Gauder Hogmoar

“Since this title, they know us everywhere”

Florian Lindner, Anton Hollaus, Simon Schweinberger and Siegfried Gruber (from left) show that they still have what it takes.(Bild: Johanna Birbaumer)

Four Zillertalers can call themselves "Gauder Hogmoar". Together with the "Krone", they reminisce and talk about their experiences and how they experienced their victories.

Although they are all already in "Rangglerpension", their stature still indicates that they have been in the ring for decades. Simon Schweinberger (38), Siegfried Gruber (59), Florian Lindner (39) and Anton Hollaus (31) stand out from all the other Zillertal Rangglers: Each of them has earned the title of "Gauder Hogmoar" and truly created a monument for themselves.

Ranggeln is a sub-sport of wrestling. The aim of each fight is to bring the opponent to the ground with both shoulder blades using holds and throws within a six-minute fighting time in order to win the fight and move on to the next round. The winner of a competition is awarded the title of "Hogmoar". At the Gauder Fest in Zell am Ziller - where the competition has been held since 1981 - it is known as the "Gauder Hogmoar".

The fact that the four Zillertalers are true "Kraftlackl" is proven by their victories: Schweinberger has won the title five times (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014), Gruber three times (1986, 1991, 1994) and Hollaus (2015) and Lindner (2016) once each. "We had so many outstanding Rangglers in the Zillertal for decades, but only the four of us managed to become 'Gauder Hogmoar' each time. That shows how difficult it is and that everything has to come together on the day of the competition," explains the youngest of the bunch.

In addition to "tremendous strength and tremendous stamina", mental strength also plays a role - especially as a Zillertal native competing at home. "Everyone in the 2500 or so spectators knows you. The expectations are high, the nervousness increases enormously - for some even to such an extent that they are no longer able to deliver their performance. You have to be able to deal with that," says Gruber.

"It's to go to the toilet, to throw up"
The time leading up to the start of the competition in particular is "unbearable", as Hollaus reveals: "It's a lot of going to the toilet, almost throwing up. But as soon as you're in your linen competition outfit, the first fight is over and it goes well, the excitement subsides." Schweinberger drew energy from the local spectators in particular: "When so many people who know you cheer you on, it's totally motivating. It helped me to switch off and concentrate."

We had to interrupt the fight once because it had snowed ten centimetres. We finished in Stumm.

Siegfried Gruber

One of this quartet is even a doctor
How does it feel when all this effort finally pays off? "I have achieved many titles in judo, but when asked which success in sport was the greatest for me, my answer to this day is: the 'Gauder Hogmoar'. That has a huge significance," says Lindner, who incidentally has a doctorate in economics. And Gruber adds: "As soon as you can call yourself 'Gauder Hogmoar', they really do know you everywhere - far beyond the Zillertal." And Anton Wurm, chairman of the Zillertal Ranggelverein, is convinced: "If successful skiers come to an inn after their career ends, for example, they are forgotten more quickly and are not recognized than the four men sitting here at the table."

I broke my thigh twice, tore my cruciate ligament twice and my shoulder was also badly affected. But I always came back stronger.

Simon Schweinberger

Hard sport also comes with aches and pains. "We can tell you a thing or two about that," the quartet agrees. But there's not a trace of complaining - real "Kraftlackl". The most long-suffering of them was the five-time winner. "I broke my thigh twice, tore my cruciate ligament twice and my shoulder was also badly affected. But I always came back stronger." Hollaus adds: "There really weren't many in the scene like Simon back then."

Interruption due to ten centimetres of snow
The battle for the "Gauder Hogmoar" has almost always gone off without a hitch. "Once we had to interrupt the fight because it had snowed ten centimetres. In Stumm we wrestled to the end," recalls Gruber.

Stefan Gastl from Brixental Valley is the favorite. He has no real opponent at the moment. The brothers Kevin and Philipp Holzer - already two-time 'Gauder Hogmoar' winners - from East Tyrol are also a force to be reckoned with.

Anton Wurm

 The weather gods should mean well this year. Will the retired "Hogmoare" be watching the fights live on site? "They won't even start without us," smiles Gruber. "Of course we're there. But the only fight I'll be having this year is the one with the Gauder Bock beer," laughs Schweinberger.

And who has the best chance of winning the title? "No Zillertal, unfortunately we don't have enough for the very front at the moment," says Wurm plainly, "Stefan Gastl from Brixental Valley is the favorite. He has no real opponent at the moment. The brothers Kevin and Philipp Holzer - already two-time 'Gauder Hogmoar' winners - from East Tyrol are also a force to be reckoned with." Saturday, May 4, will show whether Wurm is right.