Red Letter Day: Urban Foiling


WORDS: Lukas Haigermoser
Location: ALMKANAL, SALZBURG 
DATE: Thursday July 30th, 2020


Being landlocked, the idea of foiling inland is perhaps a bit different than living by the sea. We have little constant winds and no waves at all. So before foiling came to Europe, the situation looked pretty bad for doing water sports in Austria. But now there are a lot of possibilities to get on the water, even in a city like Salzburg…

Small ponds, lakes and canals offer optimal conditions to have fun right in front of your door. You only need some creativity and a proper foil setup. Plus, since we couldn’t really travel in summer 2020, we were forced to think on our feet. The urge to be in and on the water was huge, but the possibilities were very limited due to Corona. So we had even more motivation to open our eyes and discover new spots for foiling. 

To find a suitable spot, we did not have to search for long. We found an ideal spot just around the corner. The Almkanal in Salzburg is several hundred years old and used to supply the city with water. Today it´s a hotspot for refreshment and relaxation during the summer. For us it was clear that we wanted to bring new life to this canal and try something special. The idea of upstream pumping was born.

💎 Premium Content Ahead! 💎

This is premium magazine content, usually only available to our subscribers, but you can access it for free when you join our mailing list!
(Already subscribed? Simply enter your email to unlock all magazine features now)

*You will receive our weekly Friday Pump newsletter, plus the latest features, gear tests and giveaway announcements.

However, we first had to find a place where a dock start was possible. We found it directly below the fortress. Since the canal is very busy in summer, it was obvious that we would have to start an “early bird project” to be able to foil on our own and not endanger anybody. 

We met before sunrise to have a look at everything in detail. Pretty soon it turned out that the dock start could be a challenge. On this part, the channel was very narrow and the concrete walls ran vertically downwards. To avoid touching the wall with the big front wing, we had to hold the board quite far away when starting. But this made jumping on the board much more difficult. What in return was quite an advantage, although unusual, was the flow velocity of the canal. It constantly exposed the foil to the current, so we didn’t have to run as fast at the start. 

Nevertheless, it took a test run or two before the start went smoothly. While Benni Geislinger was looking for the perfect photo positions, Adrian Geislinger and I adjusted our boards to the conditions once again. We both had the Shaka L and a 70cm mast with us. I had brought the Exo and Adrian a new smaller prototype. 

Exactly when the sun began to rise and the fortress was illuminated in the background, we started. The atmosphere was unreal. All by ourselves we silently glided over the water.  

Compared to a regular shoot, there were no instructions from Benni this time. Adrian and I did what we wanted to do, and we did it for us and not for the camera. It felt fantastic. After about one hour we were both so exhausted that we packed up at 7am. For all of us it was the start of a normal working day but the level of stoke was overwhelming… Urban foiling has so many possibilities and we’ve only just started exploring them… 

Now subscribe to the world's best foiling magazine!

To get the latest premium features, tests, gear releases and the best photojournalism in the world of foiling, get yourself a print subscription today!

 

Related Articles...

WEAPON OF CHOICE: Flysurfer TAO

Recent Flysurfer signing Viola Lippitsch is already proving herself as a force to be reckoned with on the GWA Tour. With 2024's competitive season now opening up, the podiums beckon for the young Austrian… RIDER | VIOLA LIPPITSCH WEAPON | FLYSURFER TAO DIMENSIONS | 2.5M to 6.2M RIDER HEIGHT | 166CM RIDER WEIGHT | 55KG I

READ MORE

BACKSTORY: Core

CORE have a reputation for meticulously engineered products and an eye for detail, but they’re also a patient bunch, having kept their powder dry as the foil and wing world underwent explosive growth. Since their first wing and foil launch in 2022, they are now building out their line up further with the benefit of hindsight and learning from the strengths and pitfalls of others. Time to find out a bit more about their roots, and about where they are taking things now…

READ MORE

RISING UP: Arthur Thébault

Getting eyes on these shots of young ripper Arthur Thébault, you’ll no doubt be as impressed as we were by the 14 year old’s commitment to going big. Already very familiar with the competitive scene, we’ve no doubt Arthur’s star is in the ascendant…

READ MORE
The Foiling Magazine quote

"I enjoy every page of the Foiling Mag – keep it up!"

Evan Mavridoglou – General Manager, AXIS Foils

"The magazine looks insane. Very stoked to be part of it."

Caio Ibelli – Pro Surfer

"What a rad publication."

Ivan van Vuuren – Signature Foils

"I had a good time reading issue N°1, everything is high quality from the content to the paper!"

Julien Salles – Brand Manager, Manera

"Foiling Magazine is incredible."

Chereé Thomson, Brand Coordinator, AK Durable Supply Co.