In your own back garden, you know your way around – or so you think. The fact that, whilst researching the Ostholstein Spot Guide – an area where he has lived and surfed for over 20 years – our editor would still discover spots he hadn’t known about before was surprising, to say the least. This proves once again that you don’t necessarily have to travel far to broaden your horizons. Sometimes, all it takes is a change of perspective. The end result is a guide to one of Germany’s most diverse surfing regions – packed with local know-how. And perhaps the odd surprise or two.
Shrimp skewers in Tobago, Pizza Napoli in Torbole, a Leberkäs sandwich at Walchensee and a Wiener Schnitzel at Neusiedlersee. Just like Asterix in ‘Tour de France’, the test team gathered not only the test results but also their culinary impressions at four different spots. The Tobago Test It’s been months now, but the test results for the Freerace sails are as fresh as if they’d just come off the market. surf editor Stephan Gölnitz and his team found conditions at least as good as those in the Caribbean, and relatively close to home. “Two days of intense testing in strong winds on Lake Neusiedl for the Finns and the RigOne were gruelling – but also among the best runs of the year: just the two of us on the lake, pushing the limits in racing mode. By comparison, the foil tests were almost a relaxing break.”
As well as the four surf editors, some of our long-standing freelance contributors have once again produced some fascinating features for this issue. Chris Hafer lives in the Ruhr region and knows all about Adverts in the Netherlands like the back of his hand. He set off to photograph the still relatively unknown Tjeukemeer – a worthwhile alternative to the well-known hotspots. Wave expert Peter Garzke has a special flair for technique and the finer points. On his last Trip to Cape Town He has developed a wave-riding technique that takes rail-to-rail surfing under the microscope. To round off the star-studded line-up in this issue, writer Axel Reese has been watching professional windsurfer Vincent Langer closely – this time, Vincent shares expert tips on gliding and pumping.
All topics in surf 5/2026
- Freerace sail test: Seven camberless motors for thrilling speed duels and effortless jibes
- Start gliding earlier: Vincent Langer shows how small adjustments can make all the difference
- Photo story: Fiji vs Pozo: Two worlds, one discipline – and images that celebrate the contrast
- Test fins: Five tuning fins to make your freerider go faster – plus the new technology from MS-Fins
- Spotguide Ostholstein: More than just ‘just before Fehmarn’: the area between Blank-Eck and Niendorf is teeming with great spots
- Foil: What type of foiler are you? Foiling is always worth it – we’ve carried out our own tests to find out what equipment you need
- Waveriding Rail-to-Rail: These technical tips will help you polish your wave-riding skills
- Cabarete 2.0: The Caribbean classic reinvents itself: what makes Cabarete so exciting for windsurfers today
- Remi Vila: He designs boards for World Championship titles. An interview with the Starboard mastermind
- Windsurfing LT European Championships: Far more than just an event and astonishingly multifaceted – Lasse Brudek was there
- Who is… Christian Bratsch? A regatta surfer? An organiser? An official? Who is Christian Bratsch really, and if so, how many?
- World Cup Sylt preview: With the Citroën Windsurf World Cup just round the corner, the highlight of the competitive season is fast approaching
Products in surf 5/2026
- Tabou Twister 103 and GA Sails Pure 5.2
- Veolo Bike Trailer with Water Sports Kit
- Goya Obi Pro Trapeze
- RigOne Medium
- Interview: Flow Fins
Now only available in the DK Shop, no longer at newsagents – here’s how to get the new issue of surf
As you’ve no doubt noticed, since the start of 2026, *surf* has only been available via subscription or from the Delius Klasing shop. So if you’re not a subscriber and don’t receive the magazines automatically by post, you can All issues of *surf* as individual copies Order now!
Surfing tip: If you take out a subscription to the magazine, you’ll save money, have it delivered to your door ahead of time and enjoy other subscriber benefits. Whether in print, digital or both –Every surfer can find their perfect surf magazine subscription here.