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Aufguss Combines Saunas, Dance, And Competition

It may not be sweeping the nation like pickleball, and no one in your office will start a bracket pool based on it, but there’s a relatively new competition gaining popularity in the US that occurs exclusively in saunas.

It’s a ritual ceremony called Aufguss that’s been described as “Kabuki in the heat.” At the Aufguss World Championships, competitors engage in a choreographed, towel-waving, 12- to 15-minute performance judged on numerous merits, including:

Professionalism: This encompasses preparation, a clear open and close, and even hygiene. Eye contact with the audience is also important.
Heat distribution: The towel-waving is functional and is used to increase and distribute the heat throughout the sauna.
Waving techniques: They better be on point, and don’t even think about dropping the towel, lest you want points deducted. Some of the techniques include the helicopter, pizza, and super8.

Is America dominating at this yet? Well, no. But the first-ever US Nationals were held in New York in June, where one team’s entry was about the CIA testing psychedelics on civilians (they somehow did not win). The victors in the team category were Alexi and Joli Irvine (aka the Vegas Sisters), while the aptly named Alonzo Solórzano won in the individual category. The Americans did not crack the Top 8 at Worlds in September, but they’re probably not sweating it.—DL

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Aufguss Combines Saunas, Dance, And Competition

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