River waves · Case studies
Case study Fuchslochwelle Nuremberg: eleven years to the wave
The Fuchslochwelle on the Pegnitz is the most elaborate river wave in Germany – and the best documented. Anyone who wants to know what a full build with its own canal, fish pass and state funding means will find the textbook example here. Profile and location: Fuchslochwelle in the wave directory.
At a glance
| Watercourse | Pegnitz, separate side arm (canal) in the Fuchsloch district |
|---|---|
| Construction | weir in the main channel, canal approx. 61 m long, three hydraulically adjustable steel modules |
| Width | 8 m (three modules) or 5.7 m (two modules), wave height 0.5 to 1.5 m |
| Cost | around 3 million € (2022); in 2016 still planned at 500,000 € |
| Funding | Free State of Bavaria around 1 million €, City of Nuremberg around 1 million €, remainder club, sponsors (adidas), donations |
| Operating body | Nürnberger Dauerwelle e.V., non-profit, run entirely by volunteers |
| Opening | 25 March 2022, ground-breaking July 2020 |
Timeline
The idea arose in 2011 in the public participation process for the redesign of the Wöhrder See. A first site under the Theodor-Heuss-Brücke proved unsuitable. In 2012 the club Nürnberger Dauerwelle was founded, in 2013 the planning and permitting procedure began. In July 2016 the construction plans for the Fuchsloch were ready, at that time with a budget of 500,000 euros. The water-law permit came in spring 2017. Then three more years passed until the ground-breaking in July 2020 – years in which the club raised money and the planning matured. In June 2021 the three ramps were lifted into place, in December 2021 trial operation ran, and on 25 March 2022 Minister-President Söder and Lord Mayor König opened the facility. Three weeks later the first German Championships in Rapid Surfing on a river wave took place here.
From idea to opening: eleven years. From permit to opening: five years.
Technology
The Fuchslochwelle is not a conversion of an existing weir but a new build: a weir impounds the Pegnitz in the main channel and diverts water into a canal dug parallel to it. There it flows over a ramp and meets slower water – the hydraulic jump that forms the wave. The ramp consists of three steel modules that can be raised and lowered independently, controlled by tablet, with an emergency stop in 15 seconds. During floods or heavy rain, operation is suspended. A bristle fish pass on the river ensures passage for fish.
The facility was planned and built by Dreamwave GmbH together with the Unit of Hydraulic Engineering at the University of Innsbruck; the same technology has been in place in Hanover since 2023. On the discharge, the sources give different values (4.5 to 5 m³/s according to the city magazine, 9 to 10 m³/s according to the taz) – an indication of how much such figures depend on the operating state.
In winter 2024 the wave lay dry for five months: flood damage and maintenance. The club rebuilt with specialist firms so that floods can do less harm to operation in future.
Costs and funding
The costs are the part of the story that every project should know. In 2016 the estimate was 500,000 euros, in 2017 700,000 euros, at the ground-breaking in 2020 2.4 million, in the end around 3 million euros. The Free State of Bavaria contributed about one million euros, the City of Nuremberg about one million, the rest was raised by the club through membership fees and donations and by sponsors such as adidas. On top of that came more than 2,000 hours of voluntary work.
The sixfold increase is not explained by construction prices alone. In the course of the procedure, a simple ramp became a fully fledged hydraulic structure with a canal, two weirs, a fish pass, an exit bay and a plant building. Anyone planning a river wave should not consider the cost estimate reliable until the permit planning is in place. → Costs and funding
Permits and procedure
The Water Management Office was cooperative in 2016, the Environmental Office had no objections, the Nature Conservation Advisory Board minor concerns, which were resolved. The impoundment level was agreed with the Water Management and Environmental Offices, the fish pass was a condition for passage. Canoeists spoke up because they felt disadvantaged. The water-law permit was in place in spring 2017 – four years after planning began.
Operation
The club runs the wave on a non-commercial basis and entirely with volunteers; around 60 volunteers carry the operation, lifeguards are present at every session. Surfing takes place in booked slots: member slots, mixed slots and public slots on Sundays from April to October, plus early-riser sessions on weekdays and children's courses from May to September. A public slot costs 15 euros for 90 minutes, membership 20 euros a month. Helmets are mandatory, the minimum age is twelve years and 35 kilograms, confident swimmers only. Membership rose from around 80 in 2017 to more than 400 at the opening and around 500 in 2024; courses are booked out for months.
What Winterbach can learn from this
Nuremberg shows the upper end of the scale: new canal, two weirs, fish pass. Winterbach needs no channel, and structure, banks and access already exist – the Remswelle would be an installation in an existing structure, not a new build. Three things are transferable: first, the timescale – anyone planning today will not be surfing next year. Second, the state contribution – Bavaria paid half, with the argument of sports infrastructure; for Baden-Württemberg this example does not yet exist. Third, the operator model – a non-profit club with slots, lifeguards and clear rules is the standard that authorities now expect.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Fuchslochwelle cost?
Around three million euros, paid roughly half each by the Free State of Bavaria and the City of Nuremberg, supplemented by club funds, sponsors and donations. The first estimate in 2016 was 500,000 euros; the difference is mainly explained by the expansion into a complete hydraulic structure with canal and fish pass.
How long did it take from idea to opening?
Eleven years: idea 2011, club 2012, permit 2017, ground-breaking 2020, opening in March 2022.
Can anyone surf the Fuchslochwelle?
Yes, via public slots on Sundays between April and October and via courses; members have more sessions. Requirements are a helmet, confident swimming, at least twelve years of age and 35 kilograms.
Sources: Nürnberger Dauerwelle e.V., "Verein", "Fuchslochwelle", "FAQ", "Surfen" (nuernberger-dauerwelle.de) · City of Nuremberg, "Nürnberg heute" no. 109 · nordbayern.de, 12.07.2016 · Marktspiegel, 20.04.2017 · taz, 28.01.2022 · Nürnberger Nachrichten, 25.03.2022 · t-online, 16.04.2022 and 2024 · University of Innsbruck, Newsroom 01.04.2022 · Surfers Mag, Spotcheck Fuchslochwelle (2025) · German Surfing Federation (DWV), Rapid Surf German Championships 2022
Last updated: 15 October 2026 · Initiative Remswelle