2006 CHIO Aachen

Vaulting premiere at the CHIO 2006

Nadia Zülow and Kai Vorberg introduced the discipline

Doing a cartwheel or scissors backwards - and all that on a horse cantering in a circle. Nadia Zülow showed why she is the most successful vaulter of all time in the Deutsche Bank Stadium of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV). It was a foretaste of the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen 2006 (May 17th-21st), where vaulting competitions are being held for the first time ever. Tickets are still available from the ticket hotline on +49-(0)241-917-1111.

"A true premiere that we are really looking forward to," said ALRV General Manager, Frank Kemperman. "The basic prerequisites for vaulting are strength, technique, agility, aesthetics and harmony with the horse. For both individual and team vaulting," explained the German national coach, Ursula Ramge. "We have been waiting for the CHIO and the World Equestrian Games in Aachen with anticipation for ages."

The entire German national team including both the individual and team members has confirmed its attendance at the CHIO - and these include many international title-holders. The Ladies World Champion, Nicola Ströh, will be competing together with Kai Vorberg, the Men's World Champion. The 25-year-old was also present in the Deutsche Bank Stadium on Friday - together with Ursula Ramge, WEG Discipline Manager Kersten Klophaus and the lunger Petra Harting from the Aachen Riding Club.

Vaulting is namely also one of the seven disciplines at the World Equestrian Games Aachen 2006 (August 20th to September 3rd). "But we already want to offer the public in this wonderful stadium exciting competitions and an entertaining show programme at the CHIO," noted Kersten Klophaus. There is the opportunity to experience this sport at a highly professional level in the Deutsche Bank Stadium on Friday, May 19th from 7 p.m. onwards and on Saturday, May 20th, from 3.20 p.m. Nadia Zülow, who ended her active career after winning several European and World Championship titles, can also be experienced in action again, since she will performing in a show programme.

Kai Vorberg from Cologne, is on the other hand one of the big favourites in the Handicraft Prize at the CHIO and for the WEG title. "Aachen has a special significance for me", commented the 25-year-old. "I took silver at the European Championships here in 1997 at my first big tournament, I became German Champion here in 2003." Despite the fact that he didn't have much to do with this discipline as a child. "At the time I thought, that is something only girls do. Later I noticed that this could also have its advantages." And that talent isn't everything. "I didn't have any anyhow," laughed Nadia Zülow. "This is why I always had to fight and work very hard on myself. Perhaps that is why I was able to stay at the top for so long." The equestrian fans at the CHIO will see that 28-year-old hasn't forgotten anything.

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