On Saturday August 22, a kiss from Veronika Willbert will be the final goal for the Red Bull Fensterlkönigs as they climb up the side of her house to glory in the old Bavarian style of dating and seduction. But just who is Veronika, aka Miss Dirndl 2009, and should you just knock on her door instead?
The Red Bull Fensterlkönig will bring back the old Bavarian tradition of 'fensterln', harking back to the days before nightclubs, online dating and well-meaning friends arranging awkward dinner parties for single friends. Traditionally, boys would climb up to their beloved one's window and ask for her love, having to fight gravity and the chance of meeting her disapproving and vigilant father somewhere along the way. While the old fensterl was a charming little exercise in naughty secrecy, the Red Bull Fensterlkönig champion will have to be the quickest to climb up and woo Veronika Willbert, landing a peck on her cheek after his climb – oh, and banging nails into some wood. We spoke to the girl the guys will all be climbing and hammering their fastest to reach.
Veronika, you're Miss Dirndl 2009. What’s that all about?
"Well, it's a beauty contest like any other, really. I have a friend who distributes traditional clothes, including dirndl dresses. He asked me to participate and I somehow won."
So, did you have to be able to yodel?
"No, not at all, I can’t yodel! Dirndls are worn by everyday people, but not everyone, even in Bavaria, can yodel."
Have you ever had a real-life fensterl encounter?
"No! I live in Munich-Schwabing now, which isn't a traditional fensterl area. My grandparents and friends who live in the country in Bavaria have been involved in it. It is still done today, even though the meaning is different. In the olden days, it really was a chance to meet, but today it’s more for the fun of it."
That’s no reason why boys should not be knocking on your window!
"Well, I'd rather have the boys coming through the front door."
But for the Red Bull Fensterlkönig, you'll be waiting for them to climb your balcony…
"Yes, I'm looking forward to that. I'll be up on the balcony and the boys have to climb up the ladder. Before that, they have to pass a pile of wood. Once they have reached the top, they have to drive a nail into a stump. Once the nail is in there, I give them a kiss on the cheek and the race is over."
What should the real fensterlkönig be like?
Of course, he has to be quick, and therefore strong and sporty, but not just that. It’s not enough to be up there first – in the end, it’s about staying there, isn’t it? For me, that involves charm and humour as well."
Red Bull Fensterlkönig is on Saturday August 22 at 3pm in Garmisch-Patenkirchen, Germany. To register, go to www.redbull.de/fensterlkoenig
 Red Bull Photofiles_Anton Brey.jpg "Red Bull Fensterlkönig")
Anton Brey/ Red Bull Photofiles
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