Skinny-dipping at  Gänsehäufel?
January 4, 1906
The well known “apostle of natural healing methods” Florian Berndl was given a small plot of land to lease on the island to keep as a meadow. However, he wasn't actually maintaining the land as a natural meadow but rather moved his family to the island.
Berndl recommends outdoors-, sand and sunbathing to cure rheumatic diseases. His followers, often dubbed as  “Berndl fools”, therefore often refer to him lovingly as the Sand Doctor. Due to rumors  that there has been skinny-dipping on the island, the lease has been immediately revoked.  Now a new swimming area with  600m long and 60m wide man-made bathing beach for the Viennese population should be constructed there.

Winter Sports in Vienna
December 20, 1900

Sledding, curling, ice-skating and “meadow sliding” in the Vienna Woods- that's not all  Vienna has to offer in the form of winter sports. The Viennese have now discovered skiing as a popular winter sport.  Impressed by Friedjof Nansen’s book “On Snow Shoes through Greenland”, many Viennese are having skis delivered from Norway and have started practicing skiing. Just recently,  on December 15, 1900, the Austrian  ski teacher, Mathias Zdarsky, founded his “International Alpine Ski Club” in Vienna. He teaches his students at the Hackenberg meadow in Hütteldorf-Hacking and is today an internationally sought-after ski teacher. You can read more about Zdarsky’s new alpine skiing technique in his book “Schönfelder Skiing Technique.” 

Automobile Race Paris-Vienna
June 30, 1902
On June 29, 1902 Prater marked the finish line for the automobile race Paris - Vienna. Thousands of spectators cheered for the winner, Marcel Renault. The car and bike-rider flower corso held for this occasion was also a feast for the eyes.