Since foiling was banned on Saxony's lakes in 2022, many water sports enthusiasts in the state have been left out in the cold. Neither the resistance of the surfing scene, nor attempts at mediation by associations such as the VDWS water sports association or "round tables" have been able to change anything so far. The Saxon Ministry of Transport justifies the ban with the alleged "dangerous tendency" of the foils. This would allow high speeds and pose a danger to other water sports enthusiasts and bathers.
What the authorities consistently ignore, however, is that foils do not necessarily increase speed compared to normal windsurfing or kitesurfing. That foil surfing is only possible at an appropriate distance from the beach anyway due to the required water depth? Not an argument! The fact that no accidents involving foils have been documented in Saxony to date also seems to roll off the radar of those responsible.
Against this backdrop, the news that, according to plans by the Saxony State Directorate, motorboats will soon be allowed to sail on Lake Cospuden without restriction sounds like a bad joke. As the magazine Blick.de reported that the conversion of Lake Cospuden from "bathing water" to "navigable water" is planned. This would mean that motorboats would be allowed to navigate the lake without restriction. New opposition to this is now forming on the part of the Leipzig Environmental AssociationEco-lion.Background: Lake Cospuden is not only a meeting point for the surfing scene, but also part of the landscape conservation areaLeipzig alluvial forest.
For Philip Kümpel, who is currently taking legal action against the foil ban on behalf of the water sports scene, the new plans of the regional authorities once again demonstrate the arbitrariness of the authorities. "It's absurd, but the new plans are actually helpful in our arguments for our lawsuit." So let's hope that in future, instead of the noise of engines, the soft hissing of foils will once again be heard on "Cossi" & Co.
Surfers face severe penalties
At the beginning of September 2022, the first wingfoiler was caught on Lake Störmthal. The water police took him off the water, recorded his personal details and announced a fine of 50 to 60 euros. "If we were to go back on the water now, it would be 100 euros and other measures could follow," reports Philipp Kümpel, who witnessed the situation and was also one of the initiators of the Petition against the only general foil ban in Germany is in Saxony. "The policeman knew the exact paragraph and said that a wingfoil board was a Formula 1 car and belonged on a special racetrack. He shrugged his shoulders in response to my objection that there was no such racing lake in the whole of Saxony and that it was otherwise permitted throughout Germany. At the same time, a number of motorboats were sailing on Lake Störmthal, which can be driven with up to 15 hp without a licence. "
Our sister magazine "boote" has already tested such boats several times and found that speeds of up to 40 km/h are possible without any problems. Wingfoilers and normal windsurfing foilers can only dream of such speeds.
Meanwhile, the responsible Saxon Ministry of Economics and Transport seems to be providing its officials with adventurous arguments, but is otherwise rather reluctant to communicate. At the beginning of August 2022, Philipp Kümpel requested an appointment with the responsible minister, Thomas Dulig, to hand over the more than 6,000 signatures against the foil ban in Saxony. This request has so far gone completely unanswered.
The participants of the round table on 12 July 2022, at which representatives of associations, the police and the ministry met, have also not yet received the minutes of the meeting announced for 24 August (as of 22 September). Meanwhile, the Central German Sailing Week on Lake Zwenkau was granted a temporary exemption for the kitesurfing and foilsurfing competitions - whoever wants to understand that.
The Association of German Watersport Schools (VDWS) also does not want to give up the fight against the foil ban in Saxony: "I very much hope that the Saxon ministries involved can agree on a permanent end to the ban. That would be good and necessary for the sport and would make further steps superfluous," says VDWS Chairman Thomas Weinhardt. But going to the Federal Minister of Transport is also an option.
Foil ban in Saxony - the background
As reported the Saxon Ministry of Economics, Labour and Transport recently issued a decree banning the use of foils on all water areas. Reason: "Hazardous". How those responsible came to this decision has so far remained unclear, as there have been no accidents or other incidents involving foils in Saxony.
Would anyone dare to ban cycling in general because racing bikes can go over 40 km/h? Hardly...
The foil ban covers all sports; neither windsurf foiling, nor wing foiling or foil kiting are currently permitted on the numerous lakes in Leipzig's Neuseenland region. The reason,"that foils per se cause an increase in speed and are therefore to be characterised as dangerous"On closer inspection, the term "windsurfing" appears to be inconclusive, and in some cases even technically incorrect: many of the foils used by windsurfers and wingers do not increase speed compared to the fin, but merely ensure that the lower wind limit is reduced.
Would the ministry dare to ban cycling because racing bikes can travel at 40 km/h and more? Despite many accidents on the roads, probably not...
Petition launched against the ban in Saxony
For this reason, the water sports community in Saxony needs your help. You can do this now within a few minutes via the following online petition and thus help to ensure that politicians not only have to deal with the arbitrary and unfounded decision in Saxony, but also that similar decrees are prevented in other federal states.
MDR has also devoted itself to the topic and published an interesting report ( from minute 20:00 it starts ).
Manuel Vogel
Editor surf