Feasibility analysis and venue evaluation for the boat-tow waterski course and cable wakeboard facility as part of The World Games 2029 in Karlsruhe. Prepared on behalf of the German Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (DWWV) as IWWF delegate for the IWGA site inspection.
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Executive Summary
Epplesee in Rheinstetten is the only lake in the greater Karlsruhe area capable of hosting both an IWWF-compliant boat-tow waterski course and a 5-mast cable wakeboard system simultaneously. With 35 ha of water surface, 1,533 parking spaces, and only 8 km from the city center, the site meets the World Games 2029 core requirements for compactness and accessibility. The cable system (Rixen Cableway, global market leader) remains after the Games as a permanent water sports center — a tangible legacy project for the Karlsruhe region. The total investment is estimated at €850,000–1.8 million, with a target of 50–70% covered by public grants (federal, state, DOSB).
Value Proposition
Waterski & Wakeboard at The World Games 2029 delivers measurable economic value to the city and region — during the event and long-term through legacy infrastructure.
Karlsruhe positions itself as a modern, sport-forward city. The permanent cable park creates a unique selling point — no comparable facility exists within 150 km, attracting visitors from across Baden-Württemberg and the Rhine-Neckar region.
Cable wakeboarding is one of the fastest-growing water sports in Europe. A permanent facility provides year-round programming for schools, clubs, and university sports — strengthening Karlsruhe's appeal for young residents and families.
The Epplesee cable park complements Karlsruhe's existing leisure infrastructure (Turmberg, Zoo, Rheinstrandbad) and creates a destination for day-trippers and weekend visitors — with minimal environmental impact through electric cable drive (30 kW).
Preamble
The World Games 2029 in Karlsruhe pursue the vision of utilizing existing sports facilities and creating new infrastructure only where long-term legacy use is assured. For the boat-tow waterski course, this means: we plan the competition from the end — what remains for the region when the athletes depart?
The selected venue should remain usable as a permanent or seasonal water sports facility for clubs, schools, and recreational athletes after the World Games. Investments in docks, access roads, and sanitary facilities should benefit the local community long-term.
Grandstands, judges' towers, ski jumps, and media areas will be planned as modular, fully removable installations. This preserves the natural character of the water body and minimizes the ecological footprint — a proven concept at international IWWF competitions.
Every venue is assessed for its ecological sensitivity. Nature reserves, species protection, and noise emissions from motorboats are central factors in the evaluation. We strive for a competition that respects nature rather than displacing it.
Technical Foundations
The International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) defines binding minimum requirements for boat-tow waterski competition courses. All three disciplines — Slalom, Tricks, and Jump — must be feasible on the same body of water.
Cable Wakeboard & Waterski
In addition to the boat-tow course, a cable wakeboard facility is planned as an integral part of the venue. The Rixen Full Size Cable is the world standard for competition-grade cable systems — and was the official supplier at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, providing both Full Size Cable and Straight Line systems.
Circuit-based cableway with 5–6 towers positioned in water or on land. Riders are towed via carriers on a continuously rotating cable loop at 25–32 km/h around an approximately pentagonal course. The longest straight section between masts requires a minimum of 300 m of clear waterway.
Rixen supplied both the Full Size Cable and Straight Line systems for The World Games 2025 in Chengdu (equipment value ~€410,500). Post-Games, the installation was retained as a permanent recreational center — a direct legacy model for Karlsruhe 2029.
Complete installation in 4 weeks plus 1 week operator training. The modular system meets DIN EN 13814 safety standards and can be configured as temporary or permanent infrastructure — perfectly aligned with the WG2029 sustainability strategy.
Rixen Cableway supplied the complete cable infrastructure for TWG 2025 in Chengdu, including a Full Size Cable (5-mast) and a Straight Line (2-point) system. The installation was completed in under 5 weeks and hosted over 120 athletes from 35+ nations across wakeboard and waterski cable disciplines. Post-Games, the facility was retained by the city of Chengdu as a permanent public water sports center — the exact legacy model we propose for Karlsruhe.
Specifications: Rixen Cableway GmbH, Bergkirchen, Germany · rixencableway.com · World market leader since 1961 · 500+ installations worldwide
Permits & Governance
Beyond technical feasibility, each venue must satisfy a complex web of German planning law, permitting requirements, and stakeholder coordination. This section outlines the key regulatory milestones that apply to all three candidate locations.
F-Plan (Flächennutzungsplan / Land Use Plan): Each municipality's
land use plan must designate the lake area as compatible with sports infrastructure.
If the current designation is "recreation" or "agriculture," an amendment is required.
B-Plan (Bebauungsplan / Binding Development Plan): A site-specific
B-Plan may be needed for permanent installations (cable masts, clubhouse). Temporary
structures for the World Games may qualify for exemptions under §246 BauGB
(special provisions for major sporting events).
Installation Permits: Temporary grandstands, judges' towers, cable masts,
and ski jumps require structural safety approvals per DIN EN 13814 and potentially
a building permit from the local building authority.
Water Law Permit: Motorboat operation and cable installations
in/over water bodies require permits from the Lower Water Authority
at the Karlsruhe District Office (Landratsamt).
Municipal Participation: The host municipality (Rheinstetten, Ettlingen,
or Forst) must formally support the project through council resolution. Early engagement
with the mayor's office and sports committee is essential.
Permitting Authorities: Coordinated dialogue with the Karlsruhe District Office
(nature conservation, water authority, building authority) and the TWG2029 Organising
Committee to streamline the approval process.
Each venue requires an ecological impact assessment covering protected species, Natura 2000 proximity, and noise emission thresholds for motorboat operation. The Lower Nature Conservation Authority must issue a formal clearance or exemption. Sites adjacent to nature reserves (NSG) face stricter scrutiny.
All three lakes serve as public bathing lakes with existing recreational users (swimmers, anglers, windsurfers, divers). Usage conflicts must be resolved through temporal zoning or compensation agreements. Landowner consent — whether municipal, private (gravel extraction companies), or state-owned — is a prerequisite for any installation.
IWWF competition standards and German regulations (DIN EN 15288) require certified water rescue services on-site during all competition and training activities. Coordination with DLRG (German Lifesaving Association) or professional lifeguard services is mandatory. Medical first aid stations, ambulance access, and evacuation routes must be planned for each venue.
Venue 1 — Recommended by IWGA & City of Karlsruhe (Bid Book)
Schematic overview of the proposed competition and infrastructure zones (not to scale)
Venue Analysis
Venue Analysis
Venue 4 — Added at the request of IWWF & IWGA
Project Roadmap
Key milestones from site selection to competition day — aligned with the TWG2029 Organising Committee's master schedule.
Financial Framework
Estimated cost breakdown for the Epplesee venue — covering both temporary competition infrastructure and permanent legacy installations.
The cable system qualifies for federal sports infrastructure grants (DOSB Goldener Plan) and Land BW sports facility funding. EU Erasmus+ Sport co-financing for cross-border water sports development may cover up to 20% of eligible costs. The TWG2029 Organising Committee covers temporary competition infrastructure.
Post-Games, the cable park generates revenue through day passes (€25–35), courses (€50–80), private events, and season memberships. Comparable facilities in Germany (e.g., Turncable Aschheim, Wasserski Langenfeld) report 15,000–30,000 visitors annually — achieving operational break-even within 2–3 years.
Side-by-Side
All four venues in direct comparison — evaluated against the decisive criteria for an IWWF-compliant boat-tow waterski course at The World Games 2029.
| Criterion | Epplesee | Buchtzigsee | Heidesee | St. Leoner See |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Surface | ~35 ha | 8.4 ha | ~16.5 ha | ~26 ha (2 lakes) |
| Course Suitability (IWWF) | Suitable | Too Small | To Be Verified | To Be Verified |
| Maximum Depth | 45 m | 13 m | 31 m | 24 m |
| Distance to Karlsruhe | ~8 km | ~12 km | ~28 km | ~30 km |
| Public Transit | Moderate | Excellent | Weak | Weak |
| Parking | 1,533 | Available | Free | Available |
| Spectator Areas | Good | Limited | Excellent | Good |
| On-Site Infrastructure | Moderate | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Nature Conservation | NSG South | Low Risk | Low Risk | Low Risk |
| Landowner / Existing Uses | Gravel Co. Active | Municipal Baths | Leisure Park | Cable Operator |
| Zoning (F-Plan / B-Plan) | Amendment Req. | Amendment Req. | Amendment Req. | Existing Permit |
| Lifesaving / Safety | DLRG Present | Lifeguards Present | Not Established | DLRG Present |
| Municipal Capacity | Rheinstetten | Ettlingen | Small (8k pop.) | Diff. District |
| WG2029 Venue Concept | City-Close | City-Close | Too Far | Too Far |
| Cable System (5-Mast) | Ideal | Feasible | Well Suited | 4-Mast Existing |
| Boat + Cable Combined | Yes | No Space | To Be Verified | Two-Lake Split |
| Legacy Potential | High | Moderate | Good | Already Active |
Conclusion & Outlook
Based on this analysis, we recommend Epplesee in Rheinstetten as the primary venue for both the boat-tow waterski course and the 5-mast Rixen cable wakeboard facility at The World Games 2029. At ~35 ha it is the only lake with sufficient surface to host both systems simultaneously — and offers the greatest potential for a sustainable legacy as a water sports center in the Karlsruhe region. St. Leoner See (St. Leon-Rot) has been included as a fourth venue option at the request of the IWWF and IWGA, leveraging its existing 4-mast cable system, proven operator infrastructure, and adjacent bathing lake for potential boat-tow use.
To secure Epplesee as the competition venue and prepare for the IWGA site inspection, we recommend the following measures in chronological order:
To advance the Epplesee venue from concept to reality, we respectfully request the following commitments from the City of Karlsruhe and the TWG2029 Organising Committee: