Brought the Heat from June 17 to 19, 2025
Canada’s First National Sauna Performance Championship
At Thermea Spa Village Whitby
Winners of Aufgusshow 2025
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3
Days
18
Performances
20
Aufgussmeister
And the Winners Are…
Aufgusshow 2025 lit up the sauna stage with 3 unforgettable days of heat, movement, and emotion. Canada’s top Aufgussmeister delivered powerful performances that blended scent, sound, and storytelling, each one pushing the boundaries of sauna art.
We’re proud to announce the champions who will go on to represent Canada at the Aufguss World Masters Championship in Italy:
• First place winner for solo performance: Jad Maalouf from Nordik Spa Village Chelsea
• First place winner for duo performance: Xavier & Zacharie Drouin-Hill from Nordik Spa Village Chelsea
• Second place winner for solo performance: Abigail Gillies from Thermea Spa Village Whitby
• Second place winner for duo performance: Kasha Kostrzewa & Jacqueline Mason from Thermea Spa Village Whitby
• Third place winner for solo performance: Evens Dominique from Förena Cité thermale
Bravo to all competitors, and thank you to everyone who joined us for this historic event.
Schedule
Day 1 | June 17
9 a.m.: Opening ceremony
11 a.m.: Quincy Hiebert's performance
12 p.m.: Emily Krolick's performance
2 p.m.: Mario Parada's performance
3 p.m.: Barbara Prevedel's performance
5 p.m.: Kasha & Jacqueline's performance
6 p.m.: Tasha Konkin's performance
All tickets include:
• 3 Aufgusshow competition performances of your choice (selected upon arrival)
• All-day access to the Spa Village and its installations
• Complimentary souvenir sauna hat
$139—taxes not included
Day 2 | June 18
9 a.m.: Frédéric Kenney's performance
10 a.m.: Jad Maalouf's performance
12 p.m.: Victoria Forster's performance
2 p.m.: Xavier & Zacharie's performance
4 p.m.: Evens Dominique's performance
6 p.m.: Stéphane Gauthier's performance
All tickets include:
• 3 Aufgusshow competition performances of your choice (selected upon arrival)
• All-day access to the Spa Village and its installations
• Complimentary souvenir sauna hat
$139—taxes not included
Day 3 | June 19
9 a.m.: Emily Finlay's performance
10 a.m.: Abigail Gillies' performance
12 p.m.: Kaitlyn Rathwell's performance
1 p.m.: Marika & Stéphane's performance
3 p.m.: Nicolas Gauthier's performance
4 p.m.: Amara Conde's performance
6 p.m.: Award ceremony
All tickets include:
• 3 Aufgusshow competition performances of your choice (selected upon arrival)
• All-day access to the Spa Village and its installations
• Complimentary souvenir sauna hat
$139—taxes not included
Meet the Competitors
Find Accommodations
Extend your Aufgusshow 2025 experience by staying near Thermea Spa Village Whitby in one of the region’s hotel establishments.
Enjoy exclusive offers with our hotel partners Courtyard Oshawa and Residence Inn by Marriott Whitby.
Have Questions?
Find the answers to all your Aufgusshow 2025 questions.
Here are the winners of Aufgusshow 2025:
• First place winner for solo performance: Jad Maalouf from Nordik Spa Village Chelsea
• First place winner for duo performance: Xavier & Zacharie Drouin-Hill from Nordik Spa Village Chelsea
• Second place winner for solo performance: Abigail Gillies from Thermea Spa Village Whitby
• Second place winner for duo performance: Kasha Kostrzewa & Jacqueline Mason from Thermea Spa Village Whitby
• Third place winner for solo performance: Evens Dominique from Förena Cité thermale
The first-place winners will represent Canada in Italy this September on the international sauna stage at Aufguss World Master.
Aufgusshow 2025 is Canada’s first National Sauna Performance Championship. Taking place in Thermea Spa Village Whitby it is where Canada’s finest Aufgussmeister transform the sauna into a dynamic stage in the hopes of gaining national recognition and the honour to represent Canada at the Aufguss World Masters Championship in Italy.
June 17, 18 and 19, 2025 at Thermea Spa Village Whitby in the Logga event sauna.
The Aufgusshow 2025 ticket includes 3 Aufgusshow competition performances of your choice, all-day access to the Spa Village and its installations and a complimentary sauna hat.
If you attend Aufgusshow on June 17 or 19, you may be able to participate in the opening or closing ceremony. Places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Ask the Artisan during check-in if there is still availability. This will not count towards your 3 competition performances.
The check-in area for ticket holders is located inside the main lobby of Thermea Spa Village. Specific kiosks dedicated to the event will be clearly visible and decorated in the event's colours. Simply present your electronic or printed ticket; we will provide you with your bracelet and inform you of the next steps.
Check-in for competitors, jurors, media, and VIPs will be located right outside the entrance to the main building.
You can select the 3 Aufgusshow performances you will attend upon arrival at the check-in area. A ticket will be issued with your chosen performances. It is needed to enter the Logga sauna.
We recommend arriving early to secure your desired performances. Each performance has a maximum capacity of 90 in the Logga sauna.
The Logga doors will close at the time mentioned on your ticket. We recommend arriving at Logga 5 to 10 minutes before the performance.
Unfortunately, we cannot issue another ticket if you miss the time you selected.
• Bathing suit and sandals, mandatory at all times, anywhere in the Village
• Electronic ticket (printed or digital)
• Reusable water bottle (glass water bottles are prohibited)
Optional, but nice:
• Book
• Lip balm
• Sunscreen
A bathrobe, towels and a locker that opens with a contactless wristband are included with your reservation of a Spa Village access. A complimentary souvenir sauna hat is also included in your Aufgusshow 2025 ticket.
To learn more about the Spa Village experience, consult our Village Code.
As this is the inaugural edition of Aufgusshow, we are currently not offering a multi-day discount. We will assess the demand for such discounts and consider implementing them in future editions.
Yes there are numerous accommodation options near Thermea Spa Village Whitby.
Enjoy exclusive offers with our hotel partners Courtyard Oshawa and Residence Inn by Marriott Whitby.
Click here to see all nearby hotels.
The judging criteria are determined by the Aufguss World Master Association. You can find all the standards in the Evaluation Catalogue.
After the competition, we will name a winner for the duo and solo categories that will get direct entry to compete at the World Master competition in Italy next September.
The jurors are judges from the Aufguss World Master Association in Europe and will include:
1. Lay Pang Ong—Malaysia Judge
2. Martijn Vanhoorelbeke—Aufguss WM Jury President & Belgium Judge
3. Riccardo Marzi—Italy Judge
4. Lasse Eriksen—Norway Judge
This event will be filmed and photographed. Please be advised you may appear in photos and videos.
The participation period has now ended. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with future Aufgusshow competitions.
Only those aged 19 and over may attend the Aufgusshow event and use the Spa Village facilities.
Explore the World of Aufguss
Discover sauna rituals through a variety of blog articles.
Whitby Discovery Wellness
In the simplest of terms, an Aufguss ritual is a wellness experience that occurs in a sauna. It is led by a Ritual Artisan. The Artisan pours essential oil-infused water onto the sauna’s hot stones and uses rhythmical towel movements to circulate fragrant air.
March 24, 2022
Whitby Discovery Interviews
Peeking behind the scenes of Nordik Spa-Nature this morning, you’d find a buzz of excitement, far from the calm that naturally defines the spa. Armelle, our guide for the day and Ritual Manager, describes the energy perfectly: It’s electric.
July 24, 2024
Whitby Discovery Wellness
“Auf-what? Aufguss?” It’s a question often heard outside the largest sauna at the Spa Village. This ancient ritual remains unfamiliar to many here in Canada. But with a national championship coming to Thermea Spa Village Whitby this summer, a new question is being asked: “What’s an Aufgusshow?”
April 16, 2025
Proudly Supported By
We sincerely thank our sponsors for their generous support, which elevates this event experience.
Join Our Team as a Ritual Artisan
Passionate about sauna culture and the art of performance? We’re looking for talented individuals to join our team of Aufgussmeister, better known as Ritual Artisans in the Spa Village.
Work in a dynamic and supportive environment.
Receive training from top industry professionals.
Participate in national and international Aufguss events.