"Surf + Beach Culture Sylt": Exhibition about the history of surfing on Sylt

The premises of the former casino in Westerland Town Hall will become a stage for more than 70 years of surfing history. From 1 May, the continuation of the exhibition series "Surf + Beach Culture Sylt" will show the development of surfing on the island from the 1950s to the 1980s. While the first part in 2024 at the Sylt Museum highlighted the early phase of surfing in the fifties, sixties and seventies, the focus is now also shifting to the eighties. "We are delighted to be able to continue the story here," says Angelo Schmitt, curator of the exhibition. "With the 1980s, we are focussing on a time in which surf culture on Sylt developed significantly once again and received new impetus." The exhibition documents a phase in which surfing became increasingly established and windsurfing gained in importance at the same time.

Spot Guide: Windsurfing on Sylt - an overview of the flat water and wave spots

The first waves were surfed off Sylt as early as 1952 - in wetsuits or completely without neoprene, often on converted lifeboats. The exhibition visualises this close connection to beach and lifeguard culture. The exhibits include surfing equipment and rescue devices from four decades as well as historical surfboards and an original replica of a "swimmer's trolley". Interviews and eyewitness accounts complement the collection. Photos, videos and "Super 8" footage from private collections and the Sylt archive document the development of the sport. "Surfing is no longer just a water sport here, but a cross-generational attitude to life, a shared mentality and now an integral part of the island's culture," explains Angelo Schmitt. The materials show how the improvised beginnings developed into an established sports culture.

Windsurfing and the World Cup

In 1974, Jürgen Hönscheid won the first international windsurfing competition on the Seenot beach, just a few hundred metres from the exhibition venue. This success marked the beginning of a new era. Windsurfing subsequently became more and more popular. Westerland became a permanent tour stop for the Windsurf World Cup Sylt in 1984. The exhibition documents this development and shows how the surfing culture became more differentiated in the 1980s. The exhibits make it clear how technical innovations and sporting competitions characterised the scene. "The exhibition makes it impressively clear how closely sport, nature and community are linked," emphasises Tina Haltermann, Mayor of the municipality of Sylt. The development of windsurfing complemented the existing surfing culture and expanded the spectrum of water sports on the island.

A look back at more than 40 years of the Windsurf World Cup Sylt:

• 1983 to 1992
• 1993 to 2002
• 2003 until 2012
• 2013 to 2023

Focus on environmental protection

The special exhibition "Shades of Trash" will be shown alongside the main exhibition. It addresses the topic of environmental and marine protection and uses figures made from flotsam and plastic waste collected worldwide to draw attention to the consequences of marine pollution. "At the same time, we are reminded of how important it is to protect our coast and our sea in order to preserve this lifestyle for future generations," says Tina Haltermann. The sculptures made of sea sculpture form a deliberate contrast to the historical surfing exhibition and link the past with current ecological challenges. The combination of both exhibitions creates an arc from the history of surfing to the responsibility for preserving the maritime environment.

Information and impressions on Instagram at @surfandstrandkultursylt