Sarah Anne Richter
Three age-group world records (AG 45): 50 m butterfly 35.6 s, 50 m freestyle 31.0 s, 100 m breaststroke 1:29.0.
Sport & coldReview · Ice swimming
Ice swimming in the Ore Mountains: Zollhaus Open 2023 – German championships with results
Over 100 athletes from eight nations, 3.5 °C water, 30–40 cm of fresh snow and several world records: report, video and all results of the German championships at the Zollhaus lake.
📅25 February 2023
🌍100+ athletes, 8 nations
🌡️3.5 °C water
🏆4 age-group world records
ℹ️
Note: this event has already taken place. Current events, retreats and workshops are in our event overview.
Zollhaus Open 2023
A day of superlatives
0+athletes
0nations
0.5 °Cwater temperature
0 cmfresh snow overnight
Competing: Israel, France, Greece, Morocco, Italy, Czechia, Switzerland and Germany.
World-class ice swimming
Fresh snow, wind and 3.5 °C water
On 25 February 2023 the German ice swimming championships took place at the lake of Landhotel Altes Zollhaus in Neuhermsdorf – the Zollhaus Open 2023. Germany’s best ice swimmers competed, including Sarah Richter, Conny Prasser, Christof Wandratsch, Stefan Jung and Martin Tschepe, plus many age-group world champions.
Set-up the day before was still on green grass – overnight 30–40 cm of snow fell with a bit too much wind. Just what ice swimmers love: lots of cold, then a warm sauna. The medical check for the 1000 m ran 7:30–9:30, the start was at 10. Race director Matthias Hoffmann kept every heat on track, four timekeepers stopped precisely. DJ Chris kept spirits high, mulled wine on the shore, a buffet and the awards at 19:30.
The disciplines
- 1000 m freestyle
- 50 m freestyle
- 50 m butterfly
- 100 m breaststroke
- 200 m freestyle
- 4 × 50 m freestyle relay
- Open swim for everyone
Records & stories
Highlights of the Zollhaus Open
Elke Ortloff
World record in AG 70: 50 m butterfly in 57.5 s.
Effects of cold“Wandi” is back
After a serious bike accident Christof Wandratsch won the 1000 m open in 14:21.
More on sportThe hotelier swims too
Gerrit Curcio (born 1967, formerly SV Cannstatt) won his age group in 50 m freestyle (30.3 s) and butterfly (36.2 s). Son Aaron came second in 50 m freestyle.
Gerrit & IsabelFamily-run & safe
A family festival in ice water
The Zollhaus Open are a family event, run by Gerrit Curcio, his sons Aaron and Noah, family and friends. A 25 m competition pool with four lanes was built in the hotel’s lake. Organisers were Noah and Aaron Curcio of Addicted to Nature – the third edition after two years of Covid break.
The fastest sprint was Marco Gugliuzza (AG 16–29) in 28.3 s – without dive or flip turn, a day after arriving from Sicily. Some visited Moldava, 3 km away, others went snowshoeing (hike to Czechia).
🛟 Safety first
Supported and supervised by DLRG and the Red Cross.
The medical check was led by Dr Alexandre Fuzeau, chief physician of the last world championship.
Right there
The Zollhaus Open video
Feel the atmosphere at the snowy lake.
All times
Results of the Zollhaus Open and German championships 2023
Choose the discipline in the tabs.
| Name | Age group | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierrejean, Tiffany | W16-29 | 14.26,44 | 1 |
| Kolmer, Julia | W16-29 | DNS | - |
| Dispute, Asita | W30-39 | 29.42,29 | 1 |
| Rohatynski, Agnes | W40-49 | 24.01,62 | 1 |
| Jänike, Jaqueline | W60-69 | 20.40,00 | 1 |
| Charalampos, Theodosis | M40-49 | DNS | - |
| Young, Stefan | M50-59 | DNF | - |
| Wandratsch, Christof | M50-59 | 14.21,88 | 1 |
| Runge, Stefan | M50-59 | 14.52,88 | 2 |
| Tschepe, Martin | M50-59 | 16.45,18 | 3 |
| Trommer, Jens | M50-59 | 19.16,31 | 4 |
| Fuzeau, Alexandre | M50-59 | 21.26,15 | 5 |
| Name | Age group | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reschke, Lena | W16-29 | 00.43,25 | 1 |
| Bagdahn-Wegner, Susanne | W30-39 | 00.38,75 | 1 |
| Bigalke, Katharina | W30-39 | 00.42,06 | 2 |
| Piazza, Federica | W30-39 | 00.47,38 | 3 |
| Grabowska, Kamila | W30-39 | 01.00,97 | 4 |
| Kaziuk, Magdalena | W30-39 | 01.22,03 | 5 |
| Dworog, Linda | W30-39 | DNS | - |
| Judge, Sarah Anne | W40-49 | 00.31,03 | 1 |
| Judge, Jana | W40-49 | 00.38,52 | 2 |
| Prasser, Conny | W40-49 | 00.38,75 | 3 |
| Young, Verena | W40-49 | 00.43,14 | 4 |
| Ruth, Annika | W40-49 | 00.49,50 | 5 |
| Moldenhauer, Jenny | W40-49 | 00.56,12 | 6 |
| Bannicke, Katharina | W40-49 | 00.56,28 | 7 |
| Macke-Heider, Tanja | W40-49 | 01.05,90 | 8 |
| Dietrich, Konstanze | W40-49 | DNS | - |
| Brandes, Beate | W50-59 | 00.41,84 | 1 |
| Runge, Kathrin | W50-59 | 00.42,31 | 2 |
| Fischer, Carmen | W50-59 | 00.44,41 | 3 |
| Leonardi, Mariangela | W50-59 | 00.49,35 | 4 |
| Friebel, Ines | W50-59 | 00.49,51 | 5 |
| Cook, Renata | W50-59 | 01.14,22 | 6 |
| Jambor, Marion | W50-59 | DNS | - |
| Döring, Kathrin | W60-69 | 00.44,37 | 1 |
| Jänike, Jaqueline | W60-69 | 00.45,75 | 2 |
| Schmischke, Claudia | W60-69 | 01.14,59 | 3 |
| Ortloff, Elke | W70+ | 00.44,28 | 1 |
| Gugliuzza, Marco | M16-29 | 00.28,32 | 1 |
| Curcio, Aaron | M16-29 | 00.31,26 | 2 |
| Nüßle, Lorin | M16-29 | 00.32,56 | 3 |
| Rudolph, Nils | M16-29 | 00.35,68 | 4 |
| Stiller, Ronny | M30-39 | 00.30,59 | 1 |
| Duha, Robin | M30-39 | 00.33,97 | 2 |
| Ziegler, David | M30-39 | 00.41,94 | 3 |
| Aithbibi, Abdeljalil | M30-39 | DNS | - |
| Judge, Till | M40-49 | 00.32,07 | 1 |
| Mehlis, Stefan | M40-49 | 00.32,50 | 2 |
| Braitner, Shai | M40-49 | 00.33,97 | 3 |
| Bird, Steffen | M40-49 | 00.36,83 | 4 |
| Jenni, Reto | M40-49 | 00.39,06 | 5 |
| Kahlert, Marcel | M40-49 | 00.39,56 | 6 |
| Paegelow, Rado | M40-49 | 00.41,41 | 7 |
| Pillokat, Sven | M40-49 | 00.48,82 | 8 |
| Druschke-Tittel, Tobias | M40-49 | 00.57,09 | 9 |
| Curcio, Gerrit | M50-59 | 00.30,34 | 1 |
| Tschepe, Martin | M50-59 | 00.33,25 | 2 |
| Kühn, Michael | M50-59 | 00.35,94 | 3 |
| Trommer, Jens | M50-59 | 00.36,56 | 4 |
| Voigt, Thomas | M50-59 | 00.42,56 | 5 |
| Dingeldein, Ralf | M50-59 | 00.45,35 | 6 |
| Evers, Karsten | M50-59 | 00.47,16 | 7 |
| Wittwer, Frank | M50-59 | 00.54,37 | 8 |
| Reschke, Erich | M60-69 | 00.48,82 | 1 |
| von Thenen, Volker | M60-69 | 01.16,75 | 2 |
| Name | Age group | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Judge, Sarah Anne | W40-49 | 00.35,62 | 1 |
| Runge, Kathrin | W50-59 | 00.52,82 | 1 |
| Ortloff, Elke | W70+ | 00.57,50 | 1 |
| Gugliuzza, Marco | M16-29 | 00.32,06 | 1 |
| Curcio, Aaron | M16-29 | 00.34,57 | 2 |
| Stiller, Ronny | M30-39 | 00.33,19 | 1 |
| Judge, Till | M40-49 | 00.36,81 | 1 |
| Curcio, Gerrit | M50-59 | 00.36,20 | 1 |
| Tschepe, Martin | M50-59 | 00.37,10 | 2 |
| Runge, Stefan | M50-59 | 00.41,00 | 3 |
| Name | Age group | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierrejean, Tiffany | W16-29 | 01.32,06 | 1 |
| Reschke, Lena | W16-29 | 01.47,28 | 2 |
| Evers, Michelle | W16-29 | 02.06,17 | 3 |
| Kreißig, Anne | W30-39 | 02.27,28 | 1 |
| Dispute, Asita | W30-39 | 02.52,03 | 2 |
| Bigalke, Katharina | W30-39 | DNS | - |
| Judge, Sarah Anne | W40-49 | 01.29,01 | 1 |
| Young, Verena | W40-49 | 02.05,81 | 2 |
| Belter, Mary | W40-49 | 02.15,78 | 3 |
| Günther, Michaela | W40-49 | 02.29,56 | 4 |
| Heller, Claudia | W50-59 | 01.36,03 | 1 |
| Fischer, Carmen | W50-59 | 02.04,85 | 2 |
| Friebel, Ines | W50-59 | 02.12,09 | 3 |
| Jänike, Jaqueline | W60-69 | 01.50,78 | 1 |
| Keinert, Tobias | M16-29 | 01.32,54 | 1 |
| Rudolph, Nils | M16-29 | 01.43,44 | 2 |
| Evers, Melvin | M16-29 | 01.54,06 | 3 |
| Wegner, Stefan | M30-39 | 01.25,00 | 1 |
| Stiller, Ronny | M30-39 | 01.28,37 | 2 |
| Rothermel, Matthias | M30-39 | 01.43,91 | 3 |
| Paegelow, Rado | M40-49 | 01.42,56 | 1 |
| Jenni, Reto | M40-49 | 01.54,27 | 2 |
| Kahlert, Marcel | M40-49 | 02.07,21 | 3 |
| Pillokat, Sven | M40-49 | DNS | - |
| Trommer, Jens | M50-59 | 01.37,66 | 1 |
| Fuzeau, Alexandre | M50-59 | 01.42,72 | 2 |
| Evers, Karsten | M50-59 | 02.09,40 | 3 |
| Bartz, Holger | M50-59 | 02.23,22 | 4 |
| Dingeldein, Ralf | M50-59 | 02.24,19 | 5 |
| Glasses, Steffen | M50-59 | 02.38,69 | 5 |
| Curcio, Gerrit | M50-59 | DNS | - |
| Reschke, Erich | M60-69 | 01.42,90 | 1 |
| von Thenen, Volker | M60-69 | 02.56,91 | 2 |
| Heidrich, Hanno | M70+ | 03.11,13 | 1 |
| Name | Age group | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reschke, Lena | W16-29 | 03.18,97 | 1 |
| Dispute, Asita | W30-39 | 05.39,37 | 1 |
| Judge, Sarah Anne | W40-49 | 02.37,76 | 1 |
| Prasser, Conny | W40-49 | 03.11,90 | 2 |
| Brandes, Beate | W50-59 | 03.15,50 | 1 |
| Runge, Kathrin | W50-59 | 03.19,51 | 2 |
| Leonardi, Mariangela | W50-59 | 04.04,06 | 3 |
| Friebel, Ines | W50-59 | DNS | - |
| Döring, Kathrin | W60-69 | 03.34,85 | 1 |
| Jänike, Jaqueline | W60-69 | 03.48,13 | 2 |
| Ortloff, Elke | W70+ | 03.45,03 | 1 |
| Wiggers, Benno | M16-29 | 03.07,75 | 1 |
| Rudolph, Nils | M16-29 | 03.33,44 | 2 |
| Curcio, Aaron | M16-29 | DNS | - |
| Ziegler, David | M30-39 | 03.50,82 | 1 |
| Rothermel, Matthias | M30-39 | 03.59,60 | 2 |
| Oz, Katz | M30-39 | DNS | - |
| Judge, Till | M40-49 | 02.44,88 | 1 |
| Braitner, Shai | M40-49 | 03.33,00 | 2 |
| Kahlert, Marcel | M40-49 | 03.53,16 | 3 |
| Paegelow, Rado | M40-49 | 04.05,94 | 4 |
| Runge, Stefan | M50-59 | 02.39,97 | 1 |
| Trommer, Jens | M50-59 | 03.07,88 | 2 |
| Young, Stefan | M50-59 | 03.17,87 | 3 |
| Tacke, Reiko | M50-59 | 03.39,03 | 4 |
| Fuzeau, Alexander | M50-59 | 03.54,83 | 5 |
| Wandratsch, Christof | M50-59 | DNS | - |
| Reschke, Erich | M60-69 | 03.28,03 | 1 |
| Name | Age group | Time | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| North-South Polar Bears | - | 02.21,89 | 1 |
| Addicted to Nature | - | 02.50,64 | 2 |
| The one-man bandits | - | 02.51,16 | 3 |
| Ice dolphins Tankumsee | - | 03.00,47 | 4 |
| The ice axes | - | 03.09,07 | 5 |
| Ice luck | - | 03.36,78 | 6 |
| unabashed | - | 03.44,78 | 7 |
| The ice crystals | - | 04.04,72 | 8 |
| Beaver float Pratzschwitz | - | 02.42,32 | without rating only gender represented |
| Roman nuts | - | 02.59,66 | without rating only gender represented |
DNS = did not start · o. W. = not ranked (only one gender represented). More: Nora Curcio’s blog (see sources).
🧊
Fancy ice water? In our Wim Hof workshops you learn to handle cold safely. In summer our natural lake is open for swimming. Torches and ice bath: torch hike.
Wim Hof at the Zollhaus
Breath, cold & nature – in the Ore Mountains
At Landhotel Altes Zollhaus in the Ore Mountains you experience the Wim Hof Method with certified instructors: breathing, outdoor ice baths, nature and warmth in our spa afterwards.
Upcoming dates
Wim Hof workshops
Breath, cold and nature – with certified instructors. All about Wim Hof at the Zollhaus
06.11. - 08.11.2026Wim Hof Method® Weekend with Patrick Weyh
Wim Hof Method Weekend: in-depth theory – breathing sessions – ice baths – hike
Price from 698 eurosDETAILS
08.01. - 10.01.2027Wim Hof Method® Weekend with Isabel & Gerrit
Get to know the Wim Hof Method – with ice bathing, breathing exercises and cold training for more vitality and mental strength.
Price 437 eurosDETAILS
From 22.01. - 26.01.2027Wim Hof Method Journey – 5 Days with Linda & Patrick Weyh
Wim Hof journey: 5 days of breathing, cold, mindset and yoga with Linda & Patrick
Hotel from €82.50 p.p./nightDETAILS
19.02. – 20.02.2027Zollhaus Open 2027 – German Ice Swimming Championships
Deutsche Meisterschaften im Eisschwimmen: 22 Rennen von 50 bis 1000 m bei 2 °C
Anmeldeschluss 10.02.2027DETAILS
vom 05.03. - 07.03.2027Wim Hof Method® Weekend with Isabel & Gerrit
Intensive breathing training · Ice bathing · Guided hikes · In-depth theory · Building mental strength · Handling stress more calmly and promoting well-being.
Price 437 euros DETAILS
When was the Zollhaus Open 2023?
On 25 February 2023 at the lake of Landhotel Altes Zollhaus in Neuhermsdorf.
How cold was the water?
The water dropped to 3.5 °C.
Which world records were set?
Sarah Anne Richter set three age-group records in AG 45, Elke Ortloff one in AG 70.
Can I ice bathe at the Zollhaus?
Yes – safely guided in our Wim Hof workshops.
Conclusion
Cold, community and records
The Zollhaus Open 2023 were an unforgettable snow festival – with world records, family spirit and lots of warmth afterwards. Want to experience cold yourself? Join our Wim Hof workshops.
From the Zollhaus blog
Read more & try it
Sport & performanceRead article
Torch hikeRead article
Wim Hof in the Ore MountainsRead article
Gerrit & IsabelRead article
Wim Hof in the Ore MountainsEffects of coldBreathing techniqueSport & performanceWith Gerrit & IsabelWim Hof weekendAlkaline fasting guideAlkaline fasting in the Ore MountainsRoomsRestaurantWellnessYogaContact
Further sources: Nora Curcio – ice swimming and family time · Addicted to Nature – Eisschwimm-Events · International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) · DLRG – Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft
Ready?
Experience the Wim Hof Method with us
Workshops and weekends with breath, ice and nature in the Ore Mountains.
