Two national Stein Holding records broke on Saturday at the eighth Big Bear Lake Mayfest, pushing Mountain Town into the spotlight of this growing, competitive sports.
Bob Sharack of Lightstown, New Jersey set a new US record for men by holding a full Bealstein with his arms extended for 25 minutes and 29 seconds. The time was at the time, breaking the previous national record at 23:40 and destroying the local record for Big Bear, which had been standing since 1995, organizers said.
Bob Sharack set a new US man Stein Holding Record at Big Bear Lake on May 31, 2025. (Big Bear Lake Mayfest)
In the women’s category, Celeste Sayler Zlatic, a resident of Crestline, also made history in 6 minutes and 54 seconds. The previous national record was 6:10, set in 2022 at the Hofbräu Masskrugmen National Championships in New York City.
Both winners have won all outstanding payment trips to compete in the US finals held in New York this fall.
“We are extremely excited to break two national records in Mayfest qualifying,” said Big Bear Lake Mayfest director Monica Marini. “These record breakers have Big Bear Lake on the National Stein Holdings Map!”
Steinholding, or Masskrugstemmen, challenges competitors to fully hold the beer with arms stretched out without spilling or hanging. A Fullstein weighs about 5 pounds, which may not seem to be the case, but as time ticking it gradually becomes unbearable.
The growing national tournament culminates in Hofbrau Muskrugmann’s National Final every year. Top male and female finishers take trips to Germany.
Shalak and his wife Chantelle both flew from New Jersey to compete in the Big Bear, especially with passionate Steinholding fans. He praised the welcoming atmosphere at the event, saying it was well beyond the other qualifiers that took place on the East Coast.
“We’ve been to Boston, New York and Philadelphia, and all of these events were as welcoming and enjoyable as Big Bear Lake,” Sharack said.
Celeste Seiler-Zlatich set a new US Women Stein Holding Record on Big Bear Lake on May 31, 2025. (Big Bear Lake Mayfest)
Seiler-Zlatich, who finished fourth in last year’s national final, said he was excited to return to New York with more experience and determination.
“I’m excited and am honored to represent Mayfest and Oktoberfest on Big Bear Lake and our beautiful mountain community again,” she said.
The National Finals will be held on September 20th.
Mayfest on Lake Big Bear will be celebrated on the anniversary weekend of May 25th, 2025. (KTLA)
Mayfest celebrates the arrival of spring with traditions similar to the better known Oktoberfest tradition. This is the second year in which Big Bear Lake Maifest is operating as a US Stein Holding Championship Qualifying Site.
This year’s Mayfest celebration took place on Memorial Day weekend and on the weekends from May 30th to June 1st.
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