Surf Spots

Almwelle

Morzg, Austria

The Almwelle is a stationary standing wave created by a permanent weir structure on the Almkanal river. The wave stands approximately 0.5 meters high with a width of roughly 4.5 meters, wider than commonly reported. Two movable spoilers allow operators to adjust the wave shape and intensity to suit different skill levels. The narrow, technical channel demands precise positioning and line-holding, and the consistent river current means the wave behaves differently from ocean swells—there is no tidal variation or swell direction to factor; instead, water flow is regulated through the canal infrastructure, creating a reliable, repeatable break year-round. The Almwelle was developed in 2010 when the city of Salzburg converted the historic Suchmann lock into a dedicated surfing wave, making it Austria's first and oldest artificial standing river wave. It began as a training facility for kayakers before becoming a focal point for an Austrian river-surfing community. Aside from being established in 2010, no major competitions, notable sessions, or specific surfers are widely documented in publicly available sources. Access is free and straightforward: the spot sits in Salzburg's Gneis district roughly 150 meters downstream of the Weidenstraße bridge. Changing facilities and toilets were added in 2011 after the bike path was relocated to expand the user area. The wave is drained and closed each September for three weeks of maintenance, making summer the season of highest activity and crowds, as your current description notes.

The.Riverwave

Austria