Editor’s Note: After a cheeky attempt to fool the surfing world that the progressive bar had been raised with the first backside flip on a surfboard, the topic of incorporating skate tricks into surfing has been reignited. We all know the Zoltan story, and some people even argue that “Surfing does not need the kickflip.” Whatever your stance on the subject, we think that a kickflip on a surfboard is pretty nuts.
That being said, meet Flori Kummer. He’s an orthopedic surgeon from Germany, and part of a little crew from Munich called, FUS CREW. They surf (Ahem… they shred) the Eisbach River wave on the regular. River surfing offers endless ramps and sections to smash, and it also offers the perfect canvas to practice progressive maneuvers… like kickflips.
The cool thing about surfing in Munich is that the wave is almost always the same every day. Being an artificial wave in an artificial river which goes through the English Garden in Munich means that the water level is nearly always the same, and there are hardly any differences in the wave quality if the construction underneath is alright. It’s kind of like a skatepark. Another cool thing that makes it so fun is that you can go there any time, just set up your generator, and go surfing.
But as everything in life, there’s another side, as well. Being in the middle of a city (and being probably one of the best river waves), it attracts a big crowd. I think there are least a couple hundred surfers in Munich.
Little airs and shove-its have almost become the standard tricks performed from the more talented guys in the water. But, when it comes to the kickflip (as far I know), I’m the only one doing them. And it was quite a struggle learning them. Having some skate background, I started trying kickflips maybe 10 years ago, occasionally. And when the Volcom kickflip ad came out, I really tried hard to get it done. But I always knew it probably wouldn’t count because of the rules.
I personally don’t know Zoltan, but for sure have recognized what he has done with the kickflip. To be honest, I was a little bummed that he did it in the ocean on his backhand like a year before I could figure how to pull it in the river on my forehand.
