“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 judging panel 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 really had to work up a sweat as they paddled “their” dirndls to the diving platform. The “Dirndl in Dirndl” contestants showed off their most creative and daring dives. From somersaults in all sorts of variations—such as double somersaults and backward somersaults—to headfirst dives, the Dirndl-clad women proved just how athletic they could be.

Victory went to Herberstein. While paddling, Max Hohenscherer demonstrated that his professional strength training with the construction crew at Tierwelt Herberstein is paying off. With a daring headfirst dive 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 pranced around in Herberstein traditional attire. The dirndl bodice and skirt come 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 dirndl is the apron sash lined with white-and-brown checkered fabric.