UK Aufguss Champions 2025 are chosen

Now in its 3rd year, the 2025 UK Aufguss Championships saw the spectacle of sauna theatre performed against a backdrop of skyscrapers in Canary Wharf, London. Run by Aufguss UK and the British Sauna Society, the competition was hosted at the new urban wellness community ARC, offering a state-of-the-art 65-person sauna and cold plunge lounge installed by Brass Monkey. Excepting a sleepy Monday morning session, tickets completely sold out with many attendees booking in for back to back performances.

With 12 participants competing this year, all hungry to showcase their talents and claim the winning spot to compete at the Aufguss WM finals in September, the competition had never been fiercer. Show Aufguss is judged by four jury who are seated in the crowd, and will assess the Aufguss Masters meticulously on a range of categories: professionalism & overall impression; increase & distribution of heat; waving techniques; fragrances & usage; theme, implementation & show elements; atmosphere & feeling; team spirit. Performers have to keep all of that in mind, while also delivering a high-intensity cardio-heavy performance in 80 degree heat.

The UK Aufguss Championships participants, jury and organisers. Image credit: Lucy Leo

That means there’s always details that aren’t obvious to the untrained eye - and it’s the care and practice that goes into these that makes a winning Aufguss Master. With this reasoning, the jury - comprised of Martijn Vanhoorelbeke of Belgium, Christina Boring of Denmark, Heonsok Kim of Japan, and Lay Pang Ong of Denmark - awarded first place in the Single competition to Zak Moore of Galgorm, Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Zak’s performance told the tale of a Dublin pub owner who had fallen on hard times, until a mischievous Leprechaun appears and lavishes him with gold. Bathers were particularly enamoured with a soundtrack of Irish songs, with many singing along throughout the performance.  He was particularly commended for his mastery of Classic Aufguss techniques - which was just as well, with a surprise invitation to the newly revealed Modern Classic Aufguss competition which will also be taking place in Italy, at Aquagrande, Livigno. 2nd place was awarded to Chandler Fox of Alpamare, Scarborough, England and 3rd place went to Charlie Bannister of Hoar Cross Hall, Staffordshire, England. 

Single Winner Zak Moore performing The Dubliner. Image credit: Lucy Leo

In the Team event, Antonia Longrigg and Kyle Buttnerr were victorious with their portrayal of a Royal meeting between Princess Diana and Freddie Mercury, with an understandably hell-raising soundtrack. 2nd place went to Stephanie Gibb of Beach Box and Dan Lawson of Nomadic who, with their performance of ‘Brits Abroad’, had the entire sauna in hysterics. Comedy Aufguss is difficult to do well, but their performance brought the brilliance of British comedy into the sauna, making many in the crowd Show Aufguss converts.

Team Winner Antonia Longrigg performs A Royal Escape with partner Kyle Buttner. Image credit: Lucy Leo

The wellbeing impact of all of this was also being assessed, with ticket holders to the performances invited to participate in research from Dr Martha Newson of the University of Greenwich and University of Oxford, a Cognitive Anthropologist and expert in the power of community and ritual. This research, in partnership with the British Sauna Society, will provide data that could help spa owners to quantify the benefits of their thermal facilities.

Dr Martha Newson presents talks about her research project at the UK Aufguss Championships opening ceremony. Image credit: Lucy Leo

Our UK Champions are now on the road to the finals at Aquardens in Verona, Italy in September this year, and runners up will be heading to the playoffs in Satama, Berlin, Germany. They’ll be training intensively with the support of Aufguss UK, the British Sauna Society, our sponsors Finnmark, and the mentorship of Aufguss WM World Champions Robert Zidek and Eliska Zidek Blazek, and theatre experts James Grieves and Lucy Osborne of studiothreesixty. Follow @aufguss_uk on Instagram to follow their journey, and to show your support when they’re representing the UK on the global stage.

Finnmark were headline sponsors of this year’s UK Aufguss Championships. The team kit was provided robes by BC Softwear and polo shirts by PortaSauna. Image credit: Lucy Leo

A huge thank you goes to the sponsors of the UK Aufguss Championships, without whom none of this would be possible: Finnmark, Beach Box Spa, PortaSauna, BC SoftWear, Nomadic Sauna, Kernow Springs, European Spa Magazine, Sauna Skillers, Anada, Wildling & Quas.

Butcombe Brewing Co. beer and Wildling Water Kefir provided the refreshment for guests, participants and jury at the UK Aufguss Championships. Image credit: Lucy Leo

Interested in bringing Show Aufguss to your sauna or spa, or hosting the 2026 UK Aufguss Championships? Get in touch at aufguss@britishsaunasociety.org.uk