The II Aufguss Championship of Estonian Sauna Masters brings three days of top-level sauna artistry to Elamus Spa

On 13–15 June 2025 the II Aufguss Championship of Estonian Sauna Masters takes place at Elamus Spa in Mustamäe, Tallinn. This is a unique event during which 12 Estonian sauna masters take the stage to offer the audience and the judges atmospheric sauna shows.

Over the three days visitors can take part in 12 solo and 3 team shows. Each sauna show lasts 10–15 minutes and combines masterful towel technique, the art of using aromas, storytelling skill and the creation of a sauna experience the audience can enjoy. The winners of the championship get the chance to represent Estonia at the Aufguss World Championships taking place in Italy in September. The Aufguss shows are judged by international judges from Hungary, Denmark, Norway, Poland and the Czech Republic.

The winners of the championship get the chance to represent Estonia at the Aufguss World Championships taking place in Italy in September.

All sauna lovers are welcome to cheer at the Aufguss Championship. There is a separate entrance ticket for the competition. The sauna shows take place at Elamus Spa, in the Baltics’ largest ritual sauna, which holds over 100 bathers, is equipped with sound, light and video technology, and where a 4-metre-long stove heats the room to 75 degrees.

The participants of the II Aufguss Championship of Estonian Sauna Masters:

The 22-year-old sauna master Timmu Viilup has already worked as a sauna master for a year and a half. Before becoming a sauna master, Timmu worked in construction. Today, alongside the profession of sauna master, he also organises various events. When Timmu is not busy in the sauna, he also enjoys making music, running and hiking. Timmu’s competition story, which comes from life itself, tells of a problem that touches all of us quite closely, with a little fantasy added to spice the story up.

The 49-year-old Kaupo Sõrmus is an Elamus Spa sauna master who has worked as a steam master for two years already. Alongside his everyday work as a sauna master, Kaupo also runs sauna rituals at festivals and camps and teaches people to make friends with cold water – he is a passionate winter swimmer and gladly shares his experiences with others. In Kaupo’s everyday life, yoga and mental and physical balance hold an important place. He draws inspiration from trips to warm, distant places where he discovers local cultures and sauna traditions. Kaupo’s competition story is inspired by the TV show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?”.

The 28-year-old sauna master Hanna-Lisett Koppel has worked as a sauna master since 2019. Alongside her sauna work she also works as a barmaid and waitress, having previously worked as a barista, a project manager’s assistant, a bookseller and a freelancer. Hanna-Lisett is a great reading enthusiast who always has a book at hand, and at the moment she is writing her first novel. In addition to the sauna, reading and writing, Hanna-Lisett also enjoys 80s horror films and spending time with her cats, friends and loved ones. Her competition story “Dollhouse” is about freedom and the courage to break out of the frames created by society and live by your own rules.

The 19-year-old Nora Katreen Harik is Elamus Spa’s newest sauna master, who has held this profession for only three months. Nora, who came to the steam room from the dance floor, recently finished secondary school and performed in the summer as an entertainment programme dancer on Tallink Baltic Queen. Dance has been part of her life for 14 years already and it accompanies her in the sauna too, where the power of movement is felt in every Aufguss ritual. Nora’s competition programme came about by itself, bringing together the dance world she is comfortable in and the cabaret close to her heart, and creating around it a deep and slightly dark story meant to offer viewers an experience they will not soon forget.

The 26-year-old Sander Lõhmus has worked as a sauna master for 2.5 years. Before arriving at the profession of sauna master he worked as an auditor of all things. When Sander is not in the sauna, he enjoys board and video games – it is precisely these hobbies that give him joy and variety. Sander’s competition story carries an important message: when you sometimes feel lonely and cannot find companions, you have to take the reins into your own hands and solve the situation yourself.

The 24-year-old Kaur Erik Pääsuke is an Elamus Spa sauna master who has held the profession of sauna master for 8 months. Alongside his sauna work Kaur Erik makes music and writes songs, and in his free time he enjoys fishing, disc golf and video games. Kaur Erik’s competition story tells of the deep bond between a human and a dog – a relationship that is special and unrepeatable, though unfortunately too short. The message of the story is to learn to value the moments that have been and to look with gratitude towards those still ahead.

The 25-year-old Frederik Vilms-Jamsa has worked as an Elamus Spa sauna master since autumn 2024. Alongside his sauna work he is involved in entrepreneurship, web design and game design. In his free time Frederik enjoys watching and playing basketball, reading, running, computer games and discovering new places. His competition story tells of a shipwrecked man drifting on a raft towards hopelessness.

The 30-year-old Karl-Peeter Kangur has worked as a sauna master for almost 5 years already. Before discovering the sauna world he has worked in a bar, as a courier, a waiter, a berry seller and a stand builder at the Estonian Fairs Centre. Karl-Peeter’s interests also include basketball, drawing, travelling and enjoying life. His competition story is on an Estonian theme, and although Karl-Peeter reveals no more about it today, he hints that the idea was born thanks to his own family.

The 22-year-old Ksenia Kolkina is the head of Elamus Spa’s sauna masters and has worked as a sauna master for a year and a half already. Before becoming a sauna master she worked for a year as a nurse at the North Estonia Medical Centre. What gives Ksenia the most joy is cooking and culinary art, and it is in the kitchen that she feels truly alive. Her competition story tells of working at the hospital – of the hard moments, the tension and the trials there, and of her own determination that helped her get through those moments.

The 26-year-old Oliver Raus has worked as a sauna master for over 2.5 years already. Before becoming a sauna master Oliver was a home-brewing enthusiast, running a small shop, selling home-brewing supplies, giving advice and also making beer and cider himself. Oliver’s greatest passion is music – he sings, does throat singing and overtone singing, plays guitar and enjoys everything that gladdens the ear. In addition, Oliver reads science fiction, plays computer games and D&D. This year’s competition story is dedicated to the people’s amusement – the story is simpler and more playful than last year’s, when he wanted to make people think more deeply. He drew inspiration from hours of listening to pirate and sailor songs, thanks to which a story was born that offers the audience a truly adventurous experience.

The 39-year-old Ivan Hudik has worked as a sauna master since September 2024. In addition to the sauna world he already has years of experience in small business – Ivan is the founder of the well-known Vaala Kohvik and Kodused Pirukad in Rakvere, and he is also developing the brand Poke Paus, which offers poke bowls. Although sauna work may seem a slightly unexpected choice, Ivan has a great interest in saunas and different sauna traditions. He is fascinated by the sauna’s effect on a person’s physical, mental and emotional health. In his free time Ivan enjoys watching basketball, reading books, watching films and travelling with his family. His competition story is a fairy tale with a deep message, telling of goodness and of the choice we often face – whether to help others while losing something valuable yourself, or to stand aside. Ivan believes that goodness always comes back around and that without goodness the world becomes colder and crueller.

The 28-year-old Karl Robert Reinart is a true veteran of the sauna world – he has worked as a sauna master for 8.5 years already, of which the last two he has dedicated to Aufguss. His sauna-related work began as a student, when Karl Robert was looking for a job alongside school. Today, in addition to his work as a sauna master, he also works at a school as a movement teacher for children. Karl Robert’s life revolves around the sauna – it is both his work and his passion, which he pursues in his free time too. He also loves sport, especially when it can be done together with nice people. His competition story “What Could Have Been” tells of a sauna master who dreams of reaching the top but unexpectedly suffers a serious accident. At the heart of the story is a question – can this trial be overcome or not?