The annual Länderranggeln between Tirol and Salzburg unfolded at the Kreuzboden Liftstation in Rauris, where the Tiroler Rangglerverband secured a narrow victory over Salzburg by a five-point overall margin. Held on Sunday, August 30, 2026, the traditional regional showdown drew 103 competitors to the Hoaza Arena for a full day of traditional alpine wrestling matches, according to reports from regional organizers.
The historic tournament, which first took place in 1951, serves as a cornerstone of the annual Ranggler calendar. Spectators packed the venue to watch physical duels across youth and senior divisions, with champions receiving handcrafted prizes fashioned from authentic Rauriser stone.
Youth Divisions Showcase Deep Regional Talent
Competition began with the youngest participants, as Schülerranggler aged 4 to 14 years old demonstrated advanced throwing techniques and athleticism in the ring. According to regional records, more than two-thirds of the student competitors hailed from the Salzburger Rangglerverband, allowing Salzburg athletes to claim 17 of the 24 available podium spots in the youth categories.
Salzburg’s young champions dominated their respective age brackets. Class winners included Marlon Breitfuß of Saalbach (under 6), Fabian Herzog of Leogang (under 6), Michael Hinterseer of Leogang (under 8), Lukas Baumgartner of Niedernsill (under 8), Phillip Scheiber of Leogang (under 10), Lukas Riedelsperger of Leogang (under 10), Michael Sussitz of Saalbach (under 12), and Hansi Höllwart of Pongau (under 14).
Salzburg maintained its momentum in the junior division, capturing four of the six available podium positions. Michael Schnell of Pongau claimed the individual class victory in the under-16 category, according to tournament results.
Senior Matches and the Deciding Länderduell
In the senior and general classes, Salzburg competitors secured eight of the twelve possible podium prizes. Class victories went to Martin Patsch of Bramberg in Class 4 and Matthias Wimberger of Rauris in Class 3. The Meisterklasse 1 division was won by Stefan Gastl from Brixental, followed by Kilian Wallner of Pongau in second place and Gerald Grössig of Niedernsill in third.
Despite Salzburg’s strong numbers in individual brackets, the headline team competition tipped in favor of the visiting delegation. The traditional Länderduell pits the top three junior competitors and seven senior athletes from each region against one another in a three-round format.
When the final points were tallied, the Tirol squad outpaced Salzburg 11 to 8 in the youth team category and 22 to 20 in the senior general division, sealing the overall team victory by five points. Jakob Höller of Piesendorf and Hubert Illmer of Pongau earned top individual honors for Salzburg within the country match standings.
Complete score sheets and event photo galleries remain accessible through the official portal of the Salzburger Rangglerverband.
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