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The winner gets all the glory — the loser gets a plunge into chilly water. In the summertime, crowds gather by lakes and rivers in southern Germany to watch the traditional sport of Fischerstechen, or fishermen’s jousting.
Men of all ages, as well as some ladies in folk dresses, perch precariously at the end of long, narrow planks mounted at the back of rowing boats. Holding the long wooden lance — well-padded at the end but not exactly light — can be a challenge in itself. For some, even getting to the starting position proves too much and they tumble overboard with a splash.
A loud shot rings out from the referee’s pistol and it begins — the combatants feint, bob, weave, and jab. Strikes are allowed between the shoulder and the beltline, but not above, nor below. It isn’t always easy to dispatch the opponent into the water — quite the opposite in fact. Those who put too much weight behind the lance can quickly be carried along with it and end up in the water themselves.
Another factor is the person who sits in the boat, trying to keep it as steady and still as possible, so the jouster can concentrate completely on his opponent. On Staffelsee, a lake near Seehausen in Upper Bavaria, the tradition was revived in 1985. On August 15 each year, the spectacle is enjoyed from the lakeside, as 24 young men compete to become the Fischerkönig — the fisherman king. According to one legend, knights’ jousting tournaments provided the inspiration for the Fischerstechen. Because the fishermen had no horses of their own, they used their boats instead. In some places teams compete against each other. Elsewhere it’s everyone for themselves.
In some cases, associations organize the Fischerstechen; in others it’s the communities or even the volunteer fire service. The event plays out slightly differently at each location.
In Bamberg, the boat jousting is the highlight of the city’s annual Sandkerwa folk festival. Here, it takes place against the backdrop of the former fishermen’s settlement, which is known as “Little Venice” due to its quaint 17th century houses.
The tradition has a long history — in Nuremberg it dates back to 1592, and was reinstated in 1970. It is now as much a part of the old town festival as the beer and sausages. In Munich, the jousting took place on the river Isar as early as 1536.
On the river Donau in Ulm, the fishermen’s jousting is held once every four years with particular local flair. Before the competitors take to the water, a large procession of people in traditional dress passes through the town, reviving the city’s eventful history.
Traditional dances of the fishermen’s guild are performed to the beating of drums. Many of the jousters descended from members of the boatmen’s and fishermen’s guild. Finally, at the end of the contest, the two remaining jousters face off to decide the new fisherman king.
