Aussie in Austria
Post date: Mar 21, 2020 5:56:56 PM
RSM Tales from the river celebrates 70 years old John Chapman a Australia surfer now residing in Austria and finding a little bit of home surfing the rivers of Austria and sharing his surfing stoke . Here is a story of his journey surfing the river in his words ...
A curious place for a new surf interest to begin!
A town, Bad Ischl, in a Central European valley surrounded by the Austrian Alps where Emperor Franz Josef had his summer residence, quaint and scenic.
Seeing a neoprene clad surfer with a short board crossing a 19th century wrought iron bridge about as far from any meaningful body of salt water, showed something was happening.
River waves perhaps?
Before moving to Austria I knew of European river surf, tidal bores ( Mascaret ) and the Eisbach in Munich,
So I thought there must be more places that generate a wave somewhere somehow.
Follow that surfer.......... luckily an English speaking Austrian surfer, there was a wave, yes he would show me and there are other canal and river waves nearby, the Alpine Coast of Austria.
Each have a local and enthusiastic/ frothing resident surf community.
The warm welcome and attitudes, “come try our wave” was reminiscent of early east coat Australian exploration days. Nice
The waves and community are the most democratic I have encountered anywhere in the world.
Riding the wave is by taking turns, one person on the wave, riding until wipeout and wash down stream, or they feel they have had a decent ride and pull out. ( Imagine that in your local ocean line up)
The waves themselves are very different, no break between waves first off.
Water moves in the opposite direction and ceaselessly, wipe out, you go over the back of the wave and downstream over a boulder strewn river bed.
So different, in dangers too. A leg leash is a potential death trap, so preferred leash spots are on the arm or better still on quick release safety belt.
Each surf community is aware of the break’s hazards and the surfer in the water
Many have undertaken a river safety and rescue course.
Each type of hazard and the risks in the river are known by very Austrian names, strudel, Schaum, Polster
This came from river kayaking prior to surfing here.
The surfers are very capable, waves are suited to short or very short boards
There is little or no paddling needed on the waves that I’ve seen.
A tow rope launch happens simply by letting the stream pull you into the wave.
You can acid drop from the side or in narrow canals simply hold the side until you have your balance and let go.
Performance short arc surfing with rail to rail acute turns often within a few meters.
Air moves and the full repertoire of aerial moves are done on the stronger waves.
All this happens so close to the banks that banter, coaching and applause is exchanged with the “beach” crew.
There is no gender or age bias, you are as good a surfer as you happen to be!
As I said, democratic!
I am 70 year old Aussie surfer and at the waves, made most welcome.
Tall tales and true were swapped, I took my turns on the wave, back on shortboard, well below their performance but became their honorary old man of the river, even becoming the oldest graduate of a river safety and rescue course.
They have surf film and music festivals, an Alpine Surf Coast, with as vital a beach crew
Cheers and yodels
John.