They all had an office here at one time or another: Florian Hoffmann, Josef Lutzenberger and Josef Klingl are sitting in front of the town hall in Utting. On the occasion of the 900th anniversary of Utting, the current mayor Hoffmann and his two predecessors will take part in the jousting as a team. In an interview, they explain what is important in this popular sport – and how they want to prevent the opposing teams from getting the mayor wet.
Form an extraordinary team at the jousting in Utting (from right): Mayor Florian Hoffmann, ex-mayor Josef Lutzenberger and ex-mayor Josef Klingl.
(Photo: Arlet Ulfers)
SZ: Mr. Hoffmann, you are mayors, Mr. Lutzenberger and Mr. Klingl, you were mayors. Now you want to form a joint team. Who is the boss?
Josef Lutzenberger: The acting mayor.
Josef Klingl: He still has something to say, the rest of us don’t.
Florian Hoffmann: That would probably be me.
Did you come up with the idea of forming a team of mayors?
Hoffmann: From the two of us, Mr. Klingl and me.
Klingl: No, that came more from you. The mayor persuaded us, let’s put it that way.
Hoffmann: We sat with the fire department and talked about it. The firefighters form a team, so we thought: a mayor’s team, that would be great fun.
Have you ever taken part in a jousting?
Lutzenberger: We’re not professionals, but if you live by the lake, you’ll of course take part in one or the other joust.
Klingl: The last jousting I took part in was 20 years ago.
Lutzenberger: There was once a municipal council team with a mayor, and I was a counterbalance. It’s the same with us: I’m responsible for the weight!
How does jousting work?
Klingl: They try to stab each other off the boat with a spear. There are three men on it: The engraver, who is standing with the lance on a board that protrudes from the stern of the rowing boat. Then there is a rower who rows either forwards or backwards. And one that tries to balance the weight so it doesn’t get too wobbly.
So only those who stand on the plank fall into the water?
Lutzenberger: Exactly. If you stay on the plank, your team wins. And whoever flies into the water is out. This is a knockout system.
Who is on your plank?
Klingl: The mayor, of course.
How do you rate the chances that the mayor stays dry?
Hoffmann: Well, of course.
Klingl: In terms of weight, we are well positioned.
Lutzenberger: And we are no longer hotheads! We are battle-hardened, experienced and risk-aware. So we don’t throw ourselves into the water right away, we’re more of a tactical race.
Will the other teams shy away from pushing the mayor into the water?
Hoffman: On the contrary. It’s legal to get the mayor wet, it’ll be a special occasion for sure.
Only the engraver can fall into the water at the joust: Mayor Florian Hoffmann (in the middle). Former mayor Josef Klingl (left) and former mayor Josef Lutzenberger (right) are in the boat.
(Photo: Arlet Ulfers)
What is important in a good team?
Hoffmann: A mixture of tactics, balance and luck!
Lutzenberger: Above all, balance is needed for those who stand on the plank. The rower must really be able to row. Few rowing movements, but rapid ones when the trigger becomes unbalanced. And offer as little attack surface as possible.
You could be described as a cross-party team, you belong to different parties.
Klingl: That’s right, but we don’t have any problems there. We are team players by profession.
You pushed each other out of the town hall as mayor, didn’t you?
Klingl: I was voted out.
Lutzenberger: I pushed him off the throne.
Hoffmann: And when I started, Mayor Lutzenberger didn’t start again.
How do you train?
Hoffmann: We don’t train.
Not at all?
Klingl: There’s this saying: If you practice, you can’t do anything.
So you have your team premiere on competition day?
Lutzenberger: Yes, that will be unique. It probably won’t happen again any time soon.
Hoffmann: In Utting, jousts are only held for festive activities. And for the first time we have the situation that three mayors are of an age where it still works. The predecessors in office are often well advanced in years, but the two are still quite good together.
Lutzenberger: Thank you!
Will you wear costumes?
Ringer: No. There’s a trend to dress crazy. And at places with traditional jousting, like Dießen, everyone is usually in costume. But with us it should be a one-time fun.
Hoffmann: We have team T-shirts for that.
Lutzenberger: Really? I need XL
Klingl: I XS.
How do the t-shirts look?
Hoffmann: You have an imprinted waistcoat and tie, as mayor we have to appear sensible. Correspond to the office, so to speak.
Klingl: So that the respect is a bit greater.
Hoffmann: It’s the first time I’ve worn a tie in my office.
The jousting takes place on July 2nd at 4.30 p.m. in the Summerpark in Utting. In addition to the three first places, the craziest team will also be awarded. Teams of three people can register at [email protected]. Participation fee: 10 euros.