GstaadLife

 
Don't miss this great market - lots of stands, lots of food and lots of fun. It starts at 9:00 and goes until 17:00. The Lions Club Gstaad Saanenland will also have a stand there where they collect old reading glasses for SightFirst - so don't forget to bring them. 

The "25 heures freeride Dominique Perret Gstaad" is a team event where every skiied kilometer earns money for a charity organization. This is the 8th time the event is taking place and the beneficiary organizations are Just4smiles and Borneo Tropical Rainforest who support seriously handicapped children. The event also promises to be fun to watch and has a side program with live entertainment for the skiers and the crowds. The only downside is that Wispile ski runs are completely reserved for the teams and therefore closed for the public - but for a good cause this is a price paid with pleasure.

Earlier this year, we followed Hansueli Brand and Stanislas de Sadeleer of the Gstaad Automobile Club as they competed in one of the longest and hardest offroad rallies in the world from St Petersburg to Peking. Now that Hansueli and Stan are back they are throwing a Transorientale Charity party which will feature a handing-over ceremony of the money collected for the Chinderhuus Ebnit Gstaad and the organization Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque/Enfants du Monde. Saturday October 25 2008 is the day, Kirchgemeindehaus Gstaad is the place (church community building opposite of the Bellevue in Gstaad), and all are invited. During the event, they will show a film and a slideshow at 16h00 and 18 h00. Mark the day in your calendars, and click on the video below for a taste of their experience...

Known as the local Land Rover man, Hansueli Brand races cars, has traveled the world, and holds grass ski-racing titles. An adventurer, a philanthropist, and a local businessman, Brand philosophizes on life, family, traditions, work and how he sees his homeland changing.

By Diana Oehrli

Not knowing anything about the world of car racing—or even cars for that matter—we asked Hansueli Brand, 48, the most naive of questions: “Have you done any Formula One racing?” A laugh creased across his face as he replied: “No not Formula One, that’s my handicap. I’m too big and too fat. You have to be under 60 kilos and measure no more than a meter 60.”

Fat would probably be the last word to describe Brand, who is tall, fit and tan. With a certain ease and joviality, Brand, gave us a tour of the Gstaad Automobile Club house in Feutersoey. President and co-founder of the by-invitation-only society of car hobbyists, Brand pointed to the member trophy windows, containing classical car racing plaques which he and club members have won over the years. Names such as the Tour Auto Lissac that Brand won in 2005 with Alex de Lesseps figure alongside the Transafricaine and Paris-Dakar rallies. Most recently, this past June Brand and his partner, Stanislas de Sadeleer, won third place in the regularity category in the Transorientale Rally, a 10,000 km-race starting in St Petersburg Russia and ending in Beijing China (click here for day-by-day race coverage).

In its search for sponsors, FC Sarina, the local football club which is celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, has received help from friends and guests of Saanenland, who have agreed to support fundraising efforts for the new soccer field. The new field is estimated to cost SFr 2.7m and 60% of this amount has already been pledged. The Gemeinde of Saanen is contributing SFr 875,000, the communes of Gsteig and Lauenen have each pledged SFr 50,000, Sport Toto has pledged SFr 600,000 to the project, and Urs Hodler, president of the Eagle Ski Club along with Hans Spillmann have personally promised to support and promote this project with friends and guests of Saanenland. Numerous smaller donations have also been received from many supporters. But In order for the project to be fully realized, additional donations to the tune of several hundred thousand Swiss francs are needed. Included in the complete plan is the building of a clubhouse which, according to Jürg Schindler from FC Sarina, will only be built if the club does not have to borrow funds.

Above: groundbreaking for the football field next to the school in Saanen, just over the level crossing on the back road down to the airport.

SFr 5,469.60

"We are proud of our 3rd place in the Regularity category. As always we as a team got on so well together. The car was well-prepared and gave us no problems. Without her we would not be here. The rally was extremely challenging for drivers and their vehicles. A big thanks to all those who with their generous donations and sponsorship have helped children in need. Hansueli and Stan."

Above: Hansueli Brand (left) on the winners' podium for the Regularity category.

Account for donations: Saanen Bank, IBAN CH 81 06342016019849010

The Gstaad Automobile Club team is sponsored by ING Private Banking

Click here to read all our articles on the Transorientale, with more pictures and videos.

SFr 4,919.60

They did it: the Gstaad Transorientale 08 team arrived in Beijing, after managing to hold on to 3rd place in the Regularity category. They drove consistantly: 10,000 km over 17 days; crossing Russia, Kazakhstan and China. At first they had torrential rains which made the roads slippery, and the potholes even more difficult to avoid. Then came the intolerable desert heat and high sand dunes. The Gstaad Automobile Club team’s participation has been made even more worthwhile thanks to all the donations received to help children in need. It’s quite a feat, and here at GstaadLife.com we would sincerely like to congratulate Hans Ueli Brand and Stanislas de Sadeleer for having lived up to the challenge, and for having done so brilliantly. Well done!

Our warmest thanks go to those of you who have already made a donation to Chinderhuus Ebnit, Gstaad, and the charity organization Mecenariat Heart Surgery / Enfants du Monde.

Account for donations: Saanen Bank, IBAN CH 81 06342016019849010

The Gstaad Automobile Club team is sponsored by ING Private Banking

Gstaad Automobile Club’s rally team is sponsored by ING Private Banking Switzerland. The financial institute has partnered with GAC ever since Hansueli Brand and Stanislas de Sadeleer set off on their first rally adventure from Paris to Dakar two years ago. In the meantime ING have also taken a pole position in sponsoring F1 racing. They are Renault’s main sponsor, and also the title sponsor of races in Austrailia, Belgium and Hungary. Yet ING also shares the Gstaad rally team’s humanitarian mission. The ING 'Chances for Children' Program supports UNICEF in providing education for kids. In 2007, more than 115,000 children received schooling access through this scheme. In Switzerland, ING supports the Theodora Stiftung Foundation. This foundation is known for sending clown doctors to lighten the mood amongst children in clinics.

SFr. 4'919.60

Sweating it out in the desert with temperatures reaching 50 degrees, the Gstaad Transorientale 08 team is almost at the end of their long journey. Desite their exhaustion and some minor technical problems, all is well. Our sister blog, AnzeigervonSaanen.ch, has been receiving text messages and photos sent personally by Hansueli Brand and Stanislas de Sadeleer. Enjoy!

June 24:
“Dear people of Saanenland, dear friends. After two days in the 50 degree desert heat, we and our machines have been pushed to the limit. Here, the sand dunes are not the same as in Africa, and it’s tough going: It’s almost impossible to drive over them, especially behind trucks. We’re still ranked 3rd, but where there’s no risk, there’s no gain! Many thanks for all the donations. The kids here show so much joy. There's no place like home... Regards, Hansueli.”

June 25:
“We’re getting closer to Beijing. We’re tired and exhausted and dreaming about a hot shower! Hansueli did a good job repairing the car. Apart from both the tripmasters not working properly, she’s running well. At the moment, we’re still 3rd in the interim Regularity category, but it will be difficult to keep our place. Only three more days… Stan.

Click here to see more videos of the Transorientale 08.

You, too, can participate by making a donation. Help the Gstaad Transorientale 08 team to help children in need. SFr 4,919.60 has already been collected in favor of Chinderhuus Ebnit, Gstaad, and the charity organization Mecenariat Heart Surgery / Enfants du Monde

Account for donations: Saanen Bank, IBAN CH 81 06342016019849010

The Gstaad Automobile Club team is sponsored by ING Private Banking

SFr 4,519.60

“The last few days which have been marked by several accidents, two of which were fatal, have been very difficult for everyone,” said Hans Ueli Brand. “The race is merciless. Driving for 12 hours per day over distances of about 700 km takes a lot more than one could imagine. Even though we're doing well, safety is our main concern.” After one of the past week's stages, Brand had to repair the Discovery’s cooling system which suffered some serious damage due to the large number of potholes along the road.

On Friday June 20, Stanislas de Sadeleer sent an sms to our sister blog AnzeigervonSaanen.ch:

“We’re at the border between Kazakhstan and China; we’ve been queuing for the past three hours… and will have to wait for at least another two. We feel washed out and very tired, but our morale is good! We’re fighting! Best wishes, Stan”

Above: Rally teams made a stop in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, where they where greeted by crowds celebrating the city's 10th anniversary.

The Gstaad Automobile Club team is racing in aid of Chinderhuus Ebnit, Gstaad, and the charity organization Mecenariat Heart Surgery / Enfants du Monde. Donatations to help children in need can be made throughout the rally .

Account for donations: Saanen Bank, IBAN CH 81 06342016019849010

The Gstaad Automobile Club team is sponsored by ING Private Banking