Event: Germany

Arschleder Sledding World Championship

When:	Feb 2009 (annual)
Where:	Neudorf im Erzgebirge
Opening Hours:	Entries 11am-12pm; Race begins at 1pm

Neudorf, in the Ore Mountains of south-eastern Germany, stages the world championship in sliding down a ski slope protected from the ravages of nature by nothing more than a pair of leather over-britches.

In the Middle Ages, miners in the area's silver mines used Arschleder - the official term - to protect their work trousers as they slid into the pit straddling tree-trunks. Neudorf revived the practice in 1998 as an amusing diversion for locals and tourists alike.

The tree trunks have gone and competitors today skid down the slope directly on the snow, competing for the title in Arschleder-Wettruscheln (competitive Arschleder sledding). Everybody is welcome and, naturally, surprises are to be expected. Registration takes place from 11am at the ski lift.