In the big wave special, the existential questions of the sector are discussed alongside atmospheric helicopter images. Custom or series? While Philip Pudenz says that his Fanatics are more durable and that customs are just disguised series boards anyway, shaper Helmut Kirner would prefer to see board manufacturers withdraw completely from the wave sector and leave the field to the custom manufacturers, who know their customers personally and better in case of doubt. In addition, three shapers each design (on paper) the perfect board for big waves, Euro wave and onshore conditions and Dave Ezzy describes what a good wave sail must have (maximum four battens and no camber). The German World Cup celebrities then reveal their favourite wave spots: Jutta Müller favours Klitmøller, Ralf Bachschuster loves Rømø, Didi Kornelli has discovered a "secret spot" near Marseille called Carro, and Robby Seeger's favourite spot is Fuertes North Shore - "but my old home spot Flügge also has a pretty good wave"!
surf tested a total of 32 harnesses, mainly seat harnesses in keeping with the 91 fashion. A few trouser harnesses that are cut like hot pants and zip up at the front stand out. The Gaastra Cross Profile is particularly noteworthy: A complete pair of boardshorts including harness hooks - but which fails to impress. Professionals are also asked about their harness preferences: while Dunki always opts for a seat harness, Robby chooses a different harness for every condition. Jutta Müller rides a chest harness in the waves, while Britt Dunkerbeck swears by harness trousers that can't ride up.
"Power Mike" Pucher shows the surf author his home waters, Lake Neusiedl south of Vienna. Then as now, it is a body of water with special characteristics: "draught like a soup plate", "black socks from the bog-like bottom" and lasting effects on your hairstyle when the brown soup dries in your hair. But of course the lake is also blessed with excellent wind statistics and is a paradise for all beginners and intermediates. Mike Pucher even circles loops into the brown water - a few years later, one of the epicentres of the freestyle boom was to emerge here. The "Viennese sinker boys" know that the wind blows stronger in the centre of the lake than on the shores and that bad weather makes for a good mood - at least for the surfers. If they do need to lift their spirits, there is good wine (in two-litre bottles). Shortly after the antifreeze scandal, it is quite remarkable that "nobody knows exactly where the antifreeze that has become superfluous since the scandal has ended up. Strangely enough, the lake has rarely frozen over recently."
You can click through the entire magazine in the gallery above!
You can click through the entire magazine in the gallery above!