Introducing national Aufguss championships in the UK
Multisensory theatre and dazzling skills deliver a sauna experience like no other.
2023 Partners
The UK’s first National Aufguss Championships, took place in April 2023 at Rudding Park in Harrogate, Yorkshire.
Our UK Champion Pavel Poliacek went on to compete at the Aufguss WM finals in Germany and now ranks 32nd in the world.
Entries are now closed to become the host venue for 2024.
We’re looking for the next venue to host the UK Aufguss Championships in late April 2024, and have a lot of support available for potential partners who are looking to upgrade their sauna offering to an Aufguss event standard.
Thank you for all the entries received so far - we will be announcing the next host venue on Friday October 6th 2023.
UK Aufguss Championships 2023
Day 1 Round up
A spectacular opening from Aufguss veteran Lay Pang Ong, World-Class performances from Eliška Blažková and Róbert Židek, and Single Competitors Renato Neto, Jena Robinson, Charlotte Daniel and Nicola Walker.
Day 2 Round up
A spectacular opening from Aufguss veteran Lay Pang Ong, World-Class performances from Eliška Blažková and Róbert Židek, and Single Competitors Renato Neto, Jena Robinson, Charlotte Daniel and Nicola Walker.
Results
Singles
1st - Pavel Poliacek*
2nd - Jena Robinson**
3rd - Renato Neto
Team
1st - Jena Robinson & Renato Neto**
* Qualified to Aufguss WM finals in Satama, Germany
**Qualified to Aufguss WM play-offs in Farris Bad, Norway
How are Aufguss performances judged?
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Preparation: Did the Aufguss Master deliver their light plan and information on time? Did they exceed their preparation time? Did they respect the rules of the organisation?
Opening & closing: Impression & professionalism of opening and closing of the Aufguss. How did the Aufgus start? Was there a clear ending?
Organisation & hygiene: Organisation & cleanliness inside the sauna (are the towels ready to hand? Are buckets in the way?) Does the Aufguss Master know where everything is placed?
Performance: Charisma and performance of Aufguss Master. How does the Aufguss Master act? Eye contact, connection with audience, voice volume, safety & control, fitness/condition.
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Increase of the heat: Increase the heat through the round till there’s a ‘heat-shower’ in the last round.
Distribution of the heat: Heat needs to be noticeable while the technique is shown.
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Classical techniques: Aufguss Master shows a minimum of 4 nicely performed classic techniques (waving techniques with two hands & helicopter), size of the towels
Show techniques: Aufguss Master shows a minimum of 4 nicely performed show techniques (one handed techniques, use of both hands, two towel technique and walking, throw and catch, open towel etc)
Smooth transition: Smooth transition between the techniques & possible combinations.
Special techniques: New or difficult techniques, special combinations, innovation, multiple variations
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Perception: Perception of minimum of 3 natural aromas (essential oil, infusion, smoke…) during the Aufguss
Use of water & ice products: Professional use of water, ice and fragrance during the Aufguss
Creativity & quality: Does the fragrance fit the theme? Special combinations? Creative use of fragrance?
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Show & storyline: Theme in general. Is the theme recognisable? Impression of the story and storyline. Is it coherent?
Scenery & elements: Show elements recongisable and according to the theme. Costumes, decoration, fitting Aufguss equipment.
Lights & visual effects: Light plan & visual effects (dry ice, fire, special effects…)
Creativity & innovation: Newly written story? Unique? Innovative theme?
International understanding: Can everybody (independent of his nation) understand the topic/story?
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Atmosphere: Subjective feeings/assessment of each jury member of the general atmosphere during the Aufguss
Jury’s overall feeling/connection: Individual feeling of each jury member with the topic/theme
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Harmony: Harmony between Aufguss Masters despite possible differences between them (e.g. waving skills
Synchronisation: Sychronisation in parts of the show: waving techniques, Aufguss, other activities
Interaction: Smooth transfer of the towel in addition to throws. Handing over towel, handing over props
According to the official Aufguss WM rules.
International champions supporting UK Aufguss
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Eliška Blažková
Czech National Champion, Team & Single
2nd place Team, Aufguss WM 2022 -
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Róbert Židek
Czech National Aufguss Champion 2019, Team
Single Champion, Aufguss WM 2021 -
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Lasse Eriksen
Vice President & Jury Member, Aufguss WM
Head of Norwegian Sauna Association -
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Ong Lay Pang
Danish National Champion
Jury Member, Aufguss WM
Show Aufguss brings theatre to the sauna experience
Aufguss means ‘infusion’. Rituals are scheduled at an allotted time in a sauna, and performed by a trained sauna master. Over the course of 10-15 minutes, different scents erupt from the sauna stones. The resulting steam is captured by a towel or fan wafted by the sauna master and its heat delivered - caressingly or shockingly - over the bathers on the surrounding benches. As the steam condenses on the skin, it gives bathers a quick but pleasurable burning sensation. The heat builds throughout the performance for a wellness experience that is as electrifying as it is relaxing.
On the continent where the World Championships have been enjoyed for over a decade, some performance saunas have been built to accommodate up to 200 bathers. Rebelling against a trend for wellness experiences that are individual or private, Aufguss revives a past where the sensorial and social are combined for healing and wellbeing.
For an experience usually associated with relaxation, themes in performance Aufguss can be surprisingly heavy-hitting. Last years’ winners at the World Championships in the Netherlands regaled bathers with a tale of a pregnant woman rejected by the father of her child. Another conveyed a man accused and sentenced for a murder he’s innocent of. Another conveyed the architectural wonder of Florence, Italy.
How do I find out more about Show Aufguss?
Fundamental Elements of Show Aufguss
Deborah Carr in conversation with Lay Pang Ong
A perfect introduction and overview for any Aufguss Master considering competing. All aspects of creating that special moment are discussed, from choosing a theme and storytelling, to towel techniques, music, aroma and much more.
Developing your Aufguss
Deborah Carr in conversation with professional Aufguss Masters Lay Pang Ong, Kim Pedersen and Cosmin Ciric
In this second session, key elements of the Aufguss show are discussed in more detail: choosing essential oils authentic to the theme, aspects of the judging criteria and developing advanced towel techniques.
The Finishing Touches
Deborah Carr in conversation with Lay Pang Ong
With just 6 weeks to the competition, this final session will discuss how to prepare in the final days, the competition schedule and what to expect on the day. A perfect opportunity for Aufguss Masters to ask any final questions as the excitement starts to build. Pang will be on hand to advise, guide and inspire.
How to design a perfect event sauna
Don Genders, Deborah Carr, Lasse Erikson & Wendy Liu
Learn about the principles behind designing saunas that are optimal for Aufguss experiences. An unmissable masterclass for any sauna or spa operator or enthusiast who wants to level up about purpose-built ‘event saunas’ or ‘sauna theatres’.
Partners & Sponsors
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![Finnmark Sauna]()
Principal Sponsor. Finnmark Sauna are UK-based authentic sauna specialists. We tailor our service to your specific needs, ensuring no matter what your tastes, you’re enjoying your truly Authentic Sauna Experience. We design and build high-quality bespoke indoor and outdoor saunas and provide a range of modular saunas and materials you would require for a self-build project. We also regularly blog, vlog, host a podcast and offern Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for all RIBA Chartered Members in the UK.
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![Design for Leisure]()
The UK’s arrival onto the World Aufguss scene is thanks to the generous support of spa design expert Don Genders and his company Design for Leisure. They’re also providing the first quality Aufguss event saunas in the US and the UK.
Lasse Eriksen, a judge and board member of the Aufguss WM World Championships and Rob Keijzer, 3-time Aufguss WM Champion, are both consultants to Design for Leisure’s Aufguss offering.
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The British Sauna Society has become the governing National Association and has joined the Aufguss WM as the representative Member for the UK. They’ll operate between the host spa each year and the international body to ensure standards are fairness are maintained.
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Rudding Park in Harrogate, Yorkshire has been leading the way in developing UK Aufguss. That’s been thanks to the driven partnership of its Head of Spa, Sarah Johnson, and long-time collaborator Deborah Carr, Aufguss Master and trainer with Anada Spa and Wellness. After offering spa guests Aufguss experiences and seeing how appreciated they were, they partnered with Art of Aufguss Champion Lay Pang Ong to train the team at Rudding Park to bring an international calibre of sauna theatre to their spa.
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![Dröm]()
Dröm UK Ltd has been at the forefront of thermal wellbeing since 2002, specialising in the design and installation of luxury bespoke thermal rooms in residential and commercial sectors.
Dröm specialises in the multisensory and sees Aufguss as the perfect combination of performance, humidity, aromatherapy and even chromotherapy.
