Jena, May 07, 2026. The „Bürger für Jena“ voter group wants to enable surfing on the Saale and has submitted a corresponding resolution to the city council. The model for the ambitious project is the famous Eisbachwelle in München.
- What: Resolution to examine a standing surfing wave („SaaleWelle“)
- Where: River Saale, Jena
- Who: „Bürger für Jena“ voter group (parliamentary group leader Jürgen Häkanson-Hall)
- Status: Referred to three city committees for further consultation
München Model: The „SaaleWelle“
Instead of just cooling off in the summer or riding a rubber dinghy, water sports enthusiasts in Jena should be able to surf on the Saale in the future. The idea of a standing wave is heavily based on the internationally known Eisbachwelle in the Münchener Englischer Garten. The „Bürger für Jena“ voter group introduced a resolution at the city council meeting on Wednesday to have suitable locations along the Saale examined.
Concerns from City Administration and Nature Conservation
A similar push already failed in 2020 as part of the citizen budget. The city administration’s stance at the time, which can be read in the citizen participation portal: The Saale is not comparable to the Eisbach, a conversion would be too massive, and operation very cost-intensive. In addition to finances, safety aspects also play a decisive role. In München, accidents occur regularly at the Eisbachwelle due to the high current speed and underwater obstacles. Parliamentary group leader Jürgen Häkanson-Hall emphasizes, however, that they want to learn from these experiences and consider safety aspects in the choice of location and construction method from the very beginning.
Nature must also not be endangered by such a project. The proposal calls for strict compliance with all nature conservation regulations. Free migration routes for fish must be maintained, similar to how it has already been successfully solved with fish ladders in comparable river wave projects in Regensburg or Passau.
What Happens Next
There will be no quick decision on the construction for the time being. The city council initially referred the proposal to the City Development and Environment Committee, the Committee for School and Sport, and the Finance Committee for detailed consultation. Further facts and feasibility studies are to be discussed there in the coming weeks before the topic returns to the city council’s agenda.
Background: The Saale in Jena
The Saale significantly shapes the cityscape of Jena and flows through the urban area for a length of around 30 kilometers. So far, the river has mainly been used for gentle water sports such as canoeing or rubber dinghy trips, as well as stand-up paddling. River surfing on a so-called „standing wave“ requires special hydrological conditions: the water must flow over an artificial or natural threshold with sufficient volume and high flow velocity to permanently create a surfable, breaking wave.
Source:
Surfboard instead of rubber dinghy – City council faction in Jena proposes surfing wave
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially checked, and expanded with AI support.