What would you do if you had a perfect point break in your backyard? Create a landfill so you can store containers on it, of course! At least, that’s what the Municipality of Ölfus has been trying to do at Þorlákshöfn, located in the south of Iceland.

That’s what Egill Örn, part of Brimbrettafélag Íslands (BBFÍ, the Surf Association of Iceland), shared during a very impromptu phone call earlier today. And it’s not their first rodeo either. Just four years ago, they had to deal with the same drama at Þorlákshöfn. Back then, they gathered over 12.000 verified signatures to try and stop this madness.

When the Municipality initiated this harbor expansion project, they employed a tactic called ”salami-slicing.” This means breaking a massive project into smaller parts to bypass critical steps, like conducting environmental surveys. Apparently, no permits were in place. BBFÍ hired the Danish engineering firm DHI Group to evaluate claims made by the Municipality’s hired firm Portum, which justified the project. DHI Group reported the use of faulty data, an inadequate analysis of that data, and an incorrect identification of the land reclamation site.

And the local population?
“They’re not aware of the gem they have. People here are extremely hard-working. It’s a fishing town. To paint the picture: tonight (February 11, 2025) at 5 PM, a community-initiated meeting is being held on how to make this area more tourist-friendly. Isn’t that ironic? Luckily, there will be some Danish architects with ties to the region of Klitmøller (Cold Hawaii) attending the meeting. Our hope is that they will help raise more local awareness. Of course, this isn’t criticism aimed at the locals. We want to do this together with them and be part of their community. Our issue is with the Municipality of Ölfus and its lies,” said Egill Örn.

The lawsuit against the Municipality has already been filed, and the contractor is currently being prevented from placing rocks on the site. That means it’s now a legal battle—and legal battles cost money. BBFÍ is setting up a GoFundMe so people all over the world can support the cause.

So far, it’s a peaceful protest. BBFÍ even offered pizza to the workers currently sitting in their dump trucks and excavators—killing them with kindness, so to speak.

You can already donate here, but as soon as the GoFundMe is up, we’ll share it.

By Ronald de Leeuw
NORDIC SURFERS MAGAZINE

Photos: Nick Green, Egill Örn & Elli Thor Magnusson