Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Tackles Iceland

Use Case

For most of us, the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo is a more utilitarian vehicle that still offers all of the spectacular performance of its EV sedan twin, albeit with a massive rear cargo area. It's the perfect sports wagon to propel us into the all-electric future, and as it turns out, the Taycan Cross Turismo is also a pretty good way for professional wakeboarder Dominik Gührs to make his way across the rugged terrain of Iceland, too.

Photos: Porsche

Monumental Accomplishments

Gührs - a Munich-based athlete - is more often found at the beach than the rugged terrain of Iceland, spending his winters in Thailand or Bali to keep in shape. A two-time world champion, he is one of the best wakeboarders in the world. Even more significant on the wakeboarding scene are his three victories in the World Cup, in which only the best athletes from each country are allowed to compete.

Photos: Porsche

Adventure Seeker

The 32-year-old is not, however, just an extreme athlete - he is also an adventurer. He travels the world with his boards in tow, typically on the move for about 200 days a year, always in search of a new challenge. "The competitions are one thing," he said. But nowadays, he’s interested in more than just the next victory. "It’s about creating something unique. Something that has never existed before. Something that might even interest my grandma."

Photos: Porsche

Different Planet

Now he has come to Iceland with another adventure in mind, in search of places where no wakeboarder has been before. The thermometer reads 17 degrees Celsius, though the locals call it the height of summer. Nor does it ever get completely dark. When the sun goes down around 11:00 pm, it only dips behind the horizon for a short spell. "Doing a tour in Iceland feels like traveling on a different planet," Gührs says.

Photos: Porsche

Different Fish

Gührs gets into the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo and sets off. The acceleration of the electric motor presses him into the seat. The tow rope that he normally holds onto in the water quickly gets his wakeboard up to a speed of roughly 40 km/h. He loves the acceleration. "But it’s nothing compared to the Taycan," he says. "This is a totally different kettle of fish than anything I’ve ever experienced before."

Photos: Porsche

Sustainable Energy

The Porsche is the ideal companion for him on his quest to find the best spots, with his board safely stowed in the luggage compartment. With the relatively short distances in Iceland, the vehicle’s range is more than sufficient. There’s also a wide charging network - the next station is never more than 80 km away. With its unique natural environment and geothermal resources, Iceland is the land of renewable energy sources. Energy is omnipresent here, and in many cases – such as the famous geysers – is visible to the naked eye. Nearly all of the country's energy requirements are covered by sustainable sources

Photos: Porsche

Perfect Spot

As quickly as the horses made their way through the landscape, Gührs has reached his destination - Skógafoss. "We’ll do it here," he said. "I will ride through the waterfall." He turns, walks back to the Taycan parked at the side of the road, and pulls his wakeboard out of the luggage compartment. The tourists gathered at the falls look on incredulously as if to ask - "He’s not really going to get on his board here, is he?"

Photos: Porsche

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