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Alexis Munier takes the reins as Editor in Chief of GstaadLife Magazine

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How exactly does a California girl make it up to the Berner Oberland? Via Gstaadstrasse, of course! When I arrived in Zürich in 2003, a fresh-faced writer and opera singer with a hankering for adventure, I rented a room in an old home on Gstaadstrasse.  Who knew that a decade later I’d be coming up and slowing down in the village of Gstaad itself?

I’m thrilled to celebrate my ten-year anniversary in Switzerland with a new position as Editor in Chief of GstaadLife.  GstaadLife really is “the little engine that could”—the only magazine featuring arts and entertainment, events, business, the great outdoors and style in and around Gstaad in English.  It’s a special magazine for a special place, and one to which I’m uniquely suited.

With degrees in music and media, I am the author of nine books and countless articles, which have appeared in publications such as EQUITIES, Harvard Business Review and TIME magazine.  After retiring from the stage to concentrate on my blossoming career as a writer, I spent a decade consulting for international organizations along the Arc lémanique, including most recently, the World Economic Forum.

But enough about me, and more about GstaadLife.

You’ll notice some changes to the magazine as well as our online blog as we transition to a fresh, updated version of GstaadLife.  Don’t miss our summer season print debut June 21, in which you’ll find new feature articles and other content tailored for the savvy Gstaader.  GstaadLife.com will continue to post short articles and summaries throughout the year, so if you haven’t already, subscribe to have them delivered straight to your inbox daily.

I’d like to thank the community for extending me such a warm welcome so far, as well as my predecessor Peter Sonnekus-Williams, in whose capable hands GstaadLife grew into the magazine it is today.  I look forward to meeting many of you in the very near future, but in the meantime, I’d be pleased to hear from you by phone or email and gather your insights on GstaadLife and Gstaad living. 

All best,

Alexis Munier

Editor in Chief

 


Going for Baroque at Festival La Folia

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The 13th edition of Festival La Folia brings upcoming stars and tried-and-true favourites to Rougemont’s beloved early music festival. La Folia 2013 takes its theme ‘Beyond the Alps’, from the Austrian courts of yesteryear, where centuries ago enlightened royals financed in-house composers and orchestras par excellence.

Highlights of the festival include tonight’s opening Concert Brisé with William Dongois and the Sunday, May 19 concert featuring star violinist Eva Saladin. Saladin returns to La Folia with her colleague at Schola Cantorum Basiliensis soprano Jenny Högström to present the programme ‘Amanti Ignoranti—Italians from the North’. Don’t miss Ruedi Lutz’s signature energy and style come alive on Monday, May 20, when he’ll be improvising with two students from the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis on festival president Jean-Michel Chabloz’s ‘four seasons’ harpsichord.

While the festival brings big names like Monteverdi and Gesualdo to the public, other composers might not be well-known to most classical music fans. Early music enthusiasts, however, will delight in four days of works by von Biber, Muffat and Schmelzer, amongst others.

All concerts will be held in Rougemont’s Saint-Nicolas Church. Tickets range from 20 to 45 francs and may be reserved online or by phone. For more information please visit Festival La Folia.

At 100, Gstaad Palace treats locals to birthday bash and more

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The Gstaad Palace will celebrate its 100th anniversary in grand style with a series of swell—and sustainable—activities throughout the year.  Confirmed events include a two-day Open House, during which locals are invited to explore the landmark hotel.  The December 7 and 8 festivities will include live music, food, and drink.

To honor its history, the hotel has greater community visions in mind as well. With an eye towards the next 100 years, the Gstaad Palace will reforest a nearby area destroyed by the 1999 cyclone Lothar. In April, it began a two-phase project to plant over 1,200 trees and bushes, and develop a picnic site.  A hiking trail leading from the Gstaad Palace to the site is also under construction; it will open this summer.

Study shows Swiss prefer locally raised meat

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The Swiss love their beef—literally.  According to a recent study by Proviande, the country’s meat industry network, more than 75 percent of meat consumed comes from animals raised right here in Switzerland. Despite the fact that it’s often more expensive, locally produced meat enjoys a reputation for quality and safety that outweighs its price.

This reputation is largely deserved. Strict regulations implemented and policed by several different government agencies have helped Switzerland retain its image as a first-class producer of safe and delicious meat, even as other European countries suffer frequent scandals involving meat and meat products. For example, in the recent horsemeat scandal involving Britain, France, Poland and others, Switzerland escaped nearly unscathed.   

The Swiss eat more than 50 kilos of meat per person annually, mostly in the form of pork. Chicken is gaining popularity, as consumers opt for lower-fat options to the traditional pork and beef.  Tastes here differ from region to region as well.  In Romandie, residents dine on more poultry and beef, while in German-speaking cantons, locals prefer sausage and charcuterie. In Saanenland, residents and tourists alike remain loyal to the local specialty, air-dried Simmental beef.

April showers bring May snowflakes

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Photo by Januaria Piromallo

Temperatures hovered at freezing this morning as the Saanenland awoke to 5 cm of fresh snow.  While slightly warmer weather is expected as the weekend approaches, residents must content themselves with highs of 5 to 10 degrees Celsius through Friday.  According to MeteoSwiss, this spring is the second-wettest on record since monitoring began in 1979. 

Effects of High Court's Ruling on Secondary Home Initiative Remain Unclear

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Profile Gstaad

In a recent decision, Switzerland’s Federal Court ruled that the controversial secondary home initiative would go into effect March 11, 2012, the date voters approved the measure to limit holiday homes to a maximum of 20% of a commune.  This negates the implementation date of January 1, 2013 named earlier by the Administrative Court in Canton Graubünden, and widely assumed to be applicable in other cantons.

This final ruling stops all construction on secondary residences with permits issued March 2012 and beyond. Building permits had soared last year as homebuyers and builders scrambled to build housing before the law went into effect. This moratorium is a move many believe will jeopardize not only the construction industry, but the entire social fabric of the region.

The argument for secondary residences

“My first thought was, it can’t be true,” says Ruedi Trachsel, mayor of Lauenen, who expressed shock and disbelief at the ruling.  Others voiced similarly negative views, including Bernese government official Christoph Neuhaus, who stated in an SRF1 interview that Canton Bern has once again hampered business and tourism development.

Nearly half of all dwellings in the Saanenland are secondary homes. The local economy relies heavily on the business generated by the building and maintenance of these homes, as well as the money that the homeowners pour into the community while present.

 “When secondary residence owners are in the region,” says Hans-Peter Spychiger, business owner and former president of the Saanenland Chamber of Commerce. “They use local infrastructure extensively and support local restaurants, stores and businesses.”

The loss of this this critical revenue does not sit well with many residents of the Saanenland. Coupled with a decline in tax revenues and decreased investment in local sports and cultural activities, the effects of the secondary home initiative could prove exceptionally challenging for the Gstaad area.

Silver lining to the potential economic consequences

Some experts disagree, including environmentalist Franz Weber and his organisation Helvetia Nostra, who pioneered the initiative.  They believe despite the economic challenges, the law is needed to preserve Switzerland’s natural beauty from overbuilding.  Additionally, some local builders have stated that although jobs may be lost, a majority of those employed in the construction industry are temporary or seasonal workers from Europe; in other words, permanent Swiss residents will not bear the brunt of the new unemployment numbers.

 “We just don’t know exactly how the scenario will play out,” confesses Hans-Peter Zingre, owner of Zingre Chaletbau in Saanen, “but we can’t forget there’s a good side to the cap on secondary homes.  We simply couldn’t have continued to build at the rate we’ve had for the past two decades—there wouldn’t be much land left. Most important is staying positive and dealing with the issues created by the initiative as they develop.”

For a deeper look into the Federal Court’s ruling and its direct impact on the community, please see the upcoming June 21 print edition of GstaadLife, available in partner hotels and kiosks.

Crème de la crème: Gstaad boasts 11 of Switzerland's best hotels

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The newspaper SonntagsZeitung has released its annual hotel ratings, with Gstaad-area hotels earning top marks. Local hotels topped four of five categories: holiday hotels, city hotels, wellness hotels family hotels and ‘nice price’ holiday hotels.  The Gstaad Palace proves it’s still a destination in itself with 3rd place as a holiday hotel, while luxury newcomer The Alpina Gstaad made 8th.  In the wellness category, the Wellness & Spa Hotel Ermitage Schönried placed 3rd; newly renovated Golfhotel Les Hauts de Gstaad & Spa Saanenmöser was not far behind at 12th.  Proving Gstaad is indeed affordable, four hotels were deemed ‘nice price’, including Romantik Hotel Hornberg Saanenmöser (7th), Hotel Alpine Lodge Saanen (17th), Hotel Kernen Schönried (19th), and Hotel Alphorn Gstaad (34th). Families take note, Steigenberger Alpenhotel and Spa remains a top choice with the little ones in tow, earning 10th in the family hotel category.

Switzerland world's fifth-happiest nation

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Photo © Gstaad Saanenland Tourism: Despite an abundance of outdoor activities, the Swiss spend less time on leisure then people in other OECD countries.

Happy is as happy does

The people of Switzerland are among the happiest in the world—even though they spend less time 'playing' and more time working, according to a new report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The OECD’s Better Life Index identifies 11 dimensions as ‘essential to well-being’ including health, education, environment, security, income and personal satisfaction, amongst others.  Disposable income, while originally assumed to be a decisive factor, does not point to directly to increased happiness.

Switzerland boasts 5th place on the 2013 list of happiest countries, which includes data from the 34 OECD members as well as partner countries Brazil and Russia.  Australia tops the list for the third year running, while the nation with the highest disposable income, the United States, dropped three places to 14th

Work = Happiness 

For the Swiss, the study’s results indicate that it might not be lifestyle or health which makes them happy, but employment.  The country ranks 4th place in the disposable income category and has one of the lowest unemployment rates.  Yet, Swiss residents rated their ‘life satisfaction’ higher than those of any other nation, despite coming in at a staggeringly low 18th in terms of ‘time devoted to leisure and personal care’. 

Are the Swiss happiest when working? Is this mentality what keeps them satisfied despite less time for friends or family, and a work-life balance tipped favourably on the side of employers?

***

GSTAADLIFE wants to hear from you.  If you’re an expat or regular visitor, what about Switzerland, or the Saanenland in particular, makes you smile? We encourage you to leave your opinion in the commentary area below.

 


The grass is always greener--Saanenland's cows head to their summer digs

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Photo (Anita Moser): The Hauswirth family leads their herd toward the Tschärzis.

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This week, local cows began their steep march to greener pastures high in the Alps.  A blast of cold weather had kept the herds from making the trip two weeks ago, as scheduled. Aufalpfahrt, as it’s known in German, brings the milk-producing bovines to the Alps for several months of summer grazing. The combination of sweet grass, herbs and flowers gives their cheese, and the milk from which it is produced, a unique fragrance and taste.   

12-Year-Old Paints the Cosmos Colourful

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Juffali

By Januaria Piromallo

Planet Outburst.

Lava Fusion.

Earth Evolution.

These are just some of the contemporary works painted by precocious young artist Sirina Juffali. The 12-year-old Saudi-American schoolgirl has captured the attention of the art world with her bright and whimsical creations—starting right here in Gstaad.

First Exhibition a Big Hit

The Alpina Gstaad hosted Juffali’s first exhibition in February of this year, where understated luxury set a fine backdrop for her colourful paintings to come alive.  For these unique pieces, Juffali worked liberally with glitter paints, which make collages with real flowers and leaves sparkle--proving she’s still a kid at heart.

Priced at between 350 and 600 francs each, the little masterpieces sold out quickly.  With maturity beyond her years, Juffali is grateful for her support network and the chance to pursue her artistic passion freely, but very aware that other children aren’t as fortunate. Donating all profits to the charity Innocents en Danger, Juffali reminds us that the greatest gift is helping others.

“I’m so lucky to have my family’s support,” says Juffali, “I’d like the money raised to help kids who aren’t so lucky pursue their dreams, too.”

Juffali’s Short Road to Success

Juffali takes her creative work, what she calls her ‘mission’, very seriously. She started to draw and paint at the age of three, stunning her teachers with artwork that could have been mistaken for a much older child. They did not need to encourage her, as Juffali was already determined to pursue her career as a YBA (Young British Artist).

The daughter of Saudi businessman Walid Juffali and American/Canadian supermodel Christina Estrada, Sirina Juffali lives in London, where she attends an international school. Mom Christina has cheered Jufffali from the start, helping to organize exhibitions and watch her develop into the talented artist she is today.

"The beauty of my mother was the first thing that I painted,” smiles Juffali, “She has been my muse, my supporter, my promoter.”

The determination of young artist Sirina Juffali proves Oscar Wilde wrong: Youth is not wasted on the young. Not even yet a teenager, Juffali has clear ideas about where she’s headed next: Art Basel.  When asked which artist she’d like most to resemble, she sweetly replies, "I only want to be myself".  With talent like this, it’s the only answer she needs.

Baker-Turned-Politician Heinz Brand Scores Brownie Points with Locals

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The Sweet Smell of Success

What do pastry and politics have in common? Here in Gstaad, it’s Heinz Brand, the baker who traded bread for bureaucracy when he retired from business and ran for office.  Recently Heinz Brand sat down with GSTAADLIFE on the Hotel Bernerhof’s terrace to discuss his remarkable life in and out of politics, and his current and future plans for the betterment of the Saanenland.

 

GSTAADLIFE:  As a young man, you left the Alps and lived and worked along Lake Biel. What brought you back to the Saanenland?

Heinz Brand: I’ve always had a lust for adventure, so after my schooling in Gstaad I took the first opportunity I could to attend business school in La Neuveville. Same canton, sure, but different language, different culture! After earning my business diploma I wanted to continue my studies and pursue my dream of becoming a doctor or government official.  But life doesn’t always turn out as planned.  For family reasons, I came back to the Saanenland and took over my parents’ business—the Brand Bakery.

 

GL: How did you make the unlikely transition from successful bakery owner to politician?

HB: I took over the family business with one goal in mind—to retire at 50 (he says with a smile).  It was a goal I set for myself, a personal compromise.  I would run the bakery well and expand the business to allow for retirement at a relatively young age—and I would then pursue my earlier professional dreams.  And through hard work and determination, I made it happen. I wouldn’t give up on my dreams. I’m a stubborn man, or so my wife says.

 

GL: Tell us about your current role and position in the local government.

HB: I have held the position of Gemeinderat (roughly the equivalent of Councilman) since 2007. My current role puts me in charge of city planning and construction, which along with building infrastructure also includes building consensus in the community.

 

GL: There are a lot of changes (and cranes!), in the air for Saanen these days. What are biggest items on the town’s development agenda?

HB:  Saanen is evolving on a daily basis. And as Gemeinderat, I’m very proud to be a part of that development.  As you know, the Sanona project is designed to ensure sustainable, vibrant town.  The top items on our to-do list are:

1. Implementing industrial zones;  

2.  Renovating the Dorfrütti Zentralwäscherei (centralized laundry center for hotels); and

3. Finishing the parking garage in Saanen, which will facilitate access to the town and increase local business.

 

GL: Can you tell us more about the proposed zoning changes in Gstaad and Saanen? Is this good or bad news for local businesses?

HB: We recognized the need for special industrial/production zones in the two towns some time ago, and have worked tirelessly to find available land. Getting the business community on board was also an important step, as it requires relocation on their part.  New zones “Tomi” (Gstaad) and “Dorfrütti”(Saanen) will accommodate industry, so that the historic villages can be preserved in their entirety for both residents and tourists.  In other words, plenty of space for industry to grow—with no more eye-sores.

 

GL: Two big construction items are the Le Rosey project in Schönried and the Gstaad Sportzentrum. What is their current status?

HB:  Le Rosey was finally approved a few months ago. The next step is waiting for a construction permit from the Canton of Bern (see a detailed summary of the approval in GSTAADLIFE's June 21 print edition).

 Gstaad Sportzentrum is planning the renovation of the main building to include first-class equipment and bright fitness rooms.  The locker areas and walkways will be modernized as well. Much of the facility hasn’t been changed in more than forty years—including the pool. It’s time to renovate completely and even construct part of it outdoors.  The community also plans to build two chalets on the Sportzentrum’s property, where we can house sports teams recruited to stay and train in Gstaad.

 

GL: Do you have any personal ideas for making Saanen a more attractive place to live that you can share?

HB: I would like to see more people in the village itself, at all hours. By encouraging outdoor socializing, we could make this a reality.  Imagine if all the bars, restaurants, bakeries, cafés and hotels had terraces—people could sit out and enjoy the warm summer and clear autumn seasons here, while local businesses profited as well. 

Another idea is to bring back vital small shops onto Saanen’s main street. Demand is high enough that a butcher, for example, could make a good living there.  The trick is finding someone respected locally, who would not only open a new business, but would contribute to the social fabric of the village.

 

GL: There has been a lot of discussion lately concerning the Secondary Home Initiative and its possible effects on the region. Anything to add that hasn’t already been said?

HB: What’s done is done; the Federal Court has made a decision and we must respect that, however unwillingly.  While there are some merits to the Secondary Home Initiative, here in Saanen we had developed and already implemented a wiser plan for reducing the number of so-called “cold beds.”  Rather than limiting the total percentage of secondary homes, it limited percentages in all new construction to 70% for local residents and 30% for secondary residents. Buildings had be a mix of residence types, allowing for locals to benefit from reduced housing cost as well (which is associated with this type of classification).

 

GL: Besides having your roots here, what do you like best about the Saanenland and what has kept you here even after retirement?

HB: I love the Saanenland for both the kindness of its people and the beautiful natural surroundings—it’s my home.  However, now that I’m “mostly” retired, my wife and I can indulge our love of travel. Last year we visited Egypt, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, and we’re already planning our next adventure to somewhere equally as exotic.

 

GL: As a well-liked and respected politician who’s considered an asset to the local government, is there any truth to the rumour that you may run for higher office?

HB: I’m more than happy with my current role. In fact, there’s so much more I’d like to do for development in the Saanenland that I couldn’t leave my Gemeinderat position just yet.  My boss, Aldo Kropf, does an excellent job as Gemeindepräsident, and I’ve been fortunate to learn a lot under his tutelage. But never say never….

Swiss Fight Club--Gstaad Hosts Bernese Oberland Wrestling Festival June 15-16

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This weekend fans can support both upcoming and experienced wrestlers with a passion for Schwingen, as it’s known in German.

The annual Bernese Oberland Wrestling Festival begins Saturday, June 15 in Gstaad’s Center Court with an assortment of high-spirited activities.

The youth wrestling tournament runs until 5 pm Saturday, followed by a dance and opening party at 8 pm.  The event will feature local delicacies, yodellers and a live band.

The adult competition will be held from 7:30 am onwards on Sunday, June 16, with a closing ceremony at 5 pm.  It will showcase local talents as well as special guest wrestlers from other cantons.

 

 

 

Gyms Are Dead, but the Hills Are Alive

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By Mandolyna Theodoracopulos

Gym rats from Los Angeles all the way to Gstaad are as addicted to fitness as some people are to drugs and alcohol, though they manage to be more annoying and a lot less fun. People love to say they are either coming from, or going to, the gym. Even worse, they often walk around in their fitness clothes as though this were a suitable way to appear in public.

Treadmills are like hamster wheels. Gyms smell like sweat and are full of people you don’t want to see, unless you fancy the muscly type. The bathrooms and saunas are breeding grounds for verrucas and other ghastly microbes requiring medical treatment. On top of all that, you have to pay for it. Some gyms are so outrageously expensive that one could feed a whole tribe for a year on the monthly fees alone. 

Yet for some reason, many people still love going to the gym. Is it the adrenaline they crave? Are they merely staying fit? A bit vain? Or are they escaping some sort of weighty obligation like child-rearing?

Probably all of the above. And I don’t blame them. I only wonder how they manage, considering all of gym life’s negative aspects. Why sweat it out in these expensive dungeons when all you need do to stay fit is to get outside and take a walk, ride, or run in the park?

I am no fitness freak, although I do like to exercise outdoors. I spent years going to a gym, taking yoga classes, sweating up a storm at Barry’s Boot Camp, and taking aerobic dance classes to get in shape, but I don’t anymore. Nothing beats a bit of fresh air. Whether that means swimming, playing tennis, walking up a mountain, cycling, skiing or langlaufing, exercise should really be taken outdoors.

If you are lucky enough to live or spend time in Gstaad, you have innumerable choices right outside your door. This year, an outdoor boot camp will be offered through the Gstaad Palace. It only costs five grand per week, but at least you get to stay at the Palace. Or you could try and beat your own record by doing the Taki Cup over and over again, if you are a member of the Eagle Club (and even if you are not). The Taki Cup involves climbing the Wasserngrat on foot in summer and on snowshoes in winter. The best time is somewhere under 45 minutes.

My record is abominable – it usually takes me the better part of a day to get up there, but I enjoy it nevertheless. I shan’t try and beat the record lest I make one of our outrageously fit male climbers look bad. So don’t worry, boys, I won’t be catching up anytime soon. 

Madonna, on the other hand, might catch up, despite her age and apparently exhausting sex life. She’s the ultimate fitness freak and seems to have taken a liking to our little valley. Fortunately, she isn’t yet a club member. But who knows? She should learn how to ski first on the baby slopes at the Eggli, where she has been photographed taking a few nosedives.

Despite the weirdest weather and longest winter I have ever known – it snowed in Gstaad as late as early June – now the sun is shining and we can all get in better shape. Better yet, we can get out of the gym and up the mountain before we end up looking and smelling like the love child of Borat and a female bodybuilder. 

Gyms are dead. But the hills are alive.

***

Find columns and opinion pieces in the new Last Word section of GSTAADLIFE.

LIfe's a Beach for the Gstaad Grand Slam

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Photo: Sports Events Gstaad 

The world’s best beach volleyball players will hit the sand at the annual

Gstaad Grand Slam July 9 – 14.

Always a draw given its generous $480,000 purse and unique locale, this year’s Grand Slam will attract even more of the sport’s top athletes, as they’ll already be in the neighborhood, attending the World Championships in Poland the week beforehand. That includes the 2012 Olympic Champions and the new 2013 World Champions as well. What’s more, the event will give fans of the Swiss teams, many of whose players retired last year after the Olympics, a chance to encourage young talent and see their new teams in action.

“Olympic champion Julius Brink considers our Grand Slam a welcome tradition,” says Ruedi Kunz, tournament director, “He has already booked the cozy apartment in Saanen where he’s been staying for ten years now. Players tell me coming back to Gstaad year after year feels a little bit like coming home.”

 

World Tour comes to town 

The Gstaad Grand Slam is one of eleven events in the World Tour, pulling in professional beach volleyball players from around the globe. Given its mountainous backdrop and quaint village feel, Gstaad stands in stark contrast to other Grand Slams, which are played in urban locales like Beijing, Sao Paulo and Rome. 

The brainchild of local businessman Ruedi Kunz and his wife, former Swiss national team beach volleyball star Mägi, the Gstaad Grand Slam has won the hearts of players and fans alike since its inception in 2000. Little more than a decade later, Gstaad is considered one of the favourite Grand Slams by adoring crowds who travel the world just to be here for the weeklong event. 

The event has come a long way since its beginnings as a women’s-only tournament. That first year the weather was unseasonably cold, summer having vanished into the thin Alpine air. It was so frigid that the Brazilian team asked for a tub of hot water to warm their feet during breaks. In 2001, the Gstaad Grand Slam expanded further to include men’s teams, and even hosted the 2007 World Championships.

 

Red Bull, Zumba and more

No matter what the weather, participants should play and party in style at this year’s Gstaad Grand Slam. Red Bull will host the bar, promoting its glossy RedBulletin magazine. DJs will spin during the weekend for everyone’s listening, lounging and dancing pleasure. Thursday evening, a Zumba party will take over the center court – complete with free introductory classes. At Sunday’s lunch break, the Swiss pop-rock star Marc Sway will perform a free concert for the whole crowd. 

And breaking with tradition, the Gstaad Grand Slam 2013 will save the best for last, hosting both the men’s and women’s finals on the last day of the tournament, Sunday, July 14. 

 

Survey Says Gstaad Boasts a Dozen of Switzerland's Best Hotels

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The newspaper SonntagsZeitung has released their annual hotel ratings, with Gstaad-area hotels earning top marks. 

Local hotels topped four of five categories: holiday hotels, city hotels, wellness hotels family hotels and ‘nice price’ holiday hotels. The Gstaad Palace proves it’s still a destination in itself with 3rd place as a holiday hotel, while luxury newcomer The Alpina Gstaad made 8th. At numbers 12 and 22, respectively, came the Grand Hotel Park Gstaad and Grand Hotel Bellevue Gstaad. 

In the wellness category, the Wellness & Spa Hotel Ermitage Schönried placed 3rd; newly renovated GOLFHOTEL Les Hauts de Gstaad & Spa Saanenmöser was not far behind at 12th

Proving Gstaad is indeed affordable, four hotels were deemed ‘nice price’, including Romantik Hotel Hornberg Saanenmöser (7th), Hotel Alpine Lodge Saanen (17th), Hotel Kernen Schönried (19th), and Hotel Alphorn Gstaad (34th).

Families take note, Steigenberger Alpenhotel and Spa, as well as Lauenen’s Alpenland, are top choices with the little ones in tow, earning 10th and 19th in the family hotel category.


Take a Hike: Höhe Wispile--Chrine--Lauenensee

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Photo: Gstaad Saanenland Tourism

GSTAADLIFE Recommends:

Summer has finally arrived and there’s no better way to inaugurate the season than with a hike to its most beautiful lake, the Lauenensee. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time, or rediscover it every year, you’ll find clear blue waters surrounded by breath-taking peaks. 

The journey begins with a cable car trip up to the top of Wispile – Gstaad’s very own ‘Pleasure Mountain’. After an hour or so’s relatively level hike to the Chrine Pass, you’ll dip steeply downwards another 560 m before arriving at the Lauenensee. There you can rent a boat, dine at the Restaurant Lauenensee, or discover the Tungelschuss waterfall and nature preserve. 

The 12-kilometer hike takes three hours and is appropriate for all ages. Buses regularly make the trip back down to Gstaad. For detailed information please see www.gstaad.ch or www.gps-tracks.com.

 

 

Gstaad Hosts Peking-Paris Vintage Car Rally for the First Time

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Photo: Gstaad Palace Hotel

On the evening of June 27, the 100 plus vintage cars participating in the Peking-Paris Rally arrived at the Gstaad Palace Hotel to roars from the small but loyal crowd that had gathered.  Despite the nearly 12,000 km of total travel, including large swathes in China, Mongolia and Russia without paved roads, the drivers were all smiles.  

For the very first time, the rally has featured travel through Switzerland with an overnight stop in Gstaad. The man with the plan to make Gstaad a highlight of the Peking-Paris journey? None other than local vintage car enthusiast Franco Lupi. 

Mr Lupi grew up in Gstaad and trained at top establishments in the hospitality and tourism industry before embarking on his career as a vintage car specialist and rally organizer.  He was kind enough to sit for an interview with GSTAADLIFE and the Anzeiger von Saanen’s Michael Föhn not long after arriving in a Porsche 911, 1965 SWB at the landmark hotel. 

 

GSTAADLIFE: Mr Lupi, why were you the right choice for managing this year’s Swiss portion of the rally?

Franco Lupi:  I know this rally like the back of my hand; I’ve been privileged enough to maintain a close relationship with the organizers and they have faith in my abilities.

 

GL: What was the feedback from the drivers about the trip through Saanenland?

FL: The many rally participants and personnel stayed at three local hotels: the Gstaad Palace, Arc-en-ciel and Alpina Gstaad.  They all commented on how beautiful the region was, and how they’d like to come back and spend a few days holiday here at some point in the future.  The drivers surely enjoyed their last night in these gorgeous luxury hotels in such a natural setting, as the next night was spent in a budget Hotel Ibis in Troyes, France!

 

GL: When a participant wants to complete the full rally alone, what kind of car would you recommend?

FL: Surprisingly, cars built before WWII are sturdier than the later models. Some of the best brands are Bentley, Lagonda and Rolls-Royce; the models are well-built and their big cc engines hold up well under the pressures of off-road driving.  My insider’s tip for a cheap, yet sturdy car is the Chevrolet Fangio Coupé, named after the famous driver Juan Manuel Fangio.

 

GL: Which cars would you dissuade a first-time driver from using?

FL: Models from the 1950’s and 60’s must be very well-built to survive the rally, otherwise they present many challenges. The heavy vibrations, especially in the difficult Mongolian section of the rally, will test the vehicles to their limits, resulting in many defective parts.

 

GL: Is the trip really as unbelievable as so many participants describe?

FL: Yes, it is—it’s the ultimate vintage car adventure!

 

“Altitude” Both Name and Theme of 2013 Alt. +1000 Festival

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Photo: Valentina Suter

In its third season, this festival of contemporary photography welcomes twenty artists from Switzerland and around the world to the heart of the Pays d’Enhaut. Twelve exhibitions, staged amid the traditional architecture of the Rossinière area, offer visitors the chance to take a picturesque stroll through this unspoilt village.

24-year old Bernese Valentina Suter has been selected as one of the five finalists of Alt+1000’s competition for photographers under the age of 40.  Her stunning prints feature the Gstaad Palace Hotel in the series Palace--A Scenario of High Society. Cyril Porchet, of Geneva, is another Swiss who has made the finals. 

Their works will be shown in conjunction with those by professional artists Simon Norfolk, winner of the 4th Prix Pictet Commission in 2012, and Genevan photographer Nicolas Crispini. Vintage fans take note—Swissair posters from photographer Georg Gerster, whose aerial views left their mark on the 1970-1990’s, will be gathered and exhibited for the first time in Switzerland. 

The Alt+1000 Festival runs July 13 to September 22—exhibitions are scattered throughout the village of Rossinière. For more information please visit www.plus1000.ch.

The Marbella Destination Wedding, Gstaad-Style

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Photo and text by: Januaria Piromallo

 

The beautiful bride was from Gstaad.

The handsome groom was from Spain.

The fairy-tale two-day wedding extravaganza was on Trocadero beach in Marbella-complete with sangria and paella, flamenco, thousands of rose petals and a magnificent three-tier wedding cake. Olivia Wheatcroft floated down the aisle in a dazzling cloud of white tulle designed by Blumarine, attended by bridesmaids wearing cotton candy pink.  

The 26-year-old half Canadian, half Swedish jewelry designer and ski instructor grew up in Gstaad.  Olivia spent her primary schooling at the John F Kennedy School in Saanen, and then later finished her diploma at Institut Le Rosey. She met prominent Spanish real estate developer Pedro Rodriguez at the Gstaad Palace Hotel’s Greengo nightclub one night—and it was love at first sight.

A year later, Olivia's mother and stepfather, Sally and Julien Donn, threw the destination wedding of a lifetime in Marbella and invited all their friends from Gstaad, including Brigitta Notz, Michelle Nussbaumer, Kay Matti, amongst others (too long a list to print). A good time was had by all at this magical—and very hot!—party on the beach.

 

 

Cartoon by Oliver Preston

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                “Darling, there’s something I need to tell you...”

 

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