Record-breaking crowds, mega vibes, and newly crowned champions!
The German Championships (DM) in Rapid Surfing were held from July 24th to 26th, 2026, on the enercity Leinewelle in Hanover. Marking a historic premiere as part of the major multi-sport event 'Die Finals 2026', the competition drew a record-breaking crowd to the old town of the Lower Saxony state capital. Germany's elite rapid surfers battled for the national titles in a stadium-like atmosphere, broadcast via live streams as well as on TV by ARD and ZDF.
Open Women: Schneider Crowns Her Final with Gold
The Open Women’s final on Sunday delivered a high-stakes tactical showdown in front of a packed riverbank crowd Valeska Schneider put on a great performance, fluidly combining sharp rail-to-rail transitions to claim the coveted national title. Annika Weizel delivered a high-class performance and powerful, committed surfing across all four waves, securing second place ahead of Ina Schorr, who also showed a world-class rail game but was unable to land all her tricks.
Open Men: A Dramatic Last-Wave Title Thriller
The Open Men’s division concluded in absolute drama with a heart-stopping finale. While local Konstantin Leugermann showcased incredible consistency to take home the silver medal, it was 17-year-old Munich local Yves Viala who stole the show and won the gold medal. Bronze medal went to Marius Gerlach.
The Future of the Wave: High-Performance Youth Takeover
The Juniors division (U16) proved to be one of the absolute highlights of the entire championship weekend, proving that the future of German rapid surfing is incredibly bright. Leander Lu dominated the competition, laying down a highly technical run that earned him a commanding winning score. Niklas Mallwitz followed in a strong second place, while Jano Lübbers rounded out the podium. In the Junior Girls division, Mia Wahl won by a narrow margin ahead of Lia Aretz and Mathilda Twickel, thanks to her technically clean surfing. Hannah Preuß secured fourth place with a fantastic performance.
Experience and Radical Style: The Masters Command the Arena
The Masters division (O35) brought a thrilling mix of veteran experience, unmatched competitive composure, and radical style to the Hanover wave. Surfing in front of thousands of fans lining the old town riverbanks, the Masters adapted beautifully to the high-pressure stadium atmosphere. Instead of safe, conservative lines, the seasoned field relied on precise wave reading and deep, powerful carves to maximize their scores. Nadine Ziesing won the women's Masters category thanks to her powerful and controlled surfing paired with solid tricks. Natalie Frese secured the silver medal, while Susi Auer claimed third place just ahead of Nina von de Fenn. In the Masters Men division, Alexander Schmitt-Hellwig dominated the field ahead of Jörn Seemann and Fabian Weber, while the performance of fourth-placed Rene Bellack was also highly impressive
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