Look forward to the biggest surf festival of all time. Never before have there been more exhibitors at the Mercedes-Benz Surf Festival on the south beach on Fehmarn. From 26 to 29 May, you can test, party and compete in surfing and SUPing. You'll learn all about the equipment and can improve your riding technique. That's almost too much action for four days, but we're pretty sure: you can do it!
Unfortunately, the pandemic meant you had to miss the festival completely in 2020, and in 2021 it could only take place in September. But now - in 2022 - the Mercedes-Benz Surf Festival is back on its traditional date on the long Ascension weekend. Hooray! And we're not just shouting this as organisers - our partners, exhibitors and, last but not least, you surfers have obviously been eagerly awaiting the traditional start of the season on Fehmarn.
Not only have there never been so many manufacturers making equipment available for free testing, but the beach camp - so popular with you - was already fully booked four weeks before the festival. Stars and legends such as Balz Müller and Cesare Cantagalli are also coming to the far north. But higher, faster, further does not mean that we are not trying to make the festival more sustainable. On the one hand, we mainly have caterers with a regional focus, and on the other, there is a standardised deposit and reusable system for all food and drinks stands. Disposable crockery has been a thing of the past at the festival since last year. The new partner "Lagerknecht" also helps with clever shelving systems.
Windsurfing jack-of-all-trades Nico Prien has come up with something special. With his new partner surfcenter.com, he is offering you a free photo service on the water. You can find out how this works - as well as all the latest information - at www.surffestival.de
Mercedes-Benz Riders Academy
The Mercedes-Benz Riders Academy has become an integral part of the surf festival. Once again this year, you can take part in the workshops and seminars live and free of charge in a relaxed atmosphere in the Academy tent on the beach after registering in advance. This year, German record-breaking champion Bernd Flessner will be giving practical life advice: How do you manage to combine sport, business and real life? And how can windsurfing experience help? Klaas Voget was one of the best waveriders in the world for many years and a pioneer of wingfoiling in Germany. In his seminar, he will show you how windsurfing and wingsurfing can complement each other perfectly. Surf editor and riding technique expert Manuel Vogel will give you practical windsurfing tips in his two workshops: "Trapeze surfing & planing" is aimed primarily at intermediates. "Planing, speed, control - equipment & tuning tips for freeriders", on the other hand, will offer valuable assistance to dedicated windsurfers. All other seminars and registration for the Mercedes-Benz Riders Academy can be found at: surffestival.com/rider-academy
Bitburger 0.0% SUP Challenge
The Bitburger 0.0% SUP Challenge has also been attracting many surf festival visitors to fun SUP board races on the water for years. Registration takes place spontaneously on Saturday and Sunday at the Bitburger Beach Base - the races are held directly on the same day. In addition to the familiar race format, in which everyone competes against everyone else on the circuit, the popular Team Challenge will also be held again. Register as teams of four participants. On Big SUPs, it's team against team on the course. In addition to lots of fun and honour, the winners of the day will of course receive the perfect refreshment with Bitburger 0.0% and great prizes. Join in and register on site at the Bitburger Beach Base for the individual race and/or with your dream team to take part in the Bitburger 0.0% SUP Team Challenge.
Surf Magazine Beach Talk at the Surf Festival
Brand new this year is the surf Magazin Beach Talk. Not only will you now find the surf magazine stand directly on the beach next to the test centre, the surf editors will also be active on the beach stage this year. And with a clear mission: we want to help you navigate the equipment jungle and avoid making mistakes when buying equipment. The specialists are focussing on topics that are repeatedly brought to the editorial team by readers. We use examples to show you what you need to look out for. This year, we have picked out the following focal points: Freeride boards, foils, freeride and manoeuvre sails and multifin boards. You can find out the exact times of the daily seminars on the programme boards at the test centre and on the surf festival site. The surf editors will also be on hand at the stand the whole time to answer your questions, help you with individual equipment problems and welcome your suggestions.
DKMS gets you fit on the board
With DKMS, the festival has a very special charity partner. As an international non-profit organisation, DKMS has the mission to defeat blood cancer. The aim is to register potential stem cell donors in order to give patients with blood cancer a second chance at life. Young and healthy people are particularly urgently needed, as they are especially likely to be stem cell donors. The official WBCD ambassador is Lina Erpenstein - Germany's best windsurfer, excellent DJ and a registered stem cell donor herself. At the DKMS stand, you can find out more about blood cancer and register as a potential stem cell donor. In the best case scenario, you can help someone suffering from blood cancer. Hobby windsurfer and former patient Anja will also be telling her story. DKMS will also be organising free training sessions on the beach with windsurfing and fitness coach Sascha Lange to get you "fit on the board". If you would like to register now for the file of potential donors, simply click on : www.dkms.de/surf
Mercedes-Benz German Freestyle Challenge
It's showtime - action on the water is guaranteed at the Mercedes-Benz German Freestyle Challenge. The best German trick riders start their competition season at the festival. Depending on the wind conditions, the contest starts at different times. In the best case scenario, you can watch the show directly from the beach. Thanks to the tow-in competition behind the jet ski, the final is guaranteed to take place on Saturday from 5 pm in front of the beach stage. By the way, anyone can take part in the GFC. The format is very simple - and you have the chance to finally show off your tricks to a large audience. germanfreestylebattles.de
Racer of the Sea at the Surf Festival
Competing with others on a regatta course is something that almost every committed windsurfer would like to do. But many have inhibitions about competing in big regattas. The "Racer of the Sea" is designed to break down these inhibitions. All advanced windsurfers can take part in the festival - without stress and too many rules. Before the races this year, there will even be the ROTS Academy, where the two regatta pros and organisers Oliver-Tom Schliemann and Leon Delle will give you valuable tips. The Academy is limited to ten participants at a time - so registration is essential. More information - and registration - is available at: racerofthesea.com
Surf Festival Party Nights
Lots of fresh air and space and long early summer evenings - that finally calls for parties again. And of course these are also part of the Mercedes-Benz Surf Festival. Every evening, well-known DJs play different styles on the main stage on the grounds. DJ Say Whaat kicks things off on Thursday. On Friday, it's electro, indie pop with DJ Frank, known from the radio show Buzz Beat Boutique. The highlight of recent years will also be back in 2022: Worldcupper and DJane Lina Erpenstein will be playing on Saturday, and it's going to be good - that's a promise!
Film premieres at the surf festival
Two absolute film highlights await you on Friday and Saturday evening on the main stage. On Friday we present the German premiere of "Broken Molds". The Hawaiian filmmakers from Poor Boys Produktion have traced the history of windsurfing from the perspective of the Schweitzer family. Alongside Jim Drake, Hoyle Schweitzer is regarded as the co-inventor of windsurfing. The images and interviews in "Broken Molds" are unique and fascinating.
On Saturday, together with the Ja Klar crew, we will take you back to the Swiss winter once again. The X-Project 2.0 will leave you in awe. You won't believe what's possible in the snow.
Test free of charge at the surf festival - here's how it works
Many of you already know the procedure: if you want to test the latest windsurfing and SUP equipment free of charge, all you have to do is register at the test centre on the beach after presenting your ID (which will be retained as a deposit). If you want to save time, it's best to register online before the festival at www.surffestival.de on. Please remember not to use the test material for more than half an hour at a time so that as many visitors as possible can enjoy this unique service from the manufacturers. This year you will find more brands on the south beach than ever before. Practically all board and sail manufacturers on the German market will be at the start in 2022. At surffestival.com you will also find all the information about the test operation.
At this point, you will find external content that complements the article. You can display and hide it with a click.
