During the semifinal heat of the 2025 German University Surfing Championships held in Seignosse, France, a 25-year-old German competitor, Maya Sauer, was physically pushed off a wave by a local free surfer, raising concerns about sportsmanship and localism in the surfing community.
Sauer, a Technical University of Munich student and one of the finalists in the ADH Open Wellenreiten 2025, described the incident as an unprovoked attack during the contest.
The event, which attracts many Central European surfers who travel to France, Portugal, and Spain due to limited ocean waves in their home countries, was fully authorized by local authorities.
Sauer confirmed that all necessary permits were in place, safety measures were observed, and lifeguards were present throughout the competition.
Despite this, free surfers, primarily locals, entered the competition lineup during the semifinal heat, violating contest rules that grant wave priority to competitors. “They dropped in on us intentionally, shouted insults, and became physically aggressive,” Sauer said. Lifeguards attempted to clear the lineup, but the free surfers ignored their requests.
The incident occurred with less than six minutes remaining in the four-woman semifinal heat. Video footage, broadcast live on YouTube, shows Sauer paddling for a wave alongside a blond free surfer in a spring suit.
Although the free surfer held priority within the contest area, he cut in front of Sauer and shoved her with his right arm, causing her to wipe out. Sauer reported that the individual showed no remorse following the confrontation.
The event commentator initially overlooked the episode but later acknowledged the interference, emphasizing that such behavior undermines sportsmanship. “It is unacceptable for free surfers to disrupt the competition by pushing and hindering the athletes,” the commentator stated.
Sauer expressed understanding of local surfers’ frustrations over increasing crowding at popular spots like Hossegor, where she has surfed for over a decade. However, she condemned the use of violence, particularly against women, as wholly unacceptable within the sport.
The disruption continued into the men’s and women’s finals, with free surfers frequently taking waves in the competition zone, affecting scoring opportunities.
Despite these challenges, the ADH Open Wellenreiten 2025 concluded with champions crowned and local surfers reclaiming their waves.
The incident highlights the ongoing issue of surfing localism — territorial behavior by local surfers — which remains prevalent worldwide, from Hawaii to France and beyond. As the sport grows, navigating the balance between competition, local culture, and mutual respect remains a significant challenge for the global surfing community.
