From spa attendant to UK Champion: Galgorm’s Zak Moore to represent UK at World Aufguss Championships

Ballymena local Zak Moore has claimed the prestigious title of UK Aufguss Champion 2025

Ballymena native Zak Moore has secured the prestigious title of UK Aufguss Champion 2025 and will now represent the UK on the world stage in Italy.

At just 20 years old, Zak Moore has taken a remarkable leap from his early role as a spa attendant at Galgorm to become a national champion in the growing wellness practice of Aufguss.

His journey, one of passion, skill and cultural tradition, reflects the rise of sauna ritualism in the UK — and his personal dedication to sharing its benefits with others.

Aufguss, a ritualised sauna ceremony rooted in Central European wellness traditions, merges aromatherapy, music, rising heat, and choreographed towel movements to create an immersive multisensory experience. Far beyond a typical sauna session, Aufguss is regarded as a performance art that promotes emotional and physical wellbeing.

“For two years, I watched my colleagues perform these rituals in the spa at Galgorm and saw how guests lit up afterwards,” Zak said. “There was something powerful in how it made guests feel - uplifted, calm, connected. I knew I wanted to be part of that.”

Zak’s competitive debut came in 2024 at an event held at Galgorm itself, organised by Deborah Carr, Director at the British Sauna Society. That first experience sparked what would become a defining passion. Soon after, Zak travelled to Farris Bad in Norway — a world-renowned sauna destination — to train under international masters including Lasse Eriksen.

“The experience was transformative,” Zak recalls.

Armed with new techniques and inspired by sauna storytelling, Zak returned home with renewed purpose. At the UK Aufguss Championships in London, his performance, “The Dubliner,” captivated audiences and judges alike with its emotional narrative, technical flair, and immersive atmosphere.

“It was surreal hearing my name called,” he said. “I hope this inspires more people to explore what Aufguss really is.”

Zak’s triumph is a major milestone not only for him personally but also for the UK’s growing presence in international sauna culture. His win is celebrated at Galgorm, where his career first began and where his mother, Tara Moore, serves as Head of Spa Operations — a proud family connection that adds extra significance to the occasion.

As Zak now looks to the global stage, his path will take him to a Pre-Finals Training Camp in Verona, Italy this September, ahead of the Aufguss World Championships 2025 later that month. His journey continues through to SaunaFest in Bucharest in October, and concludes at the Aufguss Classic Final in November.

Alongside Zak’s rise, Galgorm continues to make its mark as a leader in holistic wellness. With its world-class thermal village attracting visitors from across the UK and Ireland, the spa has played a pivotal role in introducing and championing Aufguss rituals locally.

Zak’s mission, however, goes beyond competition.

“I’d love to make it a familiar wellness practice here at home,” he says. “It’s not just about performance – it’s about giving people a moment of peace, something they haven’t quite felt before.”

As one of the UK’s foremost ambassadors of Aufguss, Zak Moore is set not only to represent his country but also to inspire a new appreciation of ancient wellness rituals in modern life.