Surf Opening

Spectator magnet shines in a new look in future

Lake Neusiedl once again becomes a big party location at the Surf Opening.(Bild: Martin Reiter)

A facelift for the popular Surf Opening on Lake Neusiedl! No more freestylers, but in future there will be a collaboration with the sailing association. Beach volleyball, on the other hand, will provide the sporting highlight.

Björn Dunkerbeck, Josh Stone and, more recently, Steven Van Broeckhoven, Gollito Estredo and Yentel Caers - the surf opening on Lake Neusiedl at the end of April/beginning of May brought together the windsurfing freestyle elite. Resounding names, who were of course also lured to Burgenland with impressive prize money. With spectacular tow-in competitions, the action was recently brought directly to the beach and, above all, made less dependent on the wind, "the development led somewhere between show and competitive sport," says organizer Georg Kloibhofer.

The OeSV organizes windsurfing regattas at the opening.(Bild: c-bra Christian Bratsch www.c-bra.info)

Which steers the event in a new direction. No more World Cup, no more EFPT tour stop. "Instead, we have managed to get the Austrian Sailing Association on board for the first time and there will be windsurfing and wingfoil regattas on both Saturday and Sunday," says Kloibhofer, looking forward to the new-look Surf Opening, which will take place in Neusiedl from April 30 to May 5 this year.

The whole country "wakes up"

The event is included in the Lake Opening Burgenland, which not only integrates the communities around Lake Neusiedl and Lake Neufeldersee, but also all lakes and, for the first time, thermal spas - a "kick-off" to the summer season that "awakens" the whole country.

"Windsurfing is still in our hearts," says Kloibhofer, hoping that the OeSV's commitment will get more people excited about it again, "and we will also be offering taster regattas where beginners can try it out."

Lorenz Petutschnig (left) and Florian Schnetzer celebrated reaching the quarter-finals in 2023.(Bild: Wolfgang Haenlein)

However, the sporting highlight will be the season opener of the win2day Beach Volleyball Tour PRO. Local hero Lorenz Petutschnig from Bad Sauerbrunn and his partner Florian Schnetzer made it to the quarter-finals last year. "This year we can go one better," says "Lo", looking forward to the start of the season, "which will be difficult because the tournament will once again have a very strong international field."

School and family day

The surrounding events will also remain at the usual level. From the parties to the wide range of activities for young and old. On May 3, 20 sports stations await 700 schoolchildren from all over the country at "School on the Beach", and in the afternoon it's "Family Day" again. A great way to start the summer!