- Surf park near Munich opened with Olympic athletes
Under brilliant sunshine, a 20,000 square meter surf park with waves up to two meters high was opened in the Munich suburb of Hallbergmoos on Saturday. Germany's first Olympic surfer, Camilla Kemp, who was still in Tahiti two weeks ago, said: "I'm incredibly excited about this new training facility, about training here and further developing my skills." This could inspire a new generation to take up surfing.
According to the operators, the O2 Surftown Muc is the largest facility of its kind in Europe and the only one in Germany. The 180-meter long pool can accommodate up to 60 athletes. The German Surfing Association (DWV) wants to use the surf park for official competitions and as a training ground. Former Olympic surfer Leon Glatzer said: "Finally, we have a place in Germany where we can train under ideal conditions and develop the sport - everything we need is right on our doorstep."
Artificial waves have already been created in several cities, modeled after the famous Eisbach wave in Munich's English Garden. In Augsburg, Nuremberg, and Hannover, as well as in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Britain, the Czech Republic, the USA, and Canada, there are river waves specifically designed for surfing. However, these waves are stationary: they don't break, but remain stable in place, unlike the waves in the sea and the new surf park, which roll through and eventually break.
The surf park is set to be open all year round, with the pool remaining unheated. Similarly, surfing is traditionally practiced at the Eisbach in Munich even in winter.
The O2 Surftown Muc, being the largest surf facility in Europe and the only one in Germany, is expected to host official competitions and serve as a training ground for aspiring surfers, as stated by the German Surfing Association. With the opened surf park providing waves up to two meters high, it could encourage more individuals to engage in sports like surfing.
