, summer, when you have infinite choices on how to spend your time: walks, hikes, tennis, downhill, paragliding, sailing… Mention one, and you’ll find the ideal place for it.
Cruising on the ice at The ICE
LUX: Après-ski at Paradiso or where else?
RK: Après-ski in town at Pavarotti & Friends or the Belmont. The Paradiso is perfect for lunch, when the sun shines right over, brightening the entire valley up to the Maloja Pass and the lakes.
Participants line up at the Richard Mille-sponsored event, at 1,800m altitude
LUX: Where would you spend your New Year’s Eve?
RK: Christmas at Kulm, New Year’s Eve at Badrutt’s Palace, brunch on New Year’s Day at Suvretta House.
LUX: If you could time-travel to any winter in St Moritz’s glamorous past, which era would you visit and why?
The view from Badrutt’s Palace Hotel
RK: Gunter Sachs’ era, when elegance reigned and there was a true devotion to beauty. This was the most chic, glamorous and charming time in St Moritz, also for the artistic scene.
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LUX: Perfect classic car to drive up the Julier Pass?
RK: The Ferrari 512BB, preferably in dark blue, paying homage to the classiest BB of them all, Brigitte Bardot.
