Nightlife / Stephanie Depasquale

Heidi Auf, das boot and a good time at Oktoberfest at the Bierstube

By Stephanie De Pasquale | Tuesday, October 14, 2008 | () comments

I got my butt kicked in a Heidi Auf competition.

For those of you who aren’t in touch with your German roots, Heidi Auf is the female version of the sport/game in which two women lay side by side, facing opposite directions with their hips lined up. When someone yells Heidi Auf they lift their inside legs up, hook knees and try to turn over the other woman.

The best two out of three wins. And when I got roped into playing at Oktoberfest at the Bierstube in Moline on Friday night, I lost the first two matches to Mary Albracht of Moline.

I tried to get out of playing in the first place, but since I was standing front and center for the mens version, Hans Auf, taking notes for this column, I was in the direct line of sight of the Bierstube employees when it came time to call for female volunteers.

I said no twice, but one of the members of the Austrian band, Alpenreisser, wearing lederhosen took my purse and notepad and it was all over from there. Plus they were carrying women to the floor and I figured I’d rather go willingly than be hoisted to the ring.

I’m a runner so I thought I stood at least a little chance, but I got flipped over almost as soon as Bierstube owner Dieter Rebitzer finished calling, “Auf.”

The game was fun, though, and the crowd really got into it, cheering on the contestants while nursing their boots filled with dark German beer.

Other German contests scheduled for Oktoberfest, which continues on Saturday, are barrel rolling, log sawing, a yodel contest, nail pounding, mug holding, human wheelbarrels and, of course, more Hans Auf and Heidi Auf contests.

Just in case you’re wondering why Oktoberfest is being held in September, Mark Jerson, promotions coordinator for the Bierstube, said the holiday is traditionally celebrated in the last two weeks of September through Oct. 2, leading up to the harvest season. The Bierstube had to move up its celebrations this year by one week in order to book the Austrian band Alpenreisser, which provides the live music for the event.

The band plays a mixture of traditional Austrian and German songs and sing-alongs, polka and American popular songs with German lyrics.

Oktoberfest is free and in addition to German beer, traditional German food is also available. But I would recommend drinking a boot before attempting the Hans Auf or Heidi Auf.

If you go

What: Oktoberfest

When: Saturday, Sept. 20

5 p.m. �” Alpenreisser, chicken dance

6 p.m. �” Hans Auf, Heidi Auf

6:30 p.m. �” Alpenreisser

7 p.m. �” Barrel Rolling, chicken dance

7:30 p.m. �” Alpenreisser

8 p.m. �” Barrel rolling, chicken dance

8:30 p.m. �” Alpenreisser

9 p.m. �” Nail pounding, mug holing contests

9:30 p.m. �” Alpenreisser

10 p.m. �” Human wheelbarrels, chicken dance

10:30 p.m. �” Alpenreisser

11 p.m. �” Hans Auf, Heidi Auf

11:30 �” Alpenreisser

Where: Bierstube, 417 15th St., Moline

How much: Free

Information: bier-stube.com, myspace.com/bierstubemoline�

Stephanie De Pasquale (563) 333-2639 or sdepasquale@qctimes.com.

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