As a relatively young water sports discipline, wingfoiling has gained significant popularity over recent years. Yet, even though this exciting sport is attracting more and more enthusiasts, there has been a lack of comprehensive research regarding its associated injuries—until now. Dr. Thomas Gangl and the Surfmedizin team have shed light on the matter, publishing the world’s first medical study on the risk of injury in the Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine (OAJSM). First, the all-clear: Wingfoiling is no more dangerous than kitesurfing or windsurfing. With an incidence rate of 5.7 injuries per 1000 hours, the sport is well within the safe zone of modern water sports. The Facts: What Happens on the Water? The study analyzed data from 415 active wingfoilers. Around 31% suffered at least one injury during the investigation period. Here is an overview of the injury hotspots: Main Target: The Legs: Most acute injuries affect the feet, lower legs, and knees (mostly bruises, cuts, or strains). The Footstrap Danger Zone: 24% of all ankle injuries and 6% of knee injuries occurred because riders got caught in the footstraps during a crash. Rib Risks: Severe acute injuries (such as fractures) mostly affected the chest area due to hard impacts. Chronic Overuse: Those who spend a lot of time "flying" feel it long-term, particularly in the shoulders (from holding the wing) and the knees (from balancing the foil). Good to know: Collisions with other water sports enthusiasts are extremely rare. A solid 77.5% of all accidents are self-inflicted – caused by driving errors due to tiredness and exhaustion. The main risk is therefore one's own equipment. Surfmedizin’s Top 4 Prevention Tips Clear recommendations can be drawn from the data to ensure you stay injury-free throughout the season: Use Protective Gear: Helmets and impact vests should be standard. They effectively protect against concussions and typical rib bruises or fractures. Fatigue Management (Take Breaks): Most mistakes happen when you are exhausted. End the session before your concentration completely drops. Adjust Straps Correctly: Set up your footstraps so you can easily and cleanly slip out during a crash—or just ride completely "strapless" for freeriding. Cross-Training: On windless days, specifically strengthen your rotator cuff (shoulders) as well as your knee and core stability. Conclusion The Surfmedizin study shows that wingfoiling is a safe sport if you ride smart. Put your protective gear on, manage your energy, and see you on the water! About the study: Gangl T, Balke M, Thuenemann K. Sports Injuries While Wingfoiling. OAJSM. 2023:14:69-78. Click here for the full paper

We're leaving the clinic behind and heading to where the action is: the beach! Our event calendar for 2026 is packed, and we'll be covering the year's most important contests. Whether it's the Windsurf World Cup, GKA Kite events, or SailGP – we'll be there to ensure you can hit the water with maximum safety. We at Surfmedizin aren't just spectators. We bring medical support directly to the water's edge. We assess injuries, offer prevention tips, and promote professional exchange between sports and medicine. Here's your roadmap for the season: First stop: The spring season (May – July) As soon as the temperatures rise, we'll get ready. We'll start the season with full energy! May belongs to the festivals: We'll be covering the kick-off at the California Windsurf Cup (May 1-3) in Kühlungsborn. Then it's straight on to Fehmarn: first for the renowned surf festival (May 14-17) and then for the Foil Festival (May 22-25) . Island hopping in June: We support the kiters at the GKA World Cup on Borkum (June 3-7) . Sylt highlights in July: We conclude the first half of the year at the California Surf Cup in Westerland ( July 28 – August 2 ). Become an expert yourself: Do you want to do more than just watch? We'll train you! June 6th-7th: Learn how to react correctly in an emergency on the water at the Rescue & First Aid Workshop in Pepelow. June 16–19: Deepen your knowledge at the Sports M;edicine Training Course on Langeoog. Second stop: The autumn run (August – October) If the wind picks up in late summer, we'll head back again. Sylt practically becomes our second home in August. Top-class sport: We are providing support for the Wingfoil Masters (August 4–9) and the GKA Kitesurf World Cup (August 25–30) in Westerland. Kitesurfing hotspot SPO: In between, we'll be setting up camp at the Kitesurf Masters in St. Peter-Ording (August 19–23) . Speed & Foiling: We will be covering the SailGP in Sassnitz (August 22–23) and will travel to the SailGP in Geneva in September (September 19–20) . The grand finale: To conclude the season, we will be at the Windsurf World Cup on Sylt ( September 25 – October 4 ). Mark your calendars for August 29th: That's when we're holding the Water Sports Medicine Workshop in Kiel-Schilksee. An important date for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the subject of sports medicine. Why are we there? So you can stay on the board longer! Our work goes beyond simply treating injuries. We use these events to talk directly with you about injury prevention, proper recovery, and managing common problems in surfing, kitesurfing, and foiling. Our goal is to help you return to the sport faster after a fall and prevent chronic overuse injuries from developing in the first place. Come by and chat with us! If you see our flag on the beach, just drop by! Whether you have a specific question about an injury, are interested in our workshops, or want an update from the world of surf medicine – we look forward to hearing from you. Are you attending one of the events? Feel free to write to us or contact us directly if you have any questions about the program or the workshops. Stay safe! Your team at Surfmedizin

As medical professionals and passionate water sports enthusiasts, we know that peak performance on the board is only possible with a solid physical foundation. The PWA represents the absolute world elite in windsurfing – and we are excited to support the sailors with our expertise from now on. What does this partnership mean for the athletes? Our goal is to support the athletes so they can fully concentrate on their sport. This partnership offers clear advantages for the riders: Specialized medical expertise: We understand the specific stresses of windsurfing – from overuse injuries to acute trauma treatment. Fast advice: For medical inquiries or recommendations, our team is available to riders as a direct contact person 365 days a year. Prevention & Career Support: We also help prevent injuries so that professional careers are as long and successful as possible. A special highlight: On-site support in Germany A screen is no substitute for a personal examination – especially when it comes to health. The Surfmedizin team will be personally present at the legendary Windsurf World Cup on Sylt . The athletes have the opportunity to meet us directly, seek consultations, or simply obtain medical advice for their daily competition routine. We are where the action happens – right on the beach.

A team of sports medicine experts from our association Surfmedizin has published one of the most comprehensive epidemiological studies to date on injuries in kitesurfing in the journal BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation. The retrospective study analyzes 3,138 athletes and 3,720 injuries . Key Facts & Incidences Overall incidence: 4.8 injuries per 1,000 kitesurfing hours (moderate risk, comparable to other non-contact sports). No significant gender difference. Risk factor skill level: Inversely proportional correlation. Beginners have the highest risk with 65 injuries/1,000 hours (professionals: 1.1). Disciplines in comparison: Kitepark leads with 12.5 injuries/1,000 h , clearly ahead of Freeride (5.4) and Big Air / Freestyle (~2.1–2.6). Anatomical predilection & entities Lower extremity (43.2%): The knee joint (13.2%) is the most frequently affected single structure (especially ACL and medial collateral ligament ruptures; 6.4%). Upper extremity (18.9%): Predominance of shoulder trauma (8.3%) due to dislocations/distortions under tensile stress. Head & torso: TBI/concussions account for 4.6%, rib contusions/fractures for 12.0%. Morbidity & Time Loss: The longest periods of absence from work ( time loss ) and the most protracted rehabilitation phases are caused by knee ligament ruptures , fractures of the lower extremities , and severe rib injuries . 1% of cases were classified as polytrauma. Practice takeaways for clinics and physiotherapy Primary prevention: Beginners absolutely must attend a professional kitesurfing school to ensure the critical motor learning phase is covered. Prevention training: Evidence-based, proprioceptive and eccentric strength training to stabilize the knee joint and rotator cuff. Personal protective equipment (PPE): Consistent recommendation of helmet (TBI prophylaxis) and impact vest (reduction of rib fractures). Return-to-Sport: Due to the high holding forces and unpredictable impact loads, a specific functional screening is essential before returning to sport. Click here for the study: Offerhaus, C., Hohage, A., Poehlmann, M. et al. Injuries in kitesurfing: a retrospective cross-sectional survey on injury patterns based on discipline and skill level, considering time loss and performance reduction. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehab (2026).

This surfing study is the first to systematically examine the physical strain, injuries, and medical care involved in surfing. The study is aimed at active longboarders and shortboarders from Germany, Austria and Switzerland . You can participate if you surf for at least 50 hours per year or take part in competitions. Participation takes 20 to 30 minutes and is done online via a questionnaire. It records training volume, pain, injuries, painkiller use, your health behavior and experiences with medical care. The goal is to identify gaps in care and develop recommendations for training, workload, and care. The results should lead to better support for surfers and a reduction in injuries. You can find the questionnaire here: https://www.soscisurvey.de/Wellenreiterstudie2025/ . Share your experiences and help improve medical care in surfing.

We are very pleased about our new cooperation with NEILPRYD E and JP Australia . As a medical network of water sports enthusiasts for water sports enthusiasts, our goal is to provide support where others stop – on the water, on the beach, at events or in everyday life. Through this collaboration, team riders and partners of NEILPRYDE and JP Australia now have direct access to our watersports-specific medical expertise – whether for questions about injury prevention, performance optimization or in case of emergency.

Members of Surfmedizin e.V. have conducted the most comprehensive study to date on the topic of "surfing on standing waves." The results have now been published in the renowned Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) under the title " Injuries and Use of Safety Equipment in River Surfing ." The full article can be read and downloaded free of charge here .

Twice the beach of Westerland on Sylt was transformed into a large event area: the best windsurfers and kitesurfers in the world showed off their impressive skills in sometimes extreme weather conditions. These conditions represent a huge strain for the athletes. With the medical team from Surfmedizin.org, the athletes on Sylt always had a direct contact person on site when it came to injuries, complaints, and recovery. The association supported the professionals in optimally preparing their bodies for the conditions in the water, whether through targeted treatment such as massages, kinesio taping, or shock wave therapy, or tips for avoiding overloading the muscles and joints. But we were also able to provide immediate assistance in the case of acute injuries in our “Surfer's Hospital”.

An exciting program of our surf medicine events awaits you again in 2025! Whether it's a symposium, sports medicine course, or workshop—mark the dates in your calendar and join us. Make a note now and don’t miss anything! Stay tuned for more information on registration and the program. We look forward to seeing you!

Surf Week at Robinson Club Soma Bay with windsurfing legend Bernd Flessner is a highlight for surfing enthusiasts every year – and 2025 was no exception. In addition to perfect conditions, top-notch equipment, and professional coaching, this year's surfers' health was also a priority: Dr. Klaus Hornig provided on-site surf medical care. With his many years of experience in sports and emergency medicine, Dr. Hornig was a reliable contact for minor injuries and questions about regeneration.

From now on, the Eleveight team also relies on the sports medical expertise of Surfmedizin! If you have questions, need support, or want to become part of our team or network, please contact us anytime.