Gstaad goes Grand Slam!

GSTAAD 2006 - Much to the surprise of many cynics and pleasure of Beach Volleyball fans, the summer slopes of Gstaad in the Swiss Alps will host a SWATCH-FIVB World Tour event for the seventh-straight year.  The 2006 Gstaad stop will be the first of four “Grand Slam” events on the 2006 SWATCH-FIVB World Tour.  Thousands of fans are expected to turn out to cheer on the top men’s women’s players at the 1to1 Energy Open.  When the summer months arrive to Gstaad, scenes of endless blue skies, beautiful flowering meadows and strong sunshine are expected in a region where they say there are more cows than people!  There is a friendly atmosphere among the mountain folk where Beach Volleyball fans are treated to fine restaurants, bars and shops.  The central village of Gstaad is a traffic free zone.

Men - Five different teams from four different countries have won titles in the Swiss Alps as Gstaad becomes a grand slam event for 2006.  The 2004 Gstaad men’s SWATCH-FIVB World Tour final featured the first All-European gold medal match since 1994 as Athens Olympic Bronze medallists Patrick Heuscher and Stefan Kobel delighted the home crowd by defeating Markus Dieckmann and Jonas Reckermann of Germany in the title match.

2005 Gstaad podium (left to right) Benjamin, Harley, Emanuel, Fabio and Marcio Araujo