GstaadLife, 3. August 2012

©GRAFF DIAMONDS 2012

Grand Hotel Park · 29 WisPilenstrasse · CH 3780 Gstaad telePHone: +41 33 744 97 00 www.graffdiamonds.com

T h e e x c l u s i v e m o nt h ly p u b l i c ati o n a b o u t t h e g o o d l i f e in g s taa d

Friday 3 August 2012 - Issue 5 - CHF 3.50 excl VAT

IN THIS ISSUE

· Interview with Riccardo Tattoni

· Arnold Annen exhibition in Saanen · Oldtimerclub Saanenland

· Crédit Agricole Suisse Open Gstaad · Secondary home initiative update

· Roland Haldi makes his comeback · New trails for mountain bikers · Life is good in Saanen! · GYC in St. Tropez COLUMN

· Fifty shades of frustration

MAGAZINE

A fine feast

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Friday 3 August 2012 Page 3

Contents Letter from the Editor ������������������������������������������������������� 3 Money Matters Interview with Gstaad resident

and banker Riccardo Tattoni ��������� 5 Local News Arnold Annen Exhibition at

the Saanen museum ��������������������� 7

Classical beauties on the road:

Oldtimerclub Saanenland ������������� 7

Crédit Agricole Suisse Open Gstaad ����������������������� 8

Secondary home initiative update ��������������������������������������������� 9

Stefan Schär: New Director of Sales & Marketing �������������������������� 9 Marcus G. Linder: Executive Chef ������������������������������������ 9

Ledi Garage Feutersoey AG:

Events Column

The new location fits the brand �������������������������������������� 10 Roland Haldi makes his comeback ���������������������������������11 Brocante & Market in Saanen ������11 Molkerei Gstaad – certified quality ����������������������������11 New trails for mountain bikers ����� 13 New president of Rotary Club �������� 13 New president of Lions-Club �������� 13 In Saanen, life is good! ��������������� 15 Improvement of a service ���������� 16 The Gstaad Yacht Club, once again in St. Tropez ������������� 17 Events calendar ����������������������������� 18 Fifty Shades of Frustration �������� 19

Letter from the Editor - Summertime The sun dips late in the day, the hills are alive with music and the cows move up to graze on the higher Saanenland Alps. Whilst these observations of regularity mark the rhythm of the summer season it’s interesting to peek behind this veil of predictability and take stock of some of the changes that are coming to the Saanenland and consider what effects they have. Whilst the Swiss Open Tennis tournament 2012 came to its close, the organisers launched the idea of the tournament possibly being played on a grass surface in the future. Apart from the strategic reasons for this proposal, I am sure that Gstaad would be proud to be the hosts of a lawn tennis ATP tournament, which in the least would visually blend

Follow

in with the abundance of green found in the region during summer. Next the ‘Saanen site’ project amazes me each time I drive past and see just how much life will be injected into the village of Saanen by this development. With its new pedestrianized centre together with this significant new development, Saanen’s future is surely secure. Over the past year I have observed what visual effect The Alpina Gstaad has brought to the region. As the foliage surrounding the hotel changes with the seasons, different visual aspects of the new 5 star establishment are revealed. Essentially, the ‘skyline’ of the region has changed, in the past the drive up to Gstaad from the direction of Saanen was visually punctuated by the Gstaad

Palace only, this is now altered. So has the same punctuation from sitting in the stands watching the tennis or beach volley tournament or hiking up on the Eggli. The Alpina Gstaad has really added a new dimension to the views of the region, and a visually pleasing one at that. There are many more evolutions presently in planning for the region and it is pleasing to see that as each moves from concept to reality, value is continually added to what makes up, the regional experience.

Best wishes

Peter Sonnekus-Williams Editor in Chief

also on www.gstaadlife.com

Gstaad LIFE, Anzeiger von Saanen, Kirchstrasse, P.O. Box 201, 3780 Gstaad, Phone: 033 748 88 74, Fax: 033 748 88 84, E-Mail: info@gstaadlife.ch, Website: www.­ gstaadlife.ch ­Management Board: Frank Müller, Peter Sonnekus-Williams Publisher: Frank Müller frank.mueller@gstaadlife.ch; Editor in Chief: Peter Sonnekus-Williams ­peter.­sonnekus@­gstaadlife.ch; Pro­ject Management and content coordination: Sanet Sonnekus-Williams Columnist: Mandolyna Theodoracopulos Translations: Christine von Siebenthal Editorial: Januaria Piromallo, Fritz Wampfler, Stefanie Krisch, Anita Moser, Christine Eisenbeis Polygraph Team: Desirée Bach Printing: Müller Marketing & Druck AG, Gstaad Advertising: Peter Kuntze-Schneider peter.kuntze@gstaadlife.ch, phone 033 744 46 64 Subscriptions: Fabienne Koitka tel. 033 748 88 74

UPFRONT Gstaadlife is available in these Hotels ***** Gstaad PALACE: +41 (0)33 748 50 00, info@palace.ch ***** GRAND HOTEL PARK: +41 (0)33 748 98 00, info@grandhotelpark.ch ***** GRAND HOTEL BELLEVUE: +41 (0)33 748 00 00, info@bellevue-gstaad.ch ***** The Alpina Gstaad (opening 1.12.12): +41 (0)33 888 98 88, info@thealpinagstaad.ch ***** WELLNESS & SPA HOTEL ERMITAGE: +41 (0)33 748 04 30, reservation@ermitage.ch **** Hotel Alpenrose: +41 (0)33 748 91 91, info@hotelalpenrose.ch **** Golfhotel Les hauts de gstaad: +41 (0)33 748 68 68, mail@golfhotel.ch **** Grand Chalet: +41 (0)33 748 76 76, hotel@grandchalet.ch **** HOTEL ARC-EN-CIEL: +41 (0)33 748 43 43, info@arc-en-ciel.ch **** Hotel BERNERHOF: +41 (0)33 748 88 44, info@bernerhof-gstaad.ch **** Hotel Christiania: +41 (0)33 744 51 21, info@christiania.ch **** Hotel GstaadERHOF: +41 (0)33 748 63 63, gstaaderhof@gstaad.ch **** HOTEL OLDEN: +41 (0)33 748 49 50, info@hotelolden.com **** Romantik HOTEL HORNBERG: +41 (0)33 748 66 88, willkommen@hotel-hornberg.ch **** Hotel Steigenberger: +41 (0)33 748 64 64, gstaad@steigenberger.ch *** Hotel Alpine lodge: +41 (0)33 748 41 51, info@alpinelodge.ch *** Hotel des Alpes by Bruno Kernen: +41 (0)33 748 04 50, info@desalpes.ch *** Hotel Bellerive: +41 (0)33 748 88 33, info@gstaad4.com *** Hotel Alpenland: +41 (0)33 765 91 34, hotel@alpenland.ch *** Hotel Alphorn: +41 (0)33 748 45 45, office@gstaad-alphorn.ch *** Hotel Kernen: +41 (0)33 748 40 20, info@hotel-kernen.ch *** Hotel Landhaus: +41 (0)33 748 40 40, info@landhaus-saanen.ch *** Hotel Saanerhof: +41 (0)33 744 15 15, hotel@saanerhof.ch *** Hotel Solsana: +41 (0)33 748 94 94, info@solsana.ch *** Posthotel Rössli: +41 (0)33 748 42 42, info@posthotelroessli.ch *** SPORTHOTEL VICTORIA: +41 (0)33 748 44 22, info@victoria-gstaad.ch *** Z'loft Hotel: +41 (0)33 744 69 69, info@zloft.ch Hotel Bären: +41 (0)33 755 10 33, hotel@baerengsteig.ch Gasthof Geltenhorn: +41 (0)33 765 30 22, info@gasthof-geltenhorn.ch Hotel Sanetsch: +41 (0)33 755 10 10, o.seewer@bluewin.ch Hotel Viktoria: +41 (0)33 755 10 34, hotel_viktoria@bluewin.ch Hotel Wildhorn: +41 (0)33 765 30 12, info@hotel-wildhorn.ch

Picture on the Front Cover by:

Davidoff Saveurs www.davidoffsaveurs.ch Lukas Stalder from Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & SPA in Interlaken cooked on the Wasserngrat.

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Ledi, Gsteigstrasse 180–184, 3784 Feutersoey, Tel. 033 755 80 88 * C 180 BlueEFFICIENCY Estate, 156 HP (115 kW), 1595 cc, 139 g CO2/km (average of all new models sold: 159 g/km), 5,9 l/100 km, energy efficiency category: B. Vehicle catalogue price CHF 46 700.– less 6% rebate and a premium of CHF 6480.– equals a purchase price in cash of CHF 37 418.–. Offer valid until 30 September 2012. Displayed model including custom equipment CHF 57 955.–. ** First major instalment: CHF 9550.–; term: 48 months; odometer count: 10 000 km/year; effective annual interest rate: 2,94%; leasing rate from the second month: CHF 298.10 excluding payment protection insurance (PPI). Requests accepted until 30 September 2012. An offer from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Schweiz AG. Comprehensive insurance is mandatory. Subject to change. It is prohibited to grant credit where this would lead to over-indebtedness of the lessee. All prices include 8% VAT.

ANTIQUA M E N US PLAISIRS Promenade 6 · 3780 Gstaad · Tél. 033 744 92 42 · www.menusplaisirs.ch

THOMAS FOUGEIROL HERBIER

YVES PAGART SCULPTURES EN ZINC

Les oeuvres demeureront sur place au petit chalet de Farb jusqu’à la fin du mois d’août, s’invitant à la découverte et à la curiosité des amateurs.

Du 2 au 31 août, merci de bien vouloir anticiper votre passage auprès de: Caroline Freymond: +41 (0)79 456 9181 ou Antiqua Menus Plaisirs: +41 (0)33 744 9242 Chantal Valadares Barreau: +41 (0)78 670 2380

Liane Turquoise hauteur 235cm

hauteur/largeur 65x50cm

«Crotte de sorcière» 95x70cm

Les vitrines de la galerie Antiqua Menus Plaisirs à Gstaad donnent le ton de cette exposition d’«Herbes à foison» et vous pouvez y prendre rendez-vous pour la découvrir in situ à Farb.

ALEXANDRA CARRON HERBES FOLLES

Friday 3 August 2012 Page 5

MONEY MATTERS

Interview with Gstaad resident and banker Riccardo Tattoni

by Januaria Piromallo Was ’Rubik’ the tax puzzle, ­invented to save face for Switzerland?

It is an agreement with England, Germany and Austria. Italy is still in negotiation. In return for a clear directive the customer in Switzerland will not be criminally prosecuted and the bank will be guaranteed anonymity and safety, it is an evolution.

Banker Riccardo Tattoni.

Change is all around here in Gstaad, where I have been living for the last 15 years. This strip of land between the peaks and folds of the Bernese Oberland is a place of choice for many who seek privacy for their financial profile. In my opinion Gstaad, for the first time in its financial history can be found to be effected by a world crisis on the one hand, and an identity crisis on the other.

An example of this is HSBC which opened and closed a private banking operation in Gstaad within the last six months. The secrecy of banking, the mainstay of Switzerland’s economy and the places where people wish to remain unnoticed is no longer a secret. And so the rich cry and Gstaad, like the rest of Switzerland, shudders whilst the onslaught of international agreements such as the one signed at the end of 2011 by the German and Swiss government regarding banking transparency and tax avoidance reporting. The world has changed, Europe as a free trade area, is a scenario, incomplete, a fact highlighted by the crisis in Greece, Ireland and Portugal. The solution could be the creation of a “political Europe” with the delegation of cer-

tain financial and economic powers to a supranational entity. Making Europe pass through the notion of a European Union Tax, where all countries have the same tax regime.

Communities can no longer coexist when countries like Germany have 95% of their population paying taxes and Greece where only 3% do and Italy where about 40% evade taxes.

What would you recommend to those who have undeclared accounts in Switzerland?

Declare. In the United States for not paying taxes you go to jail and pay up to 5 times the amount you evade.

A U.S. citizen or resident in the US pays taxes on their worldwide possessions. In Switzerland a part of its economy has always been based on a principle of tax avoidance due to the anonymity of accounts and its banking secrecy code. Now this is no longer compatible with the rest of the world. Europe requires Switzerland to change. The previous conflict between the United States and UBS ended with UBS paying a fine of almost one billion Francs. That has forced Switzerland to change course.

The tax evaders in Europe, where too from here?

This agreement leaves many questions open: the EU wishes for tax evasion in all countries to become a criminal offense and no longer a civil offence. France and Germany’s Social Democratic Parties are opposed to any form of tax shelter. Even Switzerland, under international pressure, is in order to change its legislation reclassifying the crime of tax evasion or tax avoidance from administrative offense to a criminal offense.

Who does not pay taxes or have not stated an account will be punished as a criminal. It is conceivable that within two years, Swiss banks will be obliged to report account holder, non-residents which have not received confirmation of tax compliance. Banks risk the revocation of their banking license if they do not comply.

There is a risk for the first time in Switzerland that other offshore paradises will receive funds from now on, en mass.

Gone are the days when people arrived from Italy with a briefcase of money, banks no longer accept large undeclared cash deposits. For sure much anonymous capital will go to

Dubai, Hong Kong, South America and Central Asia. Only Singapore is aligning with the new FATF directives. In Switzerland the banking industry will change from offshore to onshore. The Swiss is very good also in other fields such as pharmaceuticals, research, tourism, precision engineering and services. In the last ten years, Geneva has become one of the worlds most influential trading zones of raw materials, petroleum and shipping, employing more staff than in the banking sector.

Brocante

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& Markt Saanen 4. August 2012 · 9 bis 18 Uhr Festwirtschaft mit Live-Musik bis 23 Uhr Dorfstrasse · 3792 Saanen Vente des appartements, chalet A et chalet B

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Le projet: « La Frasse » à Château-d’Oex En plein paysage de montagne avec une superbe vue panoramique.

Tel. 033 744 27 54 www.reichenbach-ag.ch Gerax_SA_Gstaad_Life_206_139_mm_Layout 1 01.07.12 14:50 Seite 1 Inserat_GL_2121161_db_print 1

23.07.12 08:01

SALES I RENTALS I ADMINISTRATION THE ADDRESS FOR YOUR HOME IN GSTAAD SINCE 1970

SINCE

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Friday 3 August 2012 Page 7

Local news

Arnold Annen Exhibition at the Saanen museum From now until October 14 2012, the diverse porcelain art from Arnold Annen is exhibited at the Museum of Saanen. Dr. Maria Schüly, curator of the Augustine Museum in Freiburg am Breisgau (Germany), honored the artists career during the opening reception of this comprehensive retrospective.

After completing a three-year course in ceramics in Saanen, Arnold Annen trained at internationally renowned workshops and won several awards for his artistic work with white porcelain. Thanks to these awards, he was invited to attend several national and international exhibitions.

Arnold Annen already began cre-

ating small clay pots for dolls as a young boy. After traveling for a few years and spending time learning different techniques in Japan, he decided to come back to Switzerland and set up his own studio in Beatenberg. In 1984, he had the opportunity to take over a studio from Barbara Nanning in Amsterdam for eighteen months.

This was when Annen started to commit himself to white porcelain.

“With various techniques, he tried to take the material to its limit not only to make art out of bowls, but also to create an interplay between space, porcelain and light,” says curator Dr. Maria Schüly. “It is likely that the ice and snow of the glaciers in his hometown have influenced his work,” she says. These

techniques help to create very thin and transparent bowls, which, with the right illumination, look similar to alabaster objects, but thinner and more delicate. Since 1989, Annen has been running the “Atelier K3” with his partner Violette Fassbaender and is concentrating on working mainly with white porcelain.

light beams of porcelain were built and lit with indirect solar torches.

Visitors at the exhibition will wonder how such diverse and manifold pieces can be created with such delicate material. Because of this, the curators of the exhibition have installed a video, which demonstrates how the artist employs various different techniques.

In the actual exhibition in the museum of Saanen, his work is not simply displayed; the artist has managed to create lighting, which outlines the characteristics of the porcelain, showing the transparency and beauty of the material. Annen was inspired by an exhibition in Aesch/Baselland, where there was no electricity available and

The organization committee is thrilled that the work from this internationally well-known artist from Saanenland can be presented to a wider audience and is hoping for a significant number of visitors to this fascinating exhibition.

TRANSLATED AND ADAPTED FROM THE ARTICLE

BY FRITZ WAMPFLER AVS 26.06.2012

Classical beauties on the road: Oldtimerclub Saanenland On Saturday, June 23, the Oldtimerclub Saanenland gathered for the 42nd time to spend the weekend dedicated to vintage cars, right on time for the beginning of summer. 55 Cars, built between 1924 and 1970, started their engines at 09h00 from the Gstaad Palace. “We are very happy to present to our region a museum on wheels,” says Sebastian Moser, President of the organizing committee. “The most charming thing is that more than two-thirds of the drivers have participated for many years.” Main sponsor Chopard had invited the members to an exclusive visit to their watches and jewelry factory in Meyrin.

Three different routes led the drivers to Aigle: either over the Col du Pillon

pass, the Col des Mosses or the Col de la Croix. In the early afternoon the vintage cars drove back over the Jaun pass in the direction of Gstaad.

The traditional gala in the evening took place at the Gstaad Palace, which was the perfect finish to an eventful day.

For the first time in the history of this rally, a group rating was added.

The participants, who very much appreciated this move, had different additional tasks to fulfill. For example, nuts had to be recognized by tasting them blindfolded and codrivers had to guide the blindfolded drivers through a course. Furthermore, the participants had to ride slalom on a tricycle. The station in

Charmey was especially hard: the drivers had to balance a ball on the hood of their cars through a challenging, curvy course.

On Sunday morning, the award ceremony was held on the terrace of the Gstaad Palace, accompanied by a lot of sun. The happy winner Christian Wyder, owner of a 1931 Pontiac

Six, was given (as well as the trophy), a Mille Miglia-watch from Chopard.

The vintage car friends look forward to the next reunion: the 43 rd weekend of Veterans will take place from June 28-30, 2013.

TRANSLATED AND ADAPTED FROM THE ARTICLE

BY STEFANIE KRISCH AVS 26.06.2012

Christian Wyder, proud owner of a 1931 Pontiac Six, with the cup.

Second from the right: Gstaad Palace director Andrea Scherz.

Local news

Friday 3 August 2012 Page 8

Crédit Agricole Suisse Open Gstaad Thomaz Bellucci, Crédit Agricole Suisse Open Gstaad champion 2012.

World No. 60 Thomaz Bellucci from Brazil, won the Crédit Agricole Suisse

Open Gstaad trophy for the second time as he beat Janko Tipsarevic 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-2 in the final. The Brazilian won his first ATP World Tour title as a qualifier in Gstaad in 2009, defeating Beck.

The winner of Crédit Agricole Suisse Open Gstaad: Thomaz Bellucci.

Granollers / Lopez won second title of the season Top seeds Marc Lopez and Marcel Granollers won their second ATP World Tour title of the season as

they defeated Colombians Robert Farah and Santiago Giraldo 6-4, 7-6(9), in the final of the Crédit Agricole Suisse Open Gstaad.

Marc Lopez and Marcel Granollers won the doubles.

Pictures: Sanet Sonnekus-Williams (4), zvg (8)

Tennis moments

Friday 3 August 2012 Page 9

Local News

Secondary home initiative update The work group called “secondary homes” has revised the regulation draft for the construction of secondary homes in its recent meeting. The difference between this draft and the previous one which has been given to official hearing, is that this one bans abusive use such as the sale of a primary home as a secondary home, if it is followed up by a construction of a new apartment for replacing living space.

In the case where the conversion of a building results in more apartments than there was previously, this is equivalent to the construction of new secondary homes and therefore it will

be allotted only for exceptional cases.

For instance when it results in “warm beds”. This is stated by the Federal Office for Spatial Development ARE. More precisely, if there are conversions due to classical cases like change of domicile, civil status changes, maintain of the local image or a conversion due to heredity.

for job-related or educational reasons.

Moreover, a new article points out the special conditions of formerly agricultural buildings such as “Maiensässe” or “Rustici”. Those buildings can be converted under severe regulations of the space planning establishment, even if the secondary home percentage increases the defined 20 percent.

The work group has also developed the term “secondary home”. An apartment is considered as a secondary home if it is inhabited by people who are not based in the local community. This excludes apartments which are used

The Swiss Federal Council will decide on the latest regulation draft of the working group by August. It will also be decided when those new regulations will come into effect. The working group has different opinions

regarding the date, whether it should be the 1st September 2012 or 1st January 2013. Furthermore, they are having different points of view regarding the specification, if it should be listed in the conversion or rather in the corresponding annotations. The Federal Office for Spatial Development points out that the regulation is valid until the implementing law of the new constitution for secondary homes will come into effect. They say that it is up to the parliament to determine the implementing law.

ADAPTED AND TRANSLATED FROM THE ARTICLE

BY ANITA MOSER AVS 06.07.2012

Stefan Schär: New Director Marcus G. Linder: of Sales & Marketing Executive Chef Niklaus Leuenberger, Managing Director of The Alpina Gstaad, has appointed top expert Stefan Schär as Director of Sales & Marketing of this new five star hotel.

Stefan Schär, 41, is now leading the sales and marketing team with immediate effect. The Swiss national started his career at hotel Quellenhof in Bad Ragaz, as a receptionist and cashier. For 11 years, he worked in various roles at the Palace Lucerne. During this period, he was promoted to Director of Sales & Marketing as well as to a member of the Executive Management, responsible for the Palace Lucerne and the Grand Hotel Victoria-Jungfrau in Interlaken.

In 2003, Stefan Schär moved to Luzern Tourismus AG, where he worked as a Marketing Director.

Four years later, he returned to the hotel industry and worked for Astoria Hotels in Lucerne as Market-

Niklaus Leuenberger, Managing Director of The Alpina Gstaad, is pleased to announce the appointment of Marcus G. Lindner as Executive Chef of the nearly completed hotel. In September 2012, three months before the opening, Lindner will assume the leadership of the overall kitchen for the hotels three restaurants and banqueting.

ing Consultant before moving on to become Resident Manager at Cresta Hotels in Davos.

Before joining The Alpina Gstaad, he worked as Director of Sales & Marketing and as a member of Executive Management at Radisson Blu Hotels in Zürich. He has a degree from the Marketing Management Centre in Schlieren and an MBA in Tourism & Leisure Management from the University of Salzburg.

TRANSLATED AND ADAPTED FROM THE PRESS RELEASE AVS 19.06.2012

For the past six years, Lindner has been the Executive Chef of Mesa in Zurich and has been known to be one of the best chefs in the city.

In 2010, he was chosen as “Up and Coming Chef of the Year”, awarded 18 Gault Millau points. He has also been awarded two Michelin stars.

The gourmet critics describe Lindner’s exceptional talent with superlatives - Gault Millau described him as “magician of flavours“ and “daredevil“, whereas the much-heralded Lindner rather sees himself as a craftsman than an artist. “My lifeblood is the stove“, says Lindner,

who believe in offering the guests no less than the finest and freshest produce everyday. Lindner composes these ingredients to extraordinary symphonies, which fit into an exceptional culinary work of art.

After his apprenticeship at Restaurant St. Leonhard in his hometown Feldkirch (Austria), he moved to Switzerland to gain experience in classic French cuisine. He has held executive positions in luxury hotels such as the Grand Hotel Victoria-Jungfrau in Interlaken and the Hotel Belvedere in Spiez. He has also previously worked in Gstaad - as Executive Chef at the Grand Hotel Park from 2000 to 2003.

TRANSLATED AND ADAPTED FROM THE PRESS RELEASE AVS 03.07.2012

Local News

Friday 3 August 2012 Page 10

Ledi Garage Feutersoey AG: The new location fits the brand The celebration of the new location of Ledi Garage Feutersoey AG took place on Saturday, June 2 and was very well attended.

The guests were shown the modern facility with the new showroom, workshop and parking… and plenty of fancy cars.

On January 1 1981, Hansueli Brand and Bernhard Lammers founded the Ledi Garage Feutersoey. It was important to them that their company name included that of the village, as they are very grateful that the community allowed them to open their business there. A lot of people laughed when Hansueli Brand recalled being called on the phone answering to the caller’s question: “We are in Feutersoey” and being asked “Again please, where?” Today, the garage has become a mecca for automobile brands and is wellknown for its exclusive customer

service. After 30 years, Brand and Lammers had to consider the future, as there was a lack of space in the old location. After a long search, they were able to buy land very near the old location.

“We have decided to invest here to keep the brand Land Rover/Range Rover together with the Ledi Garage Feutersoey AG in this village,” says Hansueli Brand. “Nowadays, a showroom is mandatory to work as a brand representative, whatever car brand it is,” explains Bernhard Lammers. This is why the new location is ideal. Brand and Lammers can now fulfill the requirements from Jaguar/Land Rover and still maintain their individual style, which fits perfectly in the landscape and the region.

was mainly built with metal, wood, glass and modern elements where combined with the traditional chalet style. “The customer will find something very unique here,” says Brand. Garages located in cities can only dream about such a location. “Today, garages located in cities have to move to the industrial zone. And we are in the middle of a holiday resort. I think that the region of Gstaad-Saanenland is the only winter destination with such a broad range of car representatives. You will not find anything comparable in Valais or Grisons… not even in Aspen,” says Hansueli Brand.

The new showroom of the Ledi Garage Feutersoey AG.

From all over Switzerland Customers travel from all over Switzerland to buy Land Rovers in Feutersoey or to bring their car for a service, even though advertising has been minimal. “It is all about word-of-mouth recommendations,” says Brand. “And the location of Feutersoey is not a disadvantage.”

Being placed in Gstaad has never been a priority for them. Moreover, they are very thankful that they could find a location in this community. “It needs a lot of acceptance from the population and it is important for us to show respect.

We are giving our best to being accepted.”

Second from right Hansueli Brand, and on the right Bernhard Lammers, with their team.

Working vehicle becomes prestigious car When Brand and Lammers started their business, Land Rover was still a working vehicle. “Today, it is a prestigious car,” says Lammers.

“The market share of that brand is very high in this region. Our main goal is customer satisfaction.” Over the years they have learned a lot

The new showroom underlines the characteristics of the company. It

when it came to that. “We were both mechanics and not accountants. We had to learn very fast to keep our customers satisfied.”

Specialists in the mountains One of their main strengths may also be that they can communicate in three languages, which is much appreciated. “And of course also because we are open six days a week.” The Ledi Garage Feutersoey AG has 10 employees in total. “Customers also appreciate our priceperformance ratio. Hourly rates in the city are much higher than here,” says Brand. “It should not be taken for granted to have such experienced specialists.” Also the employees enjoy the new location very much.

Mark C. Bracher, Regional Business Manager of Jaguar Land Rover Schweiz AG, showed a lot of enthusiasm when he visited the place. “I would be very happy if all of our representatives had such showrooms and put so much effort and passion into it,” he says.

During the whole day, guests, customers and friends as well as former employees admired the new location of the garage. In the evening, 250 guests were invited to the official opening party. During the evening the winner of the contest was also announced. The question asked was, “who owns the Land Rover 88 which is driven in Saanenland.” The answer is Arthur Rieben, Ebnit Bühl in Gstaad. The first prize goes to Andrea Brand, Gstaad, second prize to Peter Ogi, Gstaad, and the third prize to Anja Plüss, Freiburg.

TRANSLATED AND ADAPTED FROM THE ARTICLE

BY CHRISTINE EISENBEIS AVS 05.06.2012

Friday 3 August 2012 Page 11

Local News

Roland Haldi makes his comeback Snowboarder Roland Haldi from Schönried has reversed his decision to resign from the sport. “The passion for the sport is still in me,” he said. His goal is to participate in the Olympic Games in Sochi 2014.

After seven years in the Swiss National Snowboard team, Roland

Haldi announced his resignation in March 2011. Now, he wants to be back on the slopes. He said in February this year, that while he did not miss his old life as an athlete, he still has the passion for the sport. If he could find a sponsor, he would get back on his board for Sochi 2014. Haldi still has a bone to pick with the Olympic Games …

Haldi did not resign for financial reasons. “For seven years sponsors and donators were supporting me.

It made my career possible,” stresses Haldi. “But I did not want to ask them for three more years.”

In the last year he was able to think about a lot of things in life. “The sport and the Olympic Games were

always on my mind,” says Haldi.

“The decision of the International Olympic Committee to include the Parallel-Slalom as a discipline, had a big influence on me. I have always been a bit better in the Slalom than in the Giant Slalom,” he says. “With two races, there are also two chances.”

In January he made his decision to start to look for new sponsors more actively and he has been successful, having signed a contract some weeks ago, though his main sponsor is a private individual who wants to remain anonymous. In addition, he will be advertising for Gstaad Saanenland Tourism. “With Roland Haldi, we have a great figurehead for our winter region,” says Reto Tschannen, Director of Marketing

GST. “I am very happy and proud to advertise for Gstaad,” says Haldi.

Roland Haldi never stopped training and now has even stepped it up. His main goal this season is to reach the Top 16 and next year he wants to be back in the national team. His race will be in November in the Netherlands.

His main focus is the World Championships in 2013 in Canada and the Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi, not only to participate, but also to get a medal. The 33-year old from Schönried is facing a long and difficult road to reach that goal, and if the results will not be as anticipated, he will definitely step back.

TRANSLATED AND ADAPTED FROM THE ARTICLE

BY ANITA MOSER AVS 22.06.2012

Brocante & Market in Saanen

Molkerei Gstaad – certified quality

The traditional Brocante in Saanen will take place on Saturday August 4 2012 at 9h00. Despite the numerous construction sites in and around the village, the organizers and locals have taken great care to welcome the stallholders and guests. The market has a legendary and unique atmosphere, where young and old stroll between the stalls, enjoying the opportunity to haggle and buy.

The choice and quality of the antiquities and rarities is growing from year to year and the market attracts more visitors annually.

Since the beginning, the Molkerei Gstaad is mainly focused on the quality of their products. With the implementation of QM Fromarte, a quality management system from main distributors as well as the government, a further step has been taken for the quality strategy.

Our local brass band Harmonie will take care of the refreshments and food, along with the restaurants and tea-rooms. Additionally, they will entertain the crowd with some

music at 15h00. From 17h00 onwards, the dixie-band, “Fabulous Dixie-Men”, will start the evening with some dancing music. We look forward to see you there!

Numerous regulations are dominating the production of food in order to prevent the consumer from deception and negative health impacts, but also to secure hygiene. Next to those legal regulations, there are additional norms and standards under private law, such as traceability, operational environment and crisis management.

Fromarte, the association of Swiss cheese experts, has developed a solution for dairy production, which is

acknowledged by the Swiss retailers.

Under the leadership of Erhard Kohli and Stefanie von Siebenthal, the 170 different requirements from QM Fromarte could be implemented at Molkerei Gstaad. After the application for the certification, an independent supervisor has checked the documents on their practicability and its actual usage for several hours. A quality control system is only effective if it can be implemented. After the evaluation of the questionnaires, the auditors announced that the requirements are fulfilled. The team of Molkerei Gstaad is now the proud owner of a certificate which confirms the high quality of their products.

TRANSLATED AND ADAPTED FROM THE PRESS RELEASE AVS 29.06.2012

For you and your family Dentist‘s surgery · SSO Tel. 033 744 15 45

Promenade 66 · 3780 Gstaad www.dentalcarecenter.ch

Holiday apartments

A good chalet investment.

Opening hours Mon – Thu 8:00 – 12:00, 13:30 – 20:00 Fri 8:00 – 20:00 · Sat 8:00 – 20:00*

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*on appt.

24-h-SOS-helpline tel. 033 744 15 45

‘The Site’, in Saanen 033 744 06 03 office@vgminvest.ch gstaad-saanen-site.ch

Gstaad Promenade

GstaadLife_3.8.2012_print 1

27.07.12Ins_vgm_97x139_GL_print 08:12 3

Part y 2012

Participants from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm: Adler Joailliers (until 6:00pm) Antonella Avenue Fashion Bach Sign Bach’s Bazar Blue Bank Brand Sport Breguet Brunello Cucinelli Cartier Charly’s Chopard Chronométrie J. Piguet with Jordi Swiss Icon Crêperie de Gstaad Designer Outlet Early Beck Experience SA, Bar-Lounge (ice rink area) Grand Hotel Park (ice rink area)

Hermès Hotel Christiania Hotel Olden Hublot Le Caveau de Bacchus Maison Lorenz Bach Marti Interiors Molkerei Gstaad Moncler Moods by Rougemont Interiors Heimatwerk Gstaad & Chäller-Galerie Pernet Comestibles Pure Street Shop Ralph Lauren Rialto Star Design The Alpina Gstaad & Champagne Louis Roederer Decoration: Experience SA

Partners:

Aristophil/assurVesta Art Photo Gstaad Best of All Worlds Burrus & Partners Champagne Boërl & Kroff

Châteaux Roussillon Club des Leaders Gstaad Saanenland Tourismus Müller Marketing & Druck AG Vinc

30.07.12 08:53

©

SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, 1st of September 2012 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm on the Promenade Gstaad Cocktails, wine & food tastings in the participating shops, restaurants and hotels Music, entertainment and local animations From 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm: “Miss Promenade” Beauty pageant for cows. Selection of the most beautiful cow of the Saanenland (on the ice rink area)

Scherenschnitt © Beatrice Straubhaar

www.gstaadpromenadeparty.com gstaadlife.indd 1

Organisation: Jean-Sébastien Robine gpp@jsrobine.com - www.jsrobine.com

30.07.2012 08:41:43

Friday 3 August 2012 Page 13

Local News

New trails for mountain bikers The bike trails in the region of Gstaad have now been extended with two new trails. The new routes “Rellerli-Saanen” and “Trütlisberg-Gstaad” include interesting single-trail parts and demand good driving skills and conditions.

Surrounded by Alpine meadows The Rellerli tour is categorized as medium difficulty and passes through the beautiful village of Saanen, up to the secluded valley of Grischbach, continues through the Alpine meadows and ends at the restaurant Rellerli, where you can enjoy a beautiful Alpine panorama. The trail stretches 25 kilometers and up to 1’100 meters in altitude.

Wonderful scenery The “Trütlisberg-Gstaad” route is ideal for mountain bikers with technical skills. It starts in Gstaad before heading to Lauenen and then to the Trütlisberg pass. After passing the secluded valley of Turbach, the 26 kilometer and 1’100 meter altitude tour ends again in Gstaad.

For beginners and pros The different mountain bike trails offer routes for everyone - around 500 kilometers of GPS-tracks are available in the mountains, valleys and lakes around Gstaad.

More information: www.mountainbikeland.ch. www.gstaad.ch TRANSLATED AND ADAPTED FROM THE PRESS ­RELEASE AVS 26.06.2012

New president of Rotary Club New president of Lions-Club Alfred Liechti from Zweisimmen has handed over the lead as President of the Rotary Club Gstaad-Saanenland to Christian Sieber (Chateau-d’Oex).

The event was celebrated in the historic rooms of the castle in Blankenburg, accompanied with a delicious dinner organized by the Hotel Simmental in Boltigen.

Bill Lovell, Executive from the committee of the Rotary Foundation, honored Alfred Liechti with the Paul Harris Fellow award, which is the highest award of appreciation from the Rotary International.

ADAPTED AND TRANSLATED FROM THE ARTICLE

BY THE ROTARY CLUB GSTAAD-SAANENLAND AVS 26.06.2012

Retired president Alfred Liechti accepts the Paul Harris Fellow award from Rotary International.

Victor Steimle has handed over the presidium of the Lions-Club Gstaad Saanenland to Jürg Müller.

The event took place at the Hotel Ermitage in Schönried, where Stephan Rigert, an internationally well-known percussionist, gave a workshop on drumming tech-

niques to entertain and involve all present.

Jürg Müller will now lead the Lions-Club Gstaad Saanenland for one year.

TRANSLATED AND ADAPTED FROM THE ARTICLE

BY LIONS-CLUB GSTAAD SAANENLAND AVS 29.06.2012

Victor Steimle handed over to Jürg Müller.

Trad it i o nel le s a us d er R e g i o n u nd d er gan ze n S chw eiz, a ut he n t is c h, e cht u nd fris ch.

Hotel Landhaus | Dorfstrasse 74 | CH-3792 Saanen | Tel. 033 748 40 40 | Fax 033 748 40 49 www.landhaus-saanen.ch | info@landhaus-saanen.ch

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Local News

Friday 3 August 2012 Page 15

In Saanen, life is good!

Organization by Ruth Knutti, Saanen Those who have the pleasure of discovering the village of Saanen will find some unique places, traditional architecture, a beautiful church and plenty of little details, all of which combine to make Saanen incomparable. Even though Saanen is currently undergoing some reconstruction, there is still a lot to see, including tourist attractions, nu-

Parking spaces Saanen has enough parking at the Pfrundmatte, Floraplatz and at the big car park at the station. Another parking lot can be found next to the construction site of the retirement home Saanen. In autumn 2013, an underground car park will be available with 108 public parking spaces.

merous events and the Arnold Annen porcelain retrospective at the museum of Saanen. The village’s restaurants offer regional cuisine and there is also a plentiful array of shops to choose from.

Saanen’s landlords are also embracing the spirit of change – many old buildings are currently being renovated and revitalized.

Bircherhaus The municipal council has decided to turn the rebuilding of the Bircherhaus into a competition. Four different architects were asked either to design a new building or to re-construct the existing building in a new and creative way, but which still fit in the new pedestrian zone.

OK DG +7.50

2.30

1904

2.40

OK 2.OG +5.20

Best. Blockwand bürsten

2.80

OK 1.OG +2.80

Dämmputz neu

T-Leistenschalung Fichte, Neu

OK EG ±0.00

1:50 09.02.2012 | MKo

Plan-Nr.: Gez.:

10-129_005 07.12.2011 | MKo

Dateiname:

10-129_bp_120208_MKo.vwx

Peter Olf, dipl. Architekt FH Büro für Planung, Bauleitung, Denkmalpflege

Peter Olf GmbH Oberes Haus, 3762 Erlenbach

atelier werkidee Matthias Trachsel dipl. Architekt FH Kirchgasse 3 3770 Zweisimmen

Fassade Süd

Mstb: Rev:

Architektengemeinschaft atelier werkidee - Peter Olf

Einwohnergemeinde Saanen Liegenschaftsverwaltung, 3792 Saanen

Plan:

Architektengemeinschaft atelier werkidee - Peter Olf

Umbau Bircherhaus Saanen Dorfstrasse 70, 3792 Saanen

Bauherrschaft:

atelier werkidee Matthias Trachsel dipl. Architekt FH Kirchgasse 3 3770 Zweisimmen

Objekt:

+41 33 681 19 22 T +41 33 722 01 06 T +41 33 681 19 23 F +41 33 722 01 07 F trachsel@werkidee.ch info@olfarchitekturbuero.ch

Voranfrage 2, 09.02.2012

Eindeckung Schlepper mit Doppelfalzblech Cu vorbewittert

Sanona Sanona is the name of the project to redesign Saanen. Its main goal is to implement the renovation whilst still taking into account local needs and the need to maintain the village landscape.

Gef. 12°

Dacheindeckung neu Ziegel

T-Leistenschalung Fichte, Neu

Holzschindeln Fichte, neu

Dämmputz neu

KS Verputz

Plan:

Einwohnergemeinde Saanen Liegenschaftsverwaltung, 3792 Saanen

Fassade West Var. 4.1.2 T-Leistenschalung

Mstb:

1:50

Rev:

09.02.2012 | MKo

Plan-Nr.: Gez.: Dateiname:

Engagement for Saanen Katrin Murbach and Fabian Jaggi have conducted questionnaires amongst young and old people to

10-129_035 25.01.2012 | MKo 10-129_bp_120208_MKo.vwx

Peter Olf GmbH Oberes Haus, 3762 Erlenbach

Umbau Bircherhaus Saanen Dorfstrasse 70, 3792 Saanen

Bauherrschaft:

Peter Olf, dipl. Architekt FH Büro für Planung, Bauleitung, Denkmalpflege

Objekt:

+41 33 681 19 22 T +41 33 722 01 06 T +41 33 681 19 23 F +41 33 722 01 07 F trachsel@werkidee.ch info@olfarchitekturbuero.ch

Voranfrage 2, 09.02.2012

find out how to revive the ­village of Saanen. For more information please contact Fabian Jaggi, Gstaad­ fabian.jaggi@bluewin.ch

Construction sites Saanen - vgm Invest ag (building site 1) Planned: 3 houses with apartments and parking - Retirement home Saanen (building site 3) Start of construction

- Hotel and Residence Spitzhorn (building site 4), Start of construction in 2012, Ready for occupation: Restaurant 2014, Residence 2014 - Replacement youth hostel (building

in spring 2012, Operational in 2013

site 4) Ready for occupation ca. 2014

- JKF School, reconstruction old school building (building site 5) Ready for occupation ca. 2013

Every Thursday at 16h00: Tours through Saanen incl. ­visiting museum (Duration: 2 hours) More information: www.gstaad.ch, Tel. 033 748 81 81

Baustelle 4 Baustelle 5

Baustelle 3 Baustelle 2

Baustelle 1 Baustelle 6

P

Gärtnerei

Interieur

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Bike

Rest.

16

Post Bank

Interieur

Hotel Saanerhof

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Sport+ Mode

Gemüse+ Füchte Bäckerei Kaffee

Advokatur

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Architektur

Molkerei

Museum

Hotel Landhaus

Interieur

Bücher

Coiffure Grafik

Heimatwerk Drogerie Restaurant

Gemüse+ Früchte Bäckerei

Kaffee

Zwahlen Hüni

Pub

Immobilien

Interieur

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Uhren + Schmuck Schlosserei

Lampen Töpferei Interieur

Spielplatz

Tennisplatz

Bahnhof

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Garage

Advertorial

Friday 3 August 2012 Page 16

Improvement of a service Sewing, stitching, alternating, customizing… our busy tailors work at Grubenstrasse 130 in Schönried. At the same location where Frautschi Sports opened its first store in 1960, the atelier was established in the summer of 2011. Pictures of Pedro Luis Raota, the famous Argentine photographer were exposed in this

room, later the painter Greg Holt used it as his artist’s studio for some time. Now, after a longer period as a storage place, new life has come to this address. You may bring all your garments and textiles that need alternating or mending. Our professionals are also delighted to sew new clothes or to tailor according to your

wishes or ideas. Opening hours are the same as at our main store across the street. Just ask for the tailor at Frautschi Sports, should the atelier door be closed.

This service, much appreciated by our customers, is now available to everybody. We are looking forward to welcoming you!

Frautschi Sports AG Grubenstrasse 132 3778 Schönried Tel. +41 33 744 16 49 Fax +41 33 744 86 69 www.frautschi.ch info@frautschi.ch

GstaadLife

Correction Gstaad Life Friday 13 July, issue 4 In the GstaadLife edition of July 13 2012, in the article ‘Authority to fight for the preservation of a hospital and the flat tax’, we hereby correct the following: 1. The new accumulated capital surplus at disposal to the community

is SFr 22’042’727.81, and not SFr 220’042’727.81 as quoted.

2. The after credits consist in SFr 4’190’939.38 of tied expenses, and not SFr 41’909’939.38 as quoted.

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Friday 3 August 2012 Page 17

Local News

The Gstaad Yacht Club, once again in St. Tropez

by Gstaad Yacht club The 2nd Edition of the GYC Centenary Trophy 4th October 2012, once again takes place during Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. The 2012 Les Voiles will be held between 29 September and 7 October and is open to modern and traditional yachts. Racing, depending upon the prevailing wind conditions, takes place on the bay of SaintTropez.

The winner 2011 – Bonafide.

Pictures: © Jürg Kaufmann

The GYC follows up the success of its 1st event in 2011 and this year the 2nd GYC Centenary Trophy 2012 will be sailed on Thursday 4th October as a pursuit race. This race method sees the slowest yacht as first to set off, and the fastest last, making for a great competition.

The winner will be the first crossing the finish line under the ‘portalet’.

Initiated by the Gstaad Yacht Club in full collaboration with the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez the Centenary Trophy was introduced last year as a race for all classic yachts aged 100 years and older.

It is now an annual regatta in the sailing calendar.

GYC Centenary Trophy With a record breaking number of 21 centenaries registered for Les Voiles and 5 more boats on a waiting list, the provisional entrance list increased by 6 yachts. Last year’s trophy holder, the 44 foot “Bonafide” (originally built in 1899) would have to challenge 5-10 more boats. With the oldest challenger from 1885 and the ‘youngest’ from 1912 the regatta promises to be even more enter­taining.

The Gstaad Yacht Club, with a commendable desire to bring together the world of the sea and racing will hold the Trophy Ceremony on the same evening in St. Tropez, in a venue transformed into the Gstaad

Les Voiles de St. Tropez

Trophy ceremony in Château St. Tropez.

Yacht Club especially for this event.

Having its clubhouse in the Swiss Alps with no access to a lake or the sea, it will be another step to bring its members, their guests and the wider world of yachting closer to the unique atmosphere of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez.

The Gstaad Yacht Club and the Société Nautique de Saint Tropez, are delighted to welcoming all classic yachts from 1912 and older for the Centenary Trophy 2012.

Registration information and ho-

tel accommodation to visit Les Voiles de St. Tropez and watch the­ GYC Centenary Trophy are available at the GYC secretariat: Gstaad Yacht Club, Tel: +41 33 748 0190, PO Box 374, Fax: +41 33 748 0191, 3780 Gstaad, ­cindy­@­­gstaadyachtclub.com

Events

Friday 3 August 2012 Page 18

Events Calendar

Friday August 03 2012 until Friday August 24 2012

■■FRIDAY, AUGUST 03 19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad: Bach – Fats Waller – Nigel Kennedy, NK Trio in the Mauritius church Saanen.

Rate: SFr 40-160. Phone +41 (0)33 748 8338.

■■WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 08 19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad – Guitar Days I with Los Romeros. Venue: Saanen church. Contact +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more info.

■■FRIDAY, AUGUST 03 – FRIDAY,

22 08h45: Alp visit with breakfast above Gsteig. Each Wednesday and Thursday – for more information, contact +41 (0)33 755 81 81.

OCTOBER 12 13h00: Weekly market in Saanen. Local, fresh products from the region for sale in the center of Saanen. Contact +41 (0)33 748 81 60 for more info.

■■FRIDAY, AUGUST 03 – SUNDAY,

AUGUST 5 14h30: Circus “Gasser Olympia” in Gstaad. For further dates or ticket reservation: www.starticket.ch

■■FRIDAY, AUGUST 03 17h00: Zither concert with Werner Frey at the church in Gsteig. Free entry – collection.

■■SATURDAY, AUGUST 04 19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad: Trio Kopatchinskaja – Gabetta – Buniatishvili, at the Mauritius church in Saanen.

Rate: SFr 40-160. Contact +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more info.

■■SATURDAY, AUGUST 04 10h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad: Matinée des Jeunes Étoiles III, in the Kapelle, Promenade, Gstaad. SFr 30. Phone +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more info.

■■SATURDAY, AUGUST 04 5th Glacier 3000 Run: This challenging race course begins in the village of Gstaad at approx 1050 meters and ends up at the Glacier 3000, almost 3000 meters above sea level! A participation in the course is possible in the categories Single or Team.

Contact +41 (0)33 748 17 17 for more info.

■■SATURDAY, AUGUST 04 14h30: Gstaad Kids Run. Starts and ends on the Kapälliplatz in Gstaad. Distance from 770 to 1’190 meters. Rate: SFR 10.

Registration necessary! Phone +41 (0)79 272 84 18.

■■WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 08 – AUGUST

■■THURSDAY, AUGUST 09 19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad Guitar Days II – with Ayres d’Andaluzia, in the church in Gsteig. Rate: SFr 30-70.

Contact +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more info.

■■THURSDAY, AUGUST 09 – THURSDAY,

OCTOBER 25 16h00: Guided village tour of Saanen.

The guidance includes a visit of the museum, which takes about two hours. For more info, contact +41 (0)33 748 81 60.

■■FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad Orchestral concert with Anne Sofie von Otter, Mezzosopran. Venue: Mauritius church Saanen. Rate: 40-160. Contact +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more info.

■■FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 – AUGUST 31 20h30: Folklore evening in Restaurant & Hotel Wildhorn, Lauenen. Swiss music/jodeling. Contact +41 (0)33 765 30 12 for more info.

■■SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad – The English concert, with Mr Corelli in London. Venue: Kapelle Saanen. Rate: SFr 40-125. Phone +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more info.

■■SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 10h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad - Matinée des Jeunes Étoiles IV with Frederic Sánchez & Andreu Gallén. Venue: Kapelle Gstaad, SFr 30. Contact +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more information.

17h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad: Gabor Boldoczki & Hedwig Bilgram in the Temple Château d-Oex. Rate: SFr 30-70.

Phone +41 (0)33 748 83 38 or www. menuhinfestivalgstaad.com

■■SUNDAY, AUGUST 12 11h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad – closing concert of the youth orchestra week, together with the music school Basel. Venue: Festival tent Gstaad. Free entry – collection. For more info, contact +41 (0)33 748 83 38.

■■TUESDAY, AUGUST 07

■■TUESDAY, AUGUST 14

■■SUNDAY, AUGUST 05

19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad Top of Switzerland - Kiefer Hablitzel Preisträger. Venue: church in Gsteig. Rate: SFr 30-70. Phone +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more info.

19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad – Menuhin’s Heritage I – Chad Hoopes.

Venue: Rougemont church. Rate: SFr 30-70. For more info, contact +41 (0)33 748 83 38.

■■WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15 19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad – Top of Switzerland – Grosse Fuge, Merel Quartet. Venue: Lauenen church. Rate: SFr 30-70. Phone +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more information.

■■THURSDAY, AUGUST 16 19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad – with Vilde Frang & Truls Mark. Venue: Rougemont church. Rate: SFr 30-70.

Phone +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more information.

■■THURSDAY, AUGUST 16 – SUNDAY,

AUGUST 19 Hublot Polo Gold Cup Gstaad: The international polo tournament at the airport in Saanen, with top-ranking players and tough competition for sought-after world ranking points. Free entry! For more info, contact +41 (0)33 744 07 40.

■■FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad – Kammermusikfest Gstaad, with Fazil Say (piano). Venue: Mauritius church Saanen. Rate: SFr 40-160. For more info, contact +41 (0)33 748 83 38.

■■SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 19h00: Open-air party at the “Landhaus” Saanen. Free entry! For more info, contact +41 (0)33 748 40 40.

■■SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad – Orchestra concert. Venue: Festival tent Gstaad. Rate: SFr 40-160. Contact +41 (0)33 748 83 38.

■■FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 19h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad with Noemi Nadelmann & Anne Ellersiek, Soprane. Venue: Festival tent Gstaad.

Rate: SFr 40-160. Contact +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more information.

■■Rotary Club Gstaad-Saanen-

land Meetings every Monday 12h00 Palace Hotel Gstaad (033 / 748 50 00), President: Rot. Christian Sieber (026 / 924 45 25) Program: Rot. Pascal Rey (026 / 925 10 00) Lions Club Gstaad-Saanenland Meetings normally each first and third week of the month on Thursdays, either at 12h00 a.m. for lunch or at 7h00 p.m. for dinner. Meetings in Wellness & Spa-Hotel Ermitage-Golf, Schönried, Tel. 033 748 60 60. For details and program contact Victor Steimle, president, 033 748 78 88, steimle@tundr.ch, https://gstaad-saanenland.lionsclub.ch

■■Church Services St Peter’s English-Speaking Anglican Church, Château-d’Oex Sunday, August 5, 17h30: Evening Prayer Rev. Paul Holley Sunday, August 12, 17h30: Holy Communion Rev. Paul Holley Sunday, August 19, 17h30: Evening Prayer Rev. Paul Holley www.allsaints.ch/chateaudoex Contact: paul.holley@anglicanhealth.org

■■SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 10h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad: Matinée des Jeunes Étoiles V. Venue: Kapelle Promenade Gstaad. Rate: SFr 30. Phone +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more info.

■■SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 11h30: Menuhin Festival Gstaad: Brunch concert in an Alp hut with Thomas Grossenbacher. Rate: SFr 140.

Venue: Alphütte Les Ouges, Rougemont. For more info, contact +41 (0)33 748 83 38.

■■SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 10h00: Mountain Party with live Swiss music, BBQ and raclette. Venue: Ruedersberg. For more info, phone +41 (0)79 369 16 00.

■■MONDAY, AUGUST 20 – THURSDAY,

AUGUST 23 Menuhin Festival Gstaad: Concours Ernst Haefliger in the Kirchgemeindehaus Gstaad. Rate: SFr 20-30. Tickets are available on-site. Contact +41 (0)33 748 83 38 for more info.

■■Important Numbers Ambulance 144, Police 117 Police office 033 356 84 31 Fire-brigade 118 Saanen Hospital 033 748 02 00 Château-d‘Oex Hospital 026 923 43 43 Car accident service 033 744 88 80 Veterinary 033 744 35 31 / 033 744 06 61 Medical emergency 0900 57 67 47 Dental emergency 033 748 02 00 For additional useful numbers please visit www.gstaadlife.ch/usefulnumbers

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Friday 3 August 2012 Page 19

Column

Fifty Shades of Frustration

by Mandolyna Theodoracopulos Shades, but I couldn’t put it down.

I wrapped my body around the paperback so people on either side of me couldn’t see what I was reading.

Mortified to be seen purchasing the erotic novel that has had every soccer mom from here to Vladivostok yearning to be softly squashed under a sexy man’s thumb since the book came out last year, I told the young man at the counter it was purely for research purposes.

He smiled and said he was amazed by the variety of people buying the book and that he was certain I would be back in a few days for the second one, I had my doubts.

I walked out of the store concealing Fifty Shades of Grey in a brown paper bag as though I were boozing it up on a Monday morning.

When I got home that evening I started reading. Though I wasn’t impressed with the first few pages I found I had read 150 of them by the time I had to head out for dinner. The next day I boarded a flight for a short trip, book in hand. I was embarrassed to be seen with Fifty

Now that I have been sucked into the vortex that is the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, it is clear that most women, even bossy ones, want their men to be in charge. To most of us, this is hotter than equality.

Despite all the “grrrl power” nonsense touted by a few loud and loveless grrrls since the 1960s, you can’t change basic biological drives.

What women want from men has always been a combination of domination and sensuality. Women want to be Kim Basinger in 91/2 Weeks and they want dudes to be like Mickey Rourke.

Most everyone I know who has read Fifty Shades agrees men should read the book too because frankly, most of you have no idea how to dance, seduce, or make love.

Despite centuries of wisdom, too many men still can’t give women an orgasm and some don’t even stray from the missionary position. What can we do but read a book that articulates what we actually want and walk you through each step?

Poor us.

When we aren’t bossing our men

around, we want men to be in charge behind closed doors. Even nice girls think about sex all the time-probably more so because we often have no satisfaction in real life. Why else do we love romantic films as much as we do?

While some scenes in Fifty Shades read like they were lifted right out of Pretty Woman, they are far more erotic. Anastasia Steele, the object of Christian Grey’s domination, is a subservient, reed-thin virgin who likes being tied up and smacked.

What Grey has in common with the male studs from 91/2 Weeks and Pretty Woman is that they all move with grace and confidence. Anastasia Steele alludes to this often, and men should take note. Physicality is very important.

The storyline develops slowly across the trilogy and none of the real action happens until the second book, if you can get that far. Beyond the sophisticated backdrop, Fifty Shades is crappy chick lit, yet it still speaks volumes about the modern erotic void. Clearly there is an enormous gap between women and our sublimated desires. The book also makes some interesting points on childhood, adolescence, sexual deviance, and power. The author implies that a perv can enjoy “vanilla” sex, but I have a feeling this is more

about James’s fantasy life, because none of the pervs I know ever orders vanilla down at the ice-cream shop.

Another beef: The prose is unsophisticated. I was highly annoyed by all the British words and expressions that Americans rarely if ever use. Why did a British author set the book in Seattle and then fail to use the right dialect? When was the last time you heard an American say they were “keen” to do anything? Along with this sloppy oversight were a number of typos.

Where were the publishers on this?

James’s narrator also uses certain words over and over again. The book is flush with the word “flush.”

Anastasia is always flushing. Argh.

Eventually you get past these pesky details and wonder why this book has been so successful and why women everywhere are unable to put it down. The sad truth is that modern men are pathetic little jellyfish who have no idea what to do once the lights go out. Without a hot, rich, powerful, bare-chested Zorro type to ride in on a wild steed and make us swoon, women will be stuck seeking vicarious sexual domination from movies and books.

Nothing else explains the immense popularity of E. L. James’s erotic novels.

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