The brothers Wastl (born 1937) and Peter (born 1941) Wörgötter from Saalfelden developed a love of the mountains at a young age and began mountaineering and climbing at an early age. In the 50s and 60s, they travelled in the local mountains and the Western and Eastern Alps. From the 70s onwards, expeditions were organised all over the world. The Saalfelden brothers wrote alpine history. This is documented in the current special exhibition at Museum Schloss Ritzen Saalfelden. The exhibition is a journey through the history of mountaineering. Pioneering deeds and world records, a departure into the unknown. Highlights of the Wörgötter brothers were the joint second ascent of the fourth highest mountain in the world, the Lhotse (8,511 m), in 1977, the world's first ski descent of an 8,000 m peak, the 8,156 m high Manaslu by Peter and the first Austrian ascent of the 8,091 m high Annapurna by Wastl in 1982. In the same year, Wastl also survived a helicopter crash in the Antarctic and travelled 1,000 kilometres through the East Antarctic on a skidoo. Over the years, Wastl went on to climb numerous 7,000 and 8,000 metre peaks such as Cho Oyu (8,201m) in Tibet, Broad Peak (8,047m) in Pakistan, Pik Kommunismus (7,498m) in Russia, Aconcagua (7,035m) in Argentina, the 8046m high Shisha Pangma in Tibet (first ski ascent) and many more. Peter Wörgötter and Sepp Millinger (Waidring) even made it into the Guinness Book of Records 40 years ago with the first ski descent from the 8,157 metre-high Manaslu. ‘You have to ski the Manaslu!’ - Peter Wörgötter got this tip from his brother Wastl, who had already been on a Manaslu ascent in 1973. The ski descent from an 8,000 metre peak seemed more than daring. Peter found the perfect expedition partner in Sepp Millinger from Waidring. On 19 May 1981, Peter and Sepp were the first Austrians to reach the eighth highest mountain in the world via the north route. Skiing in the death zone without artificial oxygen was better than they had feared. ‘One problem was the breathing rhythm that you lose when skiing, so you could only continue after taking a breather. Sepp lost a ski because he didn't have a catch strap, but he managed to get back to camp 5 at 7,200 metres with both skis for tea,’ explains Peter Wörgötter. Despite the challenges, they managed the descent and made alpine history! Many things were different back then. The clothing, the equipment, the diet - all of this has evolved over the years. There were not always successes; many mountaineers and expedition participants lost their lives. ‘I am convinced that greed for the summit at any price cannot be the message,’ says Peter Wörgötter from Saalfelden today. As alpine consultant for mountaineering at the Salzburg regional association of the Austrian Alpine Association (ÖAV), he volunteered for 35 years to train members by organising annual ski touring, rope and climbing technique courses. In the exhibition ‘8,000 & more’, in the Schoss Ritzen Museum in Saalfelden, the brothers show many original items of equipment, photos and other documents. Short films of the expedition are also shown. The second part of the exhibition is dedicated to the mountains and alpine history in the Saalfelden area. The exhibition is on display until February 2022.
65 kilometres, 5000 metres of altitude and 24 hours: 40 participants took part in the eighth edition of the Stoabergmarsch24 last weekend. Saalfelden Leogang was once again one of the three host regions of the exceptional format. On Saturday morning, a mixed group of locals and guests set off on the day-and-night journey over mountains, alpine pastures and villages from Hochfilzen via Leogang, to the finish on the Loderbichl in the Lofer Alpine pasture area. “After the postponement of the June date into September, we were rewarded with tremendous hiking weather this weekend. The group has shown a great cohesion. At the Stoabergmarsch it is always important to us that the fitter participants take into account the weaker ones. This is the only way all participants get their money’s worth”, the responsible mountain guide of the Stoarbergmarsch, Markus Kogler, can draw a satisfied assessment. Long-distance hiking is a green event The Stoabergmarsch24 also bears the “Green Event Salzburg” seal of approval and was designed in this sense again as a green event. The focus was on the possibility of arriving by public transport, the prevention of waste and the use of regional products. Continental BIKE Festival Saalfelden Leogang from 10 to 12 September 2021 The next event in Saalfelden Leogang is scheduled for next weekend. This time, mountain bike fans will get their money’s worth at the renowned Continental BIKE Festival Saalfelden Leogang, from 10th to 12th September. In addition to the latest innovations in the BIKE industry, with over 40 well-known exhibitors, visitors can look forward to varied test rides and numerous workshops for every level of performance. Professionals, such as Lukas Schaefer, Elias Schwarzler, Jasper Jauch or Stefan Schlie, who accompany the workshops with their many years of experience, are on hand with helpful tips and tricks. Participation is free. For the more active, there is also a sporting highlight on the Velosolutions Pumptrack. The specialists will compete in the Pump Track World Championship Qualifier in Lisbon on Saturday. The following day, the youngster is finally allowed to try out at the Scott Junior Trophy Pumptrack on the same course.
On September 4th, the start of the eighth edition of the Stoabergmarsch24: 51 kilometers and 4,200 meters of altitude have to be managed for the participants in the 24-hour hiking experience. After a year-long break due to the pandemic, Saalfelden Leogang will co-host the Stoabergmarsch24 for the eighth time this weekend. Accompanied by experienced mountain guides, this time the participants of the 24-hour hike will go over 51 kilometers and 4,200 meters of altitude through the night. The starting shot will be fired on Saturday, September 4, at 9 am, at the Kulturhaus in Hochfilzen. Over the Spielberg and the Schwarzleo Valley you will hike in the historic centre of Leogang, from there you will go back to the biathlon stronghold and via the Roman saddle to the Loferer Alm, where this year the finish awaits. Best hiking and mountain weather is expected. Participants can register until Friday. The 3G rule applies. Programme overview: Start: 4.9.2021 in Hochfilzen: from 07.30 h Registration - 09.00 h Start Shuttle from goal to start: September 4, 2021 in Lofer 07.30 am (cost: 4.-) 3G control: at launch and at shuttle boarding Destination: September 5, 2021 at 08.00: Loderbichl (Almenwelt Lofer) Altitude uphill: 2,136 m Altitude downhill: 2,015 m Route length: approx. 51 km Starting fee: Euro 69,00 It's Max. Attendance: 150 people
Nach einem Jahr Pause fährt das Continental BIKE Festival Saalfelden Leogang vom 10. bis 12. September wieder mit vollem Programm auf. Neben einer großen Expo Area mit mehr als 40 Ausstellern und zahlreichen Workshops für jedes Niveau, geht in diesen Tagen im Epic Bikepark Leogang unter anderem auch ein Qualifikationsevent für die weltweit größte Pump Track Serie über die Bühne. Am Freitag, 10. September, fällt um 11 Uhr der Startschuss zur dritten Auflage des Continental BIKE Festivals Saalfelden Leogang. Über drei Tage gibt das legendäre Event dann die Möglichkeit zu testen und auszuprobieren – nicht nur die neuesten Bike-Modelle der Folgesaison 2022, sondern auch die eigenen Skills auf dem Rad. Highlight im Wettbewerbskalender ist der Pump Track World Championship Qualifier am Samstag. Hier gilt es für alle Hobbysportler und -Sportlerinnen auf dem Velosolutions Pump Track zu pumpen, was das Zeug hält, und sich so vielleicht ein Ticket für das große Finale in Lissabon zu sichern. Das Rennen in Leogang ist einer von 25 Qualifikationswettkämpfen weltweit und damit Teil der größten Pump Track Rennserie überhaupt. Auch die Rookies zeigen, was sie draufhaben Natürlich gibt es von Freitag bis Sonntag auch für die Kleinsten unter den Bike-Begeisterten die Gelegenheit, sich so richtig auszutoben. So geht etwa am Abschlusstag mit der Scott Junior Trophy ein weiteres Highlight auf dem Velosolutions Pump Track in Szene. Hier können sich Kids und Jugendliche zwischen fünf und 17 Jahren über Wellen und in Steilkurven beweisen – aber vor allem Spaß am Sport zeigen. Tags zuvor geht von 10 bis 15 Uhr der „20 Epic Years Kids & Youth Day“ über die Bühne. Hier lernen Kinder zwischen sechs und 14 Jahren in Kleingruppen alle wichtigen Skills, um ihr Bike sicherer zu beherrschen. Workshops für jedes Fahrer-Niveau Daneben warten in diesen Tagen im Epic Bikepark Leogang zahlreiche Workshops um die eigenen Fähigkeiten auf dem Bike auf das nächste Level zu heben. Egal ob Einsteiger, Fortgeschrittener oder Expert, gemeinsam mit professionellen Guides und Coaches, wie den beiden Profis Elias Schwärzler oder Jasper Jauch, geht es ab auf die Strecken, um sich mit wertvollen Tipps in Sachen Fahrtechnik und -sicherheit weiterzuentwickeln. Das Angebot reicht vom „Downchill“- Workshop, über einen EMTB-Testride für Einsteiger, bis hin zu einem Go Pro Bag Jump-Workshop. Wer schon immer professionelle Fotos von sich auf dem Bike haben wollte, sollte beim "Fox Hit the Park" mitmachen - die Profi-Bilder sind für die Teilnehmer gratis. Und endlich gibts auch wieder was auf die Ohren: Am Freitag- und Samstagabend warten Livekonzerte mit Johnny Gass und Chris Shermer. Nur noch eine Woche um SCOTT Gambler 900 zu gewinnen! Der Epic Bikepark Leogang verlost zusammen mit seinem langjährigen Partner SCOTT ein Custom Paint SCOTT Gambler 900 Tuned #20epicyears Edition. Zur Feier der jahrelangen erfolgreichen Zusammenarbeit und passend zum 20-jährigen Bikepark-Jubiläum hat nun jede/r, der den Epic Bikepark Leogang vom 07. Juli bis 31. August 2021 besucht, die Chance das einzigartige Bike zu gewinnen. Die feierliche Übergabe an den glücklichen Gewinner wird beim BIKE Festival in Leogang vom 10. - 12. September stattfinden.
The 41st Saalfelden International Jazz Festival kicked off on Monday. For the first time, it has been extended to a whole week and will now take place on stages on the mountain and in the valley until 22 August 2021. But it's not just on the stages that jazz comes alive. The entire town of Saalfelden is in jazz fever and has been transformed into one big stage: The shops decorated their shop windows with great commitment. They gave free rein to their creativity in the traditional ‘shop window competition’. The jury consisted of representatives from Saalfelden Town Marketing and Saalfelden Leogang Touristik and chose the winner on Wednesday, 18 August 2021. The winner of this year's shop window competition was Weinkistl Saalfelden. The decoration took up the Jungel theme of this year's subject and the display case was decorated with concert pictures, jazz clothing and other jazzy highlights. Second place went to ‘Resi's little joys’, with creative home-made items, pictures and jazz textiles. Keramik Weißensteiner took third place with home-made jazz mugs and jazz jugs.
When your calves are burning in the evening and you fall into bed with satisfied exhaustion, you know what you've achieved. THE CHALLENGE - bike your limit. This is the name of the new challenge starting on 13 August in Austria's largest bike region, which only the most enduring mountain bikers can master. The entire region around Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn has to be ridden in just one day. With almost 100 kilometres of trail and only a few kilometres of gravel, as well as around 5,500 metres of downhill, THE CHALLENGE is the longest mountain bike tour in Austria's largest bike region. The terrain under the tyres changes from flowing trails to challenging bike park lines and scenic pedal sections. There are uphill sections with up to 9 cable cars - you only have to climb 300 metres in altitude under your own steam. Nevertheless, the tour should not be underestimated, as the time limit for THE CHALLENGE is tight. Anyone who completes the tour in one day and can show their well-deserved skiline.cc badge at the main ticket office will receive a cool water bottle and be entered into the seasonal prize draw. The prizes are: 1st prize: 1 x 1 week holiday in Austria's largest bike region incl. bike tickets 2nd prize: 2 x bike tickets for one week 3rd prize: 3 x bike tickets for one day The challenge can be started at any location. The only important thing is that the mountain railways listed in the route suggestion are used and that the result is immortalised on skiline.cc.
The Continental BIKE Festival Saalfelden Leogang presents the latest innovations for the 2022 season, as well as a number of side events over the three days. It's all about browsing, talking shop and, above all, biking. What's new in terms of bikes and equipment in 2022? The Continental BIKE Festival Saalfelden Leogang in mid-September is the best place to get to the bottom of this question. After a one-year break, the renowned festival will take place for the third time from 10 to 12 September and will provide information about the latest news in the bike scene with a large outdoor trade fair. More than 50 exhibitors will be presenting their models for the coming season and making them available for test rides free of charge. With the trails in and around the EPIC Bikepark Leogang, the ideal terrain for putting the brand new bikes through their paces awaits. In addition to the expo and numerous testing opportunities, the three-day Continental BIKE Festival Saalfelden Leogang will once again offer high-calibre side events. Bike athletes can compete against the competition in competitions such as the Pump Track Qualifier and the FOX Hit the Park, or take their personal skills to the next level at various workshops. The programme also includes the popular SCOTT Junior Race. So if you want to crown the approaching end of the season with an extraordinary bike event, you should pitch your tents in Saalfelden Leogang from 10 to 12 September.
Looking, marveling and going on a treasure hunt in the interior of the mountains? For many years, a visit to the Leogang underground mine has been a unique experience. From the 15th century onwards, miners mined silver, mercury, cobalt, copper, lead, nickel and magnesite here. Many unique tunnels have been created as a result, which since this year can even be experienced virtually – from home, spontaneously and around the clock. A virtual 3D tour of the show mine Leogang makes this possible. How does it work? With state-of-the-art laser technology and cameras, the interior of the old mine was measured and digitized. Detailed scans helped create a unique experience. From the sofa, visitors can try out the interactive 3D model on the newly redesigned website of the Leogang Mine and get an insight into the 3,000-year-old history of Leogang Mining. In 1970, mining was discontinued. The virtual tour through the visitor mine resembles a computer game graphic. The digital excursion is accessible to everyone without barriers – all you need is a smartphone, a PC or a tablet with internet access. In addition, there is a bilingual audio guide and the app for free. With the virtual tour of the Leogang show mine, you can even reach places that you do not have access to during a guided tour on site. If you want to feel like a real miner, with helmet and lamp, underground and also prefer cooler temperatures in summer, you can also visit the Barbarastoll as part of a guided tour. Since 1989, the show mine in the Saalfelden Leogang region has been open to visitors. With a trained guide, you walk through the tunnels, some of which are only 90 cm wide, past deep shafts. You have to overcome over 200 steps. At about seven to eight degrees Celsius, you encounter an overwhelming labyrinth inside the mountain. For children from the age of five, the visit to the Leogang show mine is also a special under-the-day experience, because every Wednesday in July and August is Children's Day and there are guided tours especially for kids. Another highlight for the youngest visitors is a ride on the original mine railway, the Grubenbahn. In addition, there is a new adventure playground and, as a reinforcement, skimpy bread, which can even be baked yourself in good weather. The Leogang show mine is open from May to October.
From 26 July to 15 August there will be workshops for children and adults, plays, concerts, etc. Held in different indoor and outdoor locations. The Theatre ecce is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and for this reason the team has come up with a top-class programme with big names. A total of 19 workshops will be held under the name “Palace of Wonders II” (mountains, garbage and dragons) for children, adults and adults from July 26-30. The participants expect a diverse program from the fields of acting, music, dance, juggling, acrobatics, land art, photography, radio and video art. Half-day and full-day tickets for the entire workshop week can be purchased at www.theater-ecce.com. For the first time this year there will be an opening party in the Stadtpark Saalfelden on July 29th with the MMC (Mobile Music Club). On July 31st, the program will start at the Theater Tent in Leogang with “Der Drachenberg”. The family piece based on Chinese folk tales by Natalya Nishegorodtseva and Svetlana Alfiorova is a highlight for the whole family (from 5 years). The play offers more acrobatics than ever before. Bernard Pomerance's "The Elephant Man" returns to the theater tent Leogang. Also at the Kunsthaus Nexus, very special pieces are offered a stage: “Hidden Language”, a production of the b.m-w dance company, is about experimenting with the world of limitations, about the alienation in one’s own body shown by Parkinson’s disease. Before the performance, the doctor Dr. Johann Ebner gives insights into the disease. Within the framework of the workshop series “Palace of Wonders II” there is an offer for people with neurological diseases. Furthermore, the theatre play “Im Einkauftempel / Ich Biomüll” with live music by the laureate of the “Grand Salzburger Kunstpreis 2020”, Robert Kainar, and his bandmate Klaus Kircher will take place at the Kunsthaus Nexus. A story about the shopping temple as a place of fulfilled and unfulfilled longings. “The Story of the Panda Bears” tells of a surreal love story between a saxophone player and his girlfriend in Frankfurt. Reinhold Tritscher from Theater ecce explains: “This performance can be described as a little gem. It inspires with poetic texts and a very special light painting by Remo Rauscher. To be seen on August 6th at Kunsthaus Nexus and on August 5th at Theater Lofer.” The German-language premiere of the comedy “Russian National Post” by Oleg Bogayev will also take place on two dates at the Nexus Saalfelden and Theater Lofer. “Esperanza – Hope” is the name of the dance theatre production at the Kunsthaus Nexus by and with Samira Kirschhofer. Another highlight is the concert by Peter Blaikner, Reinhold Kletzander and Ben Pascal under the name “KHAYYAM”, which will be held at the Museum Schloss Ritzen on August 8th.
In addition to the stars of FC Liverpool, Hertha BSC and RB Leipzig, among others, use the high-class infrastructure in Pinzgau to work on speed, dribble power and ball feel. A total of seven clubs and one national team are on the training camp calendar of the Saalfelden Leogang region in 2021. Among them are the stars of the British top club Liverpool, around cult coach Jurgen Klopp, who for the second time have chosen Saalfelden Leogang and the Brandlhof as their training base. In addition to the Hungarian national team, which prepared for Euro 2020 for nine days at the Brandlhof in mid-May, the German Bundesliga side RB Leipzig will also train from 25 July to 31 July 2021, with Salzburg's former success coach Jesse Marsch at the Brandlhof. In addition, Hertha BSC, Legia Warsaw, the Russian club Arsenal Tula and Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine, as well as the local club WSG Tirol, are also counting on the optimal training conditions in Saalfelden Leogang this year. For Saalfelden Leogang, the busy booking calendar is of course the best opportunity to live up to its reputation as a sportingly active region. With professional football pitches, top-class hotels, perfect organization and hospitality, Pinzgau offers everything top teams need for a successful training camp, explains Marco Pointner, Managing Director of Saalfelden Leogang Tourismik: “We are proud that we can offer such optimal conditions in the region. It is an honor for us that the clubs choose Saalfelden Leogang in such a large number. Many of them already gather strength with us for the next tasks. For us, the training camps of the stars are also a valuable and important economic stimulus.” On July 20, a lightning tournament will take place between Wacker Innsbruck, VfB Stuttgart & Liverpool, with the exception of the public. Fans can watch the match on Sky Sports News from 6pm. Picture: Liverpool FC from left to right Hannes Riedlsperger, Chairman of the Tourismusverband Saalfelden; Jurgen Klopp; Leo Bauernberger, Managing Director of SalzburgerLand Tourism GmbH; Thomas Baliamis, Hotel Director Brandlhof © SalzburgerLand Tourismus
