Thaw in northern Germany

Water sport is possible again

Who would have thought that even a week of thawing weather, with temperatures well above 10°C, wouldn’t melt the ice off the lake? Even on the seventh warm day, the eastern shore of Wittensee was still covered in a layer of ice. Sure, we could have cut our way through the thin ice, but there’s no need to play icebreaker with all our wingfoil gear when there’s an easier way.

February 27, 2026: Water sports are once again possible on Lake Wittensee

Left: The lake is mostly ice-free, right: Remaining ice on the eastern shore

Instead of the eastern shore, where the wind blows inwards anyway, there are also a few spots on the northern shore where you can get out onto the lake. On Friday, we set out from a beach near Groß Wittensee. A wide strip of ice floes had been drifting there just the day before, but fortunately it had completely melted by Friday - finally, a clear path into the water again.

There is still ice floating in some parts of Wittensee

Pack ice and ice slush in the western part of the lake

Gusty winds, strong air shimmering over the lake, and then, in the western part, ice floes on the water that even affected the wind: downwind of the floes, the wind was noticeably weaker.

Wing foiling is possible again

It was enough for winging, and in the gusts, the 4.0 worked really well. Frank filmed with a 360-degree camera, and while taking photos from the shore, it was even warm enough to wear a hoodie. Spring is on its way...

Text: Jürgen Schall Photos/Videos: Frank Rosin Photos/Videos: Jürgen Schall DE

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