People surf in Hanstholm and live in Klitmoller - that's probably how most people who regularly visit the north of Denmark feel. Stine Bottern explains in an interview how a surf club wants to change this.
Stine, what was the reason for founding Hanstholm Surf Club in the first place?
We started the surf club with a handful of people who all moved to Hanstholm for the surf. The idea was to create a place where people could meet up after surfing. A lot of people come to Hanstholm to surf but hardly anyone stays afterwards - that can only change if there are offers. The second reason is the harbour issue - nobody knows exactly what will happen here.
Let's stick to the first point first - what does the surf club want to offer water sports enthusiasts and who can take part?
We have a room here directly at the "Fischfabrik" spot where we can get together. The room is not always open, but we meet here at fixed times. Of course, we hope that one day we can have a clubhouse that is always open. We've only been around for a short time, but we already have over 70 members who support us. There are water sports enthusiasts from all areas - windsurfers, surfers, SUPers. Including some locals but also many people who come here regularly as tourists to surf. Everyone is welcome! Members can take part in our club's events - evenings together in the clubhouse, surf courses or maybe even a party.
Everyone says they go to Klitti - but then they all go surfing in Hanstholm
You mentioned the harbour expansion. Hanstholm harbour was significantly enlarged a few years ago. At that time, many water sports enthusiasts feared restrictions or even the end of the cult spot - which fortunately did not materialise. Since then, you don't hear much about planned changes. What are you specifically afraid of?
Hanstholm has always been heavily dependent on the fishing harbour. The harbour expansion was only completed a few years ago and a lot of money was invested. With Brexit and the associated decline in transshipment, Hanstholm harbour has slipped deep into crisis; in retrospect, it was a bad investment. However, this means that the future of the harbour and therefore also the surf spots is unclear.
But from the perspective of water sports enthusiasts, that can also be a positive thing, right? A further expansion of the harbour in the direction of the surf spots is probably not an issue for the time being...
If you have debts, you are up for sale - that is usually the case in business. That's why a major investor is currently being sought to take over shares. Maybe everything will stay as it is, maybe tomorrow an investor will step in and build a huge production plant for offshore turbines. Nobody knows at the moment.
It's about embedding surf culture in the DNA of Hanstholm
When it comes to big investments, nobody will probably care about a small surf club, will they?
If someone came along now and put a lot of money on the table to take over the harbour and redesign it, a small surf club wouldn't change anything, that's for sure. What we want is to anchor the surf culture here in Hanstholm more firmly so that water sports eventually become part of the town's DNA and make it worthwhile for young people to move here. This is only possible if we do things that benefit everyone: The regular surf courses for young people and school classes are a good example. And according to the law in Denmark, you can't just wipe an association off the table; the municipalities have an obligation to allow and promote the life of associations. The more people join in and become members, the less we can be ignored in the future.
How much does a membership with you cost?
There is a "Junior Membership" for young people under the age of 25, which costs 150 crowns per year, or around 20 euros. Everyone else can choose between active or passive membership. Active members pay 350 crowns (approx. 45 euros) per year and can then take advantage of the club's offers and events. Passive membership costs just 100 crowns a year and is simply about supporting us as the voice of surfing up here. If you want to join, you can find all information about the surf club on our website!
