Germany's most beautiful places for surfing

Only those who have dedicated themselves to extreme surfing still travel to the other end of the world. To Hawaii or the beaches of Australia, perhaps. Portugal or northern Norway also have the giant waves needed for this extreme sport. If you don't want to tackle 20- or 30-meter waves, you'll find them in Germany, too. There are hardly any sporting wishes left unfulfilled.

Surfing in Sankt Peter-Ording

Since the 1990s at the latest, the North Frisian seaside resort has been a household name among surfers: Sankt Peter-Ording. However, the reason for the high popularity is not gigantic wave crests or special winds, but the ARD early evening series "Against the Wind", which at that time attracted around five million viewers simultaneously in front of the screens. The story about the passionate windsurfers Nik Andersen and Sven Westermann was filmed in Sankt Peter Ording on the coast of Schleswig-Holstein.

Whoever travels to Sankt Peter-Ording today for windsurfing or kitesurfing will find the best conditions. It is no coincidence that the Kite World Cup is also held here, a mega event for thousands and thousands who arrive year after year to watch and celebrate. If you want to surf yourself, you have the choice between the north and south beaches, which reveal their advantages and dangers depending on the wind direction and current conditions of high and low tide. Surfing waves up to two or three meters high sometimes form on the offshore sandbanks.

Surfing in Munich

Munich's Eisbach, a roaring tributary of the Isar River, is cult among surfers and tourists. Here you ride a standing wave that is barely half a meter high but requires some skill. Surfing is still not officially permitted here, but it is tolerated. In 2009, documentary filmmaker Bjoern Richie Lob created a cinematic monument to the surf spot in the middle of the Bavarian capital. His film "Keep Surfing" had its world premiere at the Munich Film Festival and was immediately honored with the audience award.

Surfing on the Eisbach is made possible by a stone step that creates a permanent rapid - the famous Eisbach wave.

Surfing on Sylt

Sylt is considered the cradle of German surfing culture. More than 60 years ago - at the beginning of the 1950s - lifeguards are said to have swung onto their boards here for the first time. It is the beginning of a new sporting era on the waves, which has also taken on many forms on the North Sea island: Surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing - everything is offered on the beaches. There are many surf spots on the island, for example, the Brandenburger Strand near Westerland, the Sturmhaube and Buhne 16 near Kampen or the Seestraße in Wenningstedt.

Surfing in Berlin and Brandenburg

Berlin's lake- and river-rich environment delights water sports enthusiasts of all kinds, not least kite- and windsurfers. Although kitesurfing is prohibited on federal waterways, which include many of the lakes, there is still plenty to choose from - from Müggelsee and Wannsee to Schwielowsee, Werbellinsee and Wandlitzsee. A special recommendation in the middle of dense forests is also the Spremberger Talsperre, where you can surf splendidly, especially with north or south winds. Kiters are at home here, especially on the northern beach.

Surfing in Brazil at the Baltic Sea

Brazil is not necessarily around the corner, but it can be reached from Kiel in less than half an hour. The Baltic Sea town with the melodious name, officially a part of Schönberg, has meanwhile turned into a real surf spot - and the community of surfers on the Baltic Sea is growing. Brazil is a good place for winds from northwest to southeast and has plenty to offer the wind- and wave-hungry clientele.

Several water sports schools offer their services in the region, so you can rent the equipment for surfing and, if desired, refresh your knowledge from the previous year at one of the courses.