“Team Simba,” featuring Bianca Schister and Andreas Spörk, and “Team Caesar,” featuring Sandra Pfeifer and Max Hohenscherer, rounded out the list of participants. Zoo director Doris Wolkner-Steinberger took her place on the celebrity jury alongside, among others, spa managing director Wolfgang Wieser and Josef Schiffer, head of Trachten Hiebaum.

First, the traditional-costume couples put their skills to the test on the wide-wave slide; the gentlemen needed plenty of “charm” as they paddled “their” dirndls to the diving platform. The “Dirndls in Dirndls” showed off their most creative and daring jumps. From somersaults in a wide variety of styles—including double somersaults, backward somersaults, and headfirst dives—the Dirndls in Dirndls proved their athleticism.

The victory went to Herberstein. While paddling, Max Hohenscherer showed that his professional strength training with the Tierwelt Herberstein construction crew pays off. With a daring headfirst dive set to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” Sandra Pfeifer plunged from the diving board into the cool water.
Heartfelt congratulations to our winning couple!

Speaking of dirndls: All participants were outfitted by Trachten Hiebaum. Bianca Schister and Sandra Pfeifer were dressed in the Herberstein traditional costume. The dirndl bodice and skirt are in a sunny, cheerful yellow, while the apron is in an earthy brown tone. As a highlight, the Tierwelt Herberstein logo is embroidered on the apron. A special detail of the new company uniform is the apron sash lined with white-and-brown checkered fabric.