Fabian Moser fills us in on his home spot in the city of Vienna, Austria. Read on find out all about winging in Vienna, or as the Germans call it: Wingen in Wien

When one thinks of a sports holiday in Austria, hiking, cycling, or perhaps rafting may come to mind. Some surfers possibly also know about Lake Neusiedl, the muddy home spot of Eastern Austrians. However, many have missed the fact that recently a new dream spot for wingfoilers has emerged right in the heart of Vienna.

If you've ever been to Vienna, you probably know the city because of its rich history, magnificent palace & park grounds, and its rich artistic and intellectual heritage. Perhaps some visitors have also noticed the wind that is loathed by all the cyclists visiting the capital. Due to the hills of the Vienna Woods, every breeze is channelled along the Danube and leads to relatively strong wind conditions in the city. Since the Danube foilers discovered this phenomenon, the spot at the Kaisermühlen parking lot is always crowded on windy days. However, since the spot is located in the middle of the city, driving by car is not that easy. Many come with converted bicycle trailers or even on the subway, making it easy to arrive with a packed board bag. When you arrive at the spot, you will find a colourful mix of windsurfers, kiters, and wingfoilers, who all share a passion for foiling. Due to its easy accessibility, the spot is busy throughout the week. People gather for a short session before work or university, during lunch breaks, or to end their workday in a sporty way.

About the spot: Kaisermühlen has now established itself as the main spot in Vienna, as the Danube runs in a southeast direction in this section. It works well both with southeast and northwesterly winds, which are the prevailing winds in Vienna. This provides a spot that works on an average of 200 days a year. If the wind has a different direction, you can switch to the Donau Altarm in Greifenstein in the north of Vienna with west wind, or even to the Alte Donau if the wind is a bit more north or south.

All of the above-mentioned spots are free of currents because they are reservoirs or old arms of the Danube, and the water is deep enough shortly after entry to avoid scratching your foil. Depending on the season, you have to be a bit more careful at the edge to avoid taking a piece of seaweed with you. Speaking about seasons: the spot is busiest in the summer. From mid-May to early September, you will find pleasant conditions to pursue your hobby. Going without a wetsuit will only work in midsummer. However, this does not mean that locals give up foiling in winter, following the motto "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing”. There are hardly any windy days when a few die-hard wingfoilers don't venture onto the water, equipped with a hood, gloves, and a winter wetsuit. This can lead to bizarre sights for tourists who come to visit the Christmas markets in the pre-Christmas season and then experience how, despite the snowstorm, some are still out wingfoiling.

The wind conditions are constant throughout the year, so you cannot necessarily speak of a season, although, if we're honest, most of us prefer the warmer months. For me as a student in Vienna, the Danube, with its unique features, central location, and wind safety, has developed from a stopover between holidays over the past few years into my home spot.

By Fabian Moser

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