Update of the O2 Surftown test: Pointbreak for maximum surfing pleasure

Caribbean flair next to the airport

The sun is shining, the water is a clear blue, we joke: "You're lucky, the wind is very light and offshore on your side". But of course the wind at the o2 Surftown facility doesn't matter below gale force. When we arrive, an A-frame session is in progress, which means the surfers are split up: one group surfs a "left", the other group surfs a "right" in the opposite direction. We arrived quite a while before the booked session - we wanted to have a thorough look around the facility. On the water, a group of young surfers who obviously know each other - and surf pretty well. "That's the Italian national youth team," the coach at the side of the pool explains to me, "we're coming in June with the adult team. This is an artificial wave, which is probably the most similar to a natural wave." So we come to a neutral assessment right at the start - the Azzurro surfers certainly haven't travelled here especially to influence us.

Waves in an ideal 15-second cycle

Munich Airport could take a leaf out of this super timing and punctuality book. Here, the waves roll in at 15-second intervals - that's mega efficient. At sea, that's a 15-second period. Exactly 15 minutes before the session, there is a short briefing where all the important information is discussed. More on this later. Our test participant was lucky and had good timing when choosing her session. She opted for a Tuesday morning when there were still plenty of places available. In the end, there were five of them in the water on "her side". So there are no chill-out breaks, it's all about catching waves without end.

How we tested the O2 Surftown

And that's exactly what we're doing today, Laura to be precise. Laura Duschek already has some experience on a surfboard, but she's certainly not a professional, she's just a recreational surfer. However, she already knows the indoor wave at Jochen Schweizer, the standing wave in Langenfeld, the Isar waves, the Floßlände and, of course, ocean waves in Portugal and even Bali. Anyone who knows the former SUP magazine probably also knows our test subject - as a photo paddler and above all as a tester for SUPs of all kinds. Let's see what she has to say.

Practical check of the O2 Surftown by an "experienced" leisure and holiday surfer:

I tested the new O₂ Surftown as part of an intermediate session, which lies in the middle of the difficulty spectrum between First Timer and Pro and is designed in such a way that it is easy to surf with an 8-foot softboard as well as a real shortboard. Forgiving enough for beginners with previous experience, yet powerful enough for more advanced manoeuvres.

Relaxed atmosphere without machine noise

A quarter of an hour before the start, all participants were briefed by a coach on safety aspects and the starting order was determined - a sensible way to get started, enabling a smooth process in the water. Immediately afterwards, we entered the water and the first waves rolled in. Quite different from the roaring, standing waves in the hall - here it is completely silent, apart from a little splashing water, which also creates a relaxed atmosphere in the water.

The paddling area is large and suitable for every preference.

You can easily orientate yourself by the markings on the edge of the pool. If you prefer to have plenty of time for the take-off, which you can take with this wave, and paddle more, start a little further back at the markings. Or you can position yourself further towards the centre of the pool so that you can get into the steeper part of the wave with just three or four paddle strokes - but a faster take-off has to be perfect for this. This means that everyone has the opportunity to pursue their individual preferences right from the start. But beware: too far into the centre of the pool you will be caught by the white water and a channel runs back very close to the wall - so the wave does not break here. Nevertheless, the area in which the wave can be paddled is large enough that small positioning errors do not inevitably lead to failure.

Good briefing in advance

A dedicated and friendly coach stood at the edge of the pool next to the take-off zone throughout the session and gave helpful tips on timing, such as using the smaller wave in advance, which always heralds the right wave to come, as an impetus to get into the right position to save energy. Motivating shouts such as "paddle hard again!" also helped to mobilise the last of the energy, especially at the end of the session.

No wellness in the wave pool, but real surfing

You have to paddle yourself. Anyone who thinks a session in the wave pool is a relaxing wellness day will be proven wrong. However, the advantage over the open sea is obvious - no unpleasant currents and constant paddling against them to keep your position. No constant duck diving or turtle rolling or unexpected larger sets that clear all the surfers in the line-up, which saves a lot of energy that can be better invested directly in riding the wave.

Plenty of surfing time, hardly any time to catch your breath

With only five other surfers in the session that day, waiting times in the line-up were practically nil. Communication consisted mostly of wheezing: "You can go ahead - I need a short break" followed by mutual consideration and the odd wave was left unsurfed. Today, everyone can easily get their "actual" surfing time in one hour without having to worry.

Intermediate wave with wide shoulder but also steep sections

The intermediate wave is a good-natured and forgiving wave with moderate speed that won't catch you up, even without generating speed yourself. With a wide shoulder and some steeper sections, it offers plenty of scope to try out and practise everything from the perfect take-off to first bottom turns and cutbacks.

The waves at O₂ Surftown are constant - each one is exactly the same as the last. This may not allow you to shout for joy like you would at sea when you catch the best, longest wave of the day - but it certainly prevents you from going home with a frustrating wash and two litres of water in your nose, like after many a day of surfing at sea. And above all, the wave here offers ideal conditions for targeted technique training. Manoeuvres of all kinds can be practised systematically due to how predictable the waves are. If you sign up for a session appropriate to your level (there is a good guide on the website), there is a good chance that nothing will stand in the way of your success.

Conclusion on the O2 Surftown in the practical test:

In short: the intermediate session at O₂ Surftown is a well thought-out, challenging but at the same time pleasantly relaxed surfing experience - especially for all those who want to develop quickly without having to rely on the chance of the ocean. With plenty of time on the wave and very natural laboratory conditions. The different sessions ensure that everyone gets the perfect wave for their personal level.

Noble (expensive) upgrade: Is the Pointbreak Session worth it?

For a second self-experiment, we chose a "point break" session. The wave runs through the entire pool. As with the A-frame, you book the entire session as "left" or "right". In contrast to the A-frame session, however, the point break should enable twice as long wave rides. Our test rider is drawn second in her group of 11 surfers. And a little excited. The first wave builds up, the surfer in front of her paddles up, jumps on the board and turns dynamically into the first turn - right into the white water. Spit out by the wave, he looks around in disbelief, gesticulates, looks perplexed. He surfs "goofy" and the wave turns away to the left. But the session is a "right". Accidentally booked wrong? Right-left weakness? We don't know. But he seems to take it in his stride and simply surfs the remaining waves backside. And what does our test rider say? The take-off is just as successful as with the A-frame wave, the wave itself is just as predictable and almost perfect as in the A-frame. The wave runs for up to 18 seconds. This means you have much more time to find your way around the wave and can simply practise even more turns one after the other. The number of turns then only depends on your skills. A real added value for advanced surfers with a confident take-off!

Paddling is slightly different to paddling at sea. So if you've never surfed in the pool before and often mess up the take-off, the A-frame is probably better for practising because of its lower price. And what did our "leftie" say after the session? Never mind - it was his birthday and he had booked another session in "his" direction on the same day anyway.

Technical info

Flexible booking options and membership

O2 SURFTOWN MUC offers various booking options to meet the different needs of surfers. Individual sessions can be booked from 89 euros. For regular visitors, the SURFTOWN Membership is worthwhile, offering exclusive benefits such as discounts on surf sessions and coaching experiences, access to exclusive member sessions and discounts in the surf shop. Membership for 2024 is available in advance and offers additional discounts.

Year-round surfing experience and infrastructure

The facility is open all year round and the opening hours are generous, with surfing from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm. In addition to surfing, O2 SURFTOWN MUC also offers catering facilities such as a restaurant and a bar, which are open to all visitors. Spectators can purchase a visitor ticket for 5 euros, which grants access to the pool area.

Arrival and parking facilities

O2 SURFTOWN MUC is located in the immediate vicinity of Munich Airport and is easily accessible by various means of transport. Car parking spaces are available for motorists, which are free of charge for the first 30 minutes. There are also special parking spaces for motorhomes, including electricity. The exact parking fees can be found on the website. (Editor's note: We paid 4 euros for parking for the duration of a session and lunch beforehand)

Technical data of the system

Practical information:

Journey:

• Nearest airport: Munich, in the immediate vicinity
• Transfer options: Car, public transport

Accommodation:

• Motorhome pitches: 14 pitches with electricity available

Spots:

• Main spot: Artificial wave with different levels of difficulty
• Suitable for: All skill levels from children/beginners to experts

Equipment:

• Rental stations: Available, 50% discount for members