I sure hope the attached video has got it wrong! Fingers crossed. How dumb is this if true?

The German "Surf" magazine also reported about the foiling ban in Sachsen. It's the decision of some stupid bureaucrat that's unlikely to remain in effect very long.

that's in Saxonia - and Saxonia is very special. For example Kiting is still forbidden there ...

WTH ?. They afraid of wind power

Sounds a bit like when snowboarding first came to Aus. Banned everywhere, Fall Creek was the last holdout. Still banned in a few USA resorts

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WsurfAustin said..
WTH ?. They afraid of wind power

You probably meant that jokingly, but unfortunately, there was indeed some push back against wind power in German states ruled by the conservative party (CDU/CSU); Bavaria is perhaps the most extreme case, I don't know about Saxony. That may change now that they don't get much gas from Russia anymore. And in Saxony, the Green party is now part of the government.

Unlike Texas, though, where the politicians financed by oil is holding back solar energy big time, the primary motive is probably a standard conservative "we don't want any change".

In Saxonia many lakes are post-industrial lakes. They are owned by fishermen-clubs. They are optimal connected to the local politicians. They want their lakes for them.

I would get a few jetskis and start blasting at full speed around the fishermen...

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powersloshin said..
I would get a few jetskis and start blasting at full speed around the fishermen...

You would indeed need a few jetskis, because chances are high that (a) they are not allowed, (b) the rules are enforced, and (c) that includes confiscation of your jetski.

The Saxonian authorities claim that all foiling sports are accident-prone and a disaster waiting to happen as they " enable athltes to achieve high speeds of up to or even exceeding 50 kph."
Now nobody wants to tell them that foiling is relatively slow compared to fin windsurfing as people are afraid fin will get banned too.

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ZeeGerman said..
The Saxonian authorities claim that all foiling sports are accident-prone and a disaster waiting to happen as they " enable athltes to achieve high speeds of up to or even exceeding 50 kph."
Now nobody wants to tell them that foiling is relatively slow compared to fin windsurfing as people are afraid fin will get banned too.

Better start deleting peoples GPS speed surfing results

Sounds like German politicians and officials don't have enough real work to do.

It would make much more sense if they implemented a speed limit, much as is already put in place for traditional boats on most lakes and river systems. E.g. typically max 5 knots when closer than 300m to the shore and it doesnt matter the type of vehicle. And designated areas exclusive for swimmers.

On Lake Gardia in Italy it is also pretty tight but still possible:
www.europlan.it/en/navigation-rules-and-equipment

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Cyber said..
It would make much more sense if they implemented a speed limit, much as is already put in place for traditional boats on most lakes and river systems. E.g. typically max 5 knots when closer than 300m to the shore and it doesnt matter the type of vehicle. And designated areas exclusive for swimmers.

On Lake Gardia in Italy it is also pretty tight but still possible:
www.europlan.it/en/navigation-rules-and-equipment

Italian water sport rules are misguide at best and pretty much no windsurfer I know follows them unless they are in a competition and the organiser makes it mandatory. For example you are meant to wear a life vest while windsurfing. A speed limit of 5 knts makes even less sense. How is a windsurfer or wing foiler going to know they are going less than 5 knts?

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stehsegler said..

Cyber said..
It would make much more sense if they implemented a speed limit, much as is already put in place for traditional boats on most lakes and river systems. E.g. typically max 5 knots when closer than 300m to the shore and it doesnt matter the type of vehicle. And designated areas exclusive for swimmers.

On Lake Gardia in Italy it is also pretty tight but still possible:
www.europlan.it/en/navigation-rules-and-equipment

Italian water sport rules are misguide at best and pretty much no windsurfer I know follows them unless they are in a competition and the organiser makes it mandatory. For example you are meant to wear a life vest while windsurfing. A speed limit of 5 knts makes even less sense. How is a windsurfer or wing foiler going to know they are going less than 5 knts?

The reduced speed limit on waterways is pretty common in most developed countries. And do not see a big problem for also windsurfers/windfoilers to comply with that. Mind you, the reduction down to just 5 or 7 knots is just for the bottleneck areas or close to the shoreline, e.g. where you have swimmers also in the water.

Sick and tired to observe thoughtless behaviour by other water sport enthusiasts who are not attentive and subsequent cause severe injury on others and themselves. Death being the worst, but also bone fractures, brain injuries or severe cuts in muscles/flesh. If we didnt have such idiots around, the hard regulations being implemented would not have come or been necessary. But obviously they are!

Man, those places sound really safe. Only rule in Austin is a 25mph speed limit after dark. But there are only a few boats to patrol 600 miles of shoreline. Most all injuries are boat prop to human contact. Or boat to boat crashes. Only foil related injury I know of is me kicking my foil underwater