Making Waves: Surf & Style 2015
Share
Back by popular demand, 2015 marks the fifth anniversary of the world’s largest artificial stationary wave Surf & Style extravaganza taking place July 31-August 23 at the Munich Airport Center (MAC), a covered outdoor atrium located between Terminals 1 and 2.
According to Michael Otremba, Munich’s Head of Advertising, Marketing, and Media, “Surf & Style was inspired by a walk I took through Englischer Garten where I observed a group of people surfing on the Eisbach River and thought it would be exciting to reproduce that experience.”
Ingenious technology lifts water from the 2,150 sq ft basin to create a standing wave five feet high and 32 feet wide. The wave intensity can be adjusted from gentle, for rookies, up to formidable, for the elite; in other words, flawless surfing conditions.
What could be better than that? It’s completely free, including the use of surfboards and wetsuits, and is open daily from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. to all takers ages eight and over. During a 45-minute timeslot, aspiring surfers will get tips from one of Munich’s professional “river surfing” instructors. Furthermore, the quintessential favorite three-day “Kids Camp” for children ages eight to 16 will return weekdays. Response has been so overwhelming that pre-registration for all sessions is a must. Keep an eye out for the details at the Munich Airport link.
On August 15-16, competitors will vie for $12,000 in prize money at the European Stationary Wave Championships, which is considered the capstone event of Surf & Style. The wild popularity of this competition has propelled it into the international spotlight, attracting a litany of surfing luminaries such as Shane Beschen and his son Noah.
This world-class matchup ticks all the boxes – a tropical ambience with palm trees, deck chairs, cocktail bar and grandstand that seats up to 500 spectators. Past years have seen over 20,000 enthusiasts a day take in this spectacular display of talent.
This summer if you find yourself in Munich on vacation, business, or a layover, trade in your suit for a wetsuit and carve it up!
To find out our top nine most entertaining airports, read “Diversionary Tactics” in The Entertainment Issue.