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SMOKE ON THE WATER! THE SWISS STORM CHASE…

12/01/2025
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SMOKE ON THE WATER!

THE SWISS STORM CHASE

After a relatively tame start to the year, Balz Müller couldn’t resist the siren call of the Föhn wind. With a crazy forecast forming, and his windsurfing partner-in-crime Yentel just across the Alps, it was time to initiate a Swiss Storm Chase. The water was so cold it was enough to freeze Balz’s ever-present smile, but the insane gusts and dramatic scenery made this day, one to remember! Are you ready for 60 knots and wild moves on 3.3m sails…then read on!

Photos: Boris Ackermann.


BALZ MÜLLER

SEVERNE

It is always special when one of these storms appears on the horizon! I was spending Christmas and New Year in France and then it was not the windiest start to the new year. I was super excited when I saw this storm brewing up. Nature granted us a perfect opportunity to play with its untamed elements. I couldn’t resist!

I knew Yentel Caers was close by at his home in Lake Como on the south side of the Swiss Alps. Obviously, these are the days we both live for, so he was fully in! The Föhn wind gets lifted by the alps drops down into the valleys. As it drops down the wind warms up and it is also very dry. The wind can often reach violent storm force! So, fifty to sixty knots can be normal. The location where we ride is literally the epicentre of the wind strength! What a crazy playground.

It was insane when we rocked up. The lake was white! There was smoke on the water. It was not even cold…almost fifteen degrees! I think we sailed for five hours. We were on it all day. It was fun survival sailing. One hour sailing like this is like three hours on a normal day.

I felt fully in the zone. There was no room for errors! I felt super ready and well prepared for a wild storm chase! And once again the raw energy blew me away, winds over 50 knots made already stepping onto my board a challenge, and with the first jibe I landed in the freezing water. Then came the gusts—60 knots slamming my tiny 3.3 sail from both sides, leaving me stuck in a surreal moment of stillness amidst chaos.

I was riding my 3.3m Severne Freak. This is my favourite storm sail. It is a freestyle sail but in the size 3.3m it feels very calm and forgiving. I was also on the Severne Pyro 83 litre as a quad set up.

Of-course, I went out on the Parawing also but that did not go well. I did one flip after 50 metres of riding and could not go upwind anymore. It was just impossible to ride. I think I could have used a plastic bag to propel me in those winds! That was humbling!

I love winter…the endless winter! I love that flat light and the cold clean air we get in Switzerland. The photos are always ridiculous with the snow in the background. The water was icy cold, around 5 degrees! There were even more people taking pictures than riding. Therefore, we have these beautiful images.

The location is very unique. There is a deep valley in the Swiss Mountains that faces from south to north which gives perfect access for that wind.

YENTEL CAERS

NeilPryde

JP Australia

It was about one week before that we saw the graphic showing loads of south pressure in the forecast for this day. I was in contact with Balz to see if we should go for a ‘Swiss Lake’ Storm Chase. The location was between where I live in Italy and Balz’s hometown, so it was the perfect meeting place to catch up. Then photographer, Boris Ackermann contacted us to see if we would be going, so this made us even more excited to have a pro shooter there to catch the moments.

The day of the storm we woke up early with full power rain in Italy. I knew it would be the perfect day for a storm. This is what you need for the Föhn wind really to work. Bad weather on the Italian side of the mountains is perfect. After I made it through the long Gotthard Tunnel, it was sunny and 14 degrees on the other side. We were hyped to take out the smallest gear we brought…3.3m sails! This place was wild and so some much fun to sail. The scenery around was crazy cool. For the first few runs I did not really feel comfortable but once the session really got started, I was slowly getting in my element.

With Balz around me, jumping and going crazy there was no holding back anymore. And I started going into full send mode. Probably the safest move was the shifty and push loop. The rest were a bit out of control! Luckily my NeilPryde  Combat sail could handle the gusts!

BORIS ACKERMANN

www.boris-ackermann.com

About a week before the storm, I contacted Balz to check if he would be windsurfing somewhere in Switzerland to get some cool shots before the Boot Fair in Düsseldorf. I am looking for Photo-Jobs in the Watersports industry and I was hungry to fill my Set card!!

There was a crazy forecast for nuclear storm around the corner that kept getting better and better. Balz told me to come to Lake Uri / Switzerland.

A beautiful spot and a very impressive place to take photos with the snow-capped mountains, the flying water and many colours. Especially when the boys put on a show like that. Unbelievable when you imagine the wind was 55 Knots and above!

Where is Balz, you can bet Yentel is not far away. I think you can see in the pictures how much fun the boys had on the water. The wind was really kicking.  What a great day. Thanks again to Balz and Yentel for the performance!

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