Celebrating 50 years of freestyle legacy: the Austrian Hot Dogger Association marks milestone
May 13, 2025·Freestyle
On May 17, 2025, the Austrian Hot Dogger Association (AFSA) will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the water ramp venue in Vienna. Founded on May 15, 1975, the AFSA was instrumental in introducing freestyle skiing—then a youthful and unconventional discipline—to Austria. The sport has since grown to achieve Olympic status, with Austria contributing several key figures to its global development.
To mark the occasion, past athletes, coaches, and supporters from Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic have been invited to gather. Around 50–60 guests are expected, including former world champions and Olympic gold medalists. This diverse group includes participants from Vienna, Carinthia, Styria, Salzburg, and international guests.
Among the notable names in attendance or honored during the celebration are:
Inge Steiner and Heimo Andretsch, Austrian champions of the 1970s
Thomas Überall, who represented Austria at the 1988 Olympic demonstration in Calgary
Hugo Bonatti, with 14 World Cup podiums
Christian Rijavec, a 7-time World Cup winner and 2-time World Championships silver medalist
The event will also pay tribute to Hans Kaiser, the club’s founder and a long-serving member of the FIS Freestyle Committee, who acted as Technical Delegate at over 50 World Cup and European Cup events.
The festivities, running from 10 AM to 7 PM, will honor not only a half-century of achievements but also the enduring spirit of freestyle skiing in Austria.
FIS Freestyle congratulates the AFSA on this remarkable milestone and extends its best wishes for continued success and inspiration in the years to come.
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