Gran Canaria is already a favourite getaway for many Europeans. Year-round sunshine, virtually no rain and an abundance of home comforts have the tourists flocking in by the thousands. But Drift discovered a far better reason to visit - literally hundreds of hidden surf spots that can be yours alone to enjoy all year round.

Chris Preston interviews Sydney's Matt Chojnacki. His surfing may be heavily influenced by the glories of the past, but to tag him as just another retro dude is missing the mark. Words: Chris Preston. Photos: Matt Johnson / thesealife.com.au

Portugal has a massive open secret... Follow Matt Button to discover what is going down.

As the Campbell brothers wrap up a European shaping tour, Mark Sankey discovers Bournemouth's hidden Californian connection, and why old designs aren't necessarily retro. Photos and design by Alexa Poppe

A shaper with a real passion for his craft, Tyler Hatzikian has consistently refused to compromise the quality or the integrity of his work in order to make a quick buck. He talked to Drift about nose-riding, refining longboard design and his reluctance to take the limelight. Words & photos: Jamie Bott

A sign on the 130-year-old pier at Saltburn-by-the-Sea warns people not to jump off it. On a big surf day surfers make their way to the end of the sturdy 206 metre structure and jump like lemmings into the cold, murky North Sea. Words: Simon Palmer Photos: Ian Forsyth

Co-founder of the original Aussie counter-culture surf bible, Tracks, and director of 'Morning of the Earth', Alby Falzon lives up to his reputation as the spiritual father of the alternative surf lifestyle. Words: Jair Bortoleto Photos: Courtesy of Alby Falzon

Dreamt up over 20 years ago by Renaud and Thomas Cardinal, two French brothers with a passion for board making, UWL has grown to become one of the biggest factories in Europe, while building a reputation based on performance and quality. Rui Ribeiro talks with Renaud about the past, present and future of UWL...

The annual Fish Fry on Australia's Gold Coast gives shapers a non-commercial, non-competitive opportunity to come together and share ideas in a shameless celebration of the fabulous fish. Words: Tommy Leitch Photos: Jamie Bott

This is the story of an epic coastal journey from North Germany down to Morocco in an old Fiat Ducato. We documented the trip, the places we saw and the people we met. We called this Gen SĂŒden www.gensueden.com. A project that focuses on being on the road with a van and a surfboard and all the great things that come with it.

A tale of surfing reefs in South Africa, but not knowing what you get yourself into. Drift contributor Tim Conibear points a finger at localism and finds three more pointing right back. Photos: Mike Reich


An unsurfed monster wave in Europe?


November 25, 2014 | Words By:

germany_thumb3Most surfers dream of being the first to discover that perfect wave with nobody around to ruin it. But in a time when almost every phenomena in the western world is documented, and every surfable wave surfed, the chances of this dream becoming a reality rarely exists.
Step in Ira Mowen, originally from Santa Cruz but now a Berlin resident who has discovered one last untouched treasure. A beautiful, crisp, unspoilt, virgin wave which remarkably comes from a land without an ocean - this wave has never been surfed, let alone documented.

Although a natural break, this strangely perfect wave is a bi-product of man vs nature. The head-high wave is formed by a giant ship passing a shallow harbour sandbar. However, this unusual wave proved almost impossible to catch for Ira - only breaking big enough to surf about once a week, it forced him to camp out in freezing temperatures just to be near it.

Tragically also, the wave is ill-fated. The 30 year old ship that spawns this accident, will be replaced soon by a new one that most likely won’t make a wave.
Currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, Surf Berlin is a film about one man on a winter-long quest to document a ride on this rare German wave before it, and the ship that creates it, are gone forever.
The trailer shows an obsession with cold water riding taken to a new level by Ira the landlocked lover of surf. We for one would truly love to see this in production.

Find out more about Surf Berlin or to back the project visit the Kickstarter page


You can check out the Kickstarter video here

 

And watch the full trailer here

Surf Berlin - Trailer from Ira Mowen on Vimeo.

Pin It

2 Comments


  1. Come on, Drift Surfing, this wave is NOT untouched, it is NOT unsurfed (and btw, it is NOT anywhere “close” to Berlin, at least by European standards). It has been surfed regularly for quite some time by now. Go and ask some of the locals
 Also, Germany is bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, both being part (marginal/inland seas) of the North Atlantic.

    1
  2. Cheers Fran! We are hearing you (and others) It seems this story isn’t quite as clear cut as we were led to believe!
    It turns out this wave is some 200 miles outside of Berlin and stacks of people have surfed it!

    2


Comment


Advertise here