A daily peep inside …

Have you ever heard about a phenomenon called the ‘Gössl Dirndl Flying Day’?

This ’sport’ is becoming more and more popular lately and ambitious athletes are now meeting in Zell am See to compete against each other for the second time. But what makes people want to jump into the water clad in a Dirndl dress? Tomorrow we are sure to get our answer from the participants of the competition. At 5 pm daredevil athletes will be plunging into the depth from the 5-metre springboard at the lido of Zell am See.

But it is not only the fun factor which makes this event such a crowd puller. In addition, there is an experts’ jury judging every jump by technique, sporting performance, self-confidence, body control, elegance, and the posture of the athletes when entering the cold water. The two categories of individual and group scoring increase the possibilities to design your own sporting appearance. You see, creativity is very much in demand here!

We still owe you the answer to a frequently asked question: yes, lads are allowed to participate, too, as long as they wear a Dirndl dress! The ‘Gössl Dirndl Flying Day’ displays its sense for equality when boys have to squeeze themselves into a Dirndl dress and fight with the rows of tiny buttons.

All that’s left to hope for is St. Peter’s favour so that we can enjoy this unique event in splendid weather.

If you think that you cut a fine figure in a Dirndl dress, too, you can sign in for the competition by phone +43 (0) 6542-770-13 or by e-mail p.schied[at]zellamsee-kaprun.com. Gössl Traditional Fashion will gladly provide you with a Dirndl dress!

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Tags: competition, dirndl dress, dirndl flying day, gössl, lake zell, lido, sports

Zell am See-Kaprun is brimming with cultural treasures. Anyone who has already been here will readily confirm this. But the region has more hidden facets. Maybe it is precisely because there are so many great sights that we tend not to see the forest for the trees. Have you ever, for instance, paid attention to the chapel in the market square of Zell? It was erected around the year of 1770 to honour St. Nepomuk, national saint of the Czech Republic and protector against floods.

And since you are already in the market square, why don’t you pay a visit to Vogtturm tower? It was built before the year of 1,000 and thus is the oldest building of Zell am See. It is also called Kastnerturm tower, because - as history books state - Johann Kastner bought it in 1866. Today it houses more than 2,500 historical exhibits such as traditional costumes, furniture, and tools.

Just a few minutes on foot away, in the immediate vicinity of the lakeside terraces of the Grand Hotel, there is another cultural pearl. The so-called ‘Austria Fountain’ was designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, one of the most influential Austrian artists of the 20th century. The nine columns of the fountain represent Austria’s nine provinces with their height corresponding to the number of inhabitants. Check it out on your next stroll through town!

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Tags: culture, fountain, grand hotel, kastnerturm, market square, vogtturm

50 centimetres of fresh snow on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and wintry temperatures are just too much, even for the toughest cyclists participating in PEAKBREAK. For this reason the original route was redirected: instead of going from Lienz to Going via Grossglockner, the third stage of the race went from Piesendorf to Going. When the athletes started, they had to put up with 5°C, chilly wind, and rain. But the cycling landlord Alexander Lechner and his team colleague Andreas Fahrner could not care less.

When the stage was changed I took advantage of the opportunity to pay Alex and Andi a short visit.

Of course, I first had to ask them how they felt. Actually a rather superfluous question: as always Alex was in the vein for jokes and could not wait to get back in the saddle and Andi was ready and set for new challenges with a broad smile on his face, too. The sun should have taken a leaf out of their book! The boys were (still) far from feeling tired or exhausted!

In addition, Alex and Andi can absolutely trust in their excellent coaching team consisting of Christine and ‘Poidl’ Hahn who are accompanying Team TV Zell am See during the entire race to care for their needs and fulfil their wishes. Especially in such nasty weather it is a pleasure to be able to warm up in the heated car and collect one’s strength.

Yesterday the fourth stage took the two men from Going to Kitzbühelerhorn. Consequently, there are only another three stages left before reaching the finish line. Time to look back on their sporting achievements so far: Alex and Andi have spent 16 hours and 14 hours in the saddle respectively. As a comparison: it took the fastest cyclist 13 hours to complete the first four stages. Our two heroes can be proud to find themselves in the middle of the starter field. But let’s wait and see where they’ll be after the seventh stage.

Right after our short chat Alexander and Andreas had no time to lose. So, boys, on your bikes, get set, go!

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Tags: alexander lechner, andreas fahrner, Bike, cycle race, cycling, grossglockner, peakbreak, team tv zell am see

1,000 kilometres and 18,000 metres in altitude: these are the facts behind PEAKBREAK, a cycle race which can be compared with the Österreich Rundfahrt and the Giro d’Italia. The only difference is that absolutely everyone can participate in PEAKBREAK. One of the ambitious athletes is a familiar face from Zell am See: Alexander Lechner, also known as the landlord of Zell’s bowling alley. Together with his team colleague and trainer Andreas Fahrner, ‘Lechi’ will be accepting the challenge of PEAKBREAK.

For six days a week during as many as seven months, Alexander has prepared himself for this race. He has changed his diet and has not drunk any alcohol during the entire period of hard training.

There was only one answer to the question why he has put up with these efforts and exertions: ‘I want to prove myself that I can do it!’

It is not the first time for him to show that he achieves what he wants. In 2008, Alex participated in the triathlon in Kirchbichl, in Zell, and in the Maximarkt half marathon. This year he has been focusing on cycling. He has already participated in the Amadé and the Vital Club cycling marathons this year. The up-coming PEAKBREAK will consequently be his third and without any doubt his hardest competition.

The third stage of the PEAKBREAK cycle race starts in Lienz on Tuesday and leads the participants via Grossglockner to Pinzgau. At about 10.30 am the cyclists will be passing Bruck: a great opportunity for fans of Lechi to see him on his bike and spur him on. I’ll definitely be going to Bruck on Tuesday to take some snap shots of the cycling landlord!

I wish Alex a great race and that he crosses the finish line safe and sound.
See you on Tuesday!

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Tags: andreas lechner, bowling alley, bruck, cycle race, peakbrak, pinzgau

There are many different commands that the members of the teams participating in the Dragon Boat Cup on Saturday have to obey. It is the second time for me to participate and I am already really looking forward to this event! It will be amazing! And since I am not a newbie anymore, I know what to expect: sudden cold shower from the team member sitting in front of you, lots of fun, and sore muscles on the following day! But I am ready to take it!

Tomorrow the first training rounds are taking place to teach the teams to paddle in perfect harmony and find their rhythm.
Finally on Saturday we will paddle as fast as we can and do our very best to keep up with our competitors. On Monday you will be able to read about the winning team and check out the best snap shots here on our blog.

And by the way: on Saturday the entrance to the lido in Thumersbach is free for the landlubbers among you who would like to witness this spectacle from the shore. For more information on the Dragon Boat Cup 2009 please follow this link.

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Tags: dragon boat, event, lake zell, lido, thumersbach

It is one of the oldest customs which is still observed today: the solstice bonfires on midsummer’s day announce that the days are growing shorter again.

Programme for 20th June 2009:

6.00 to 8.30 pm: ascent aboard trassXpress
8.00 pm: free panorama walk to Elisabeth Chapel
10.00 pm: bonfires are lit
In addition, there are delicacies from the grill and live music at the panorama restaurant
10.30 to 11.30 pm: descent back into the valley aboard trassXpress
From 6 pm you’ll get a discount on the tickets for the cable cars on Schmittenhöhe.
Adults: € 15.50, teenagers: € 12.40; children: € 7.70

Owners of the season ticket and children who are members in the Schmidolin Club do not have to pay for the transport up the mountain.

In case of bad weather, the event will be called off.

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Tags: bonfires, midsummer, Schmittenhöhe, solstice, walking tour

10th of June has come and passed so now it is time to choose the winner of our Hiking Season Opening raffle. I have received a huge amount of interesting blog contributions and would like to thank everyone for their participation! No room for doubt: there are uncountable great reasons to take a walking tour.

The prize was a package deal arrangement for two for three overnight stays in Zell am See-Kaprun including half-board. And to top this we now add a ‘Hiking & Swimming’ ticket which gives you free entrance to the lidos, indoor and outdoor swimming pools of the region, guarantees for free transport aboard the operating cable railways and the shuttle busses commuting between Zell am See and Kaprun.

As you can read in the previous contribution ‘Winner of the Hiking Season Opening raffle! Please choose an alternative date!‘ the winner can choose the weekend of the trip freely. But if we can welcome you from 25th to 28th June, the entrance to Ralf Dujmovits’ multimedia show is included, too.

And now, the decisive moment has come!
The winning contribution is called ‘Warum wandern?‘ (available in German only) and was submitted on 12th May by Leo.

Our congratulations!

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Tags: blog, blogging, contribution, hiking, walking tour

Dear bloggers,

We had envisioned it to be a fantastic event - but unfortunately we have to call it off now. The Hiking Season Opening in Zell am See-Kaprun cannot take place as planned - please accept our apologies. Of course, Christine’s raffle will not be affected. The only thing that changes for you is the date. Instead of the period from 25th to 28th June we would like to ask the winner of the raffle to choose a different weekend to enjoy a fabulous summer trip to our region.

The Hiking Season Opening was meant to be a new kind of opening event in the summer season. Together with the cable car companies we had set up an elaborate programme to meet the requirements of our target group. As to the number of participants, we had to set our expectations rather high. Otherwise, the event would not have been sustainable.

But we have knocked off this bar. We were heading in the right direction but in the end the demand fell short of our expectations and we had to take the only sensible decision: to call the Hiking Season Opening off. We hope you understand our reasons.

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In the last few days, visitors of Zell am See-Kaprun permanently we in for great sights and amazing surprises. About 4,500 scooter pilots from 22 nations visited the Vespa World Days 2009. At the Ferry Porsche Congress Center, there even was a Vespa museum which had been set up exclusively for the occasion. Some of the exhibits were original, others had been restored to their old splendour.

[View with PicLens]

The parade around Lake Zell was a definite highlight of the Vespa World Days 2009. But not only the participants were absolutely enthralled by the unique atmosphere - so were the spectators who had gathered along the streets.

[View with PicLens]

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Tags: ferry porsche congress center, parade, scooter, vespa, vespa world days

This description holds true for the retaining walls of the Alpine reservoirs of Kaprun as well as for the Vespas. Both of them were at the centre of attention at the first highlight of the Vespa World Days 2009 which took place in Zell am See-Kaprun from 11th to 14th June. Some undaunted Vespisti accepted the challenge and set out for the reservoirs on their Vespas. One good thing about the weather and chilly 6° C was that the engines did not overheat. I have deepest respect for these courageous scooter pilots who were rewarded for their efforts with the stunning panorama of eleven summits of above 3,000 metres.

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Tags: alpine reservoirs, piaggio, scooter, tourism, verbund tourismus, vespa, vespa world days, VTG