Waves of Inclusion: Three Blind People Take the Leap onto the Wave

Sometimes the best idea grows out of an open question: what becomes possible when we stop thinking in terms of limits?

That’s exactly the question that moved NOMB Changes member Ursula Walli — and she didn’t hesitate for long. A passionate surfer from St. Marienkirchen am Hausruck, she discovered the power of surfing for herself around a year and a half ago. Not just as a sport, but as an experience of presence, trust, and letting go of control. “On the wave, you can’t think five steps ahead. You have to surrender to the moment, feel, react, and trust,” she says. And like so many of us, she wants to share that experience. Not just any way, but in a way that truly means something.

One Wave, Three Brave People

And so a project was born that is unique in this form in Upper Austria: on September 4, 2026, three blind people will take the leap onto a standing wave in Ebensee. An hour and a half, one wave, and the willingness to embrace something that can’t be fully controlled. Whether the participants stay on the board for a few seconds or several minutes plays only a minor role. “You have to try a lot of things before you can really judge whether something is possible or not,” sums up participant Robert.

Courage Counts More Than Seconds

What matters most is experiencing the moment. Dealing with uncertainty. Trusting in your own abilities. And the courage to take that first step at all.
The project is made possible in collaboration with THE.RIVERWAVE Ebensee. Operator Max and his team are providing the standing wave and experienced coaches on especially favorable terms. Photographer Eva Wöckl is there throughout the day, capturing these special moments.

Become Part of the Movement

Want to be part of this movement? As a member of NOMB Changes, you’re right there as projects like this take shape and become reality. You strengthen a community that believes surfing is more than a sport — and that change begins with small steps.