Would you surf a frozen wave pool at -7°C?
Janina Zeitler did — and it turned into one of the wildest sessions of her life. At Surftown Munich, temperatures dropped to -7°C, steam rose off the surface, and the second the waves paused… ice started forming. Literally.
Janina it looks so incredibly cold, what was going through your mind before the session?
It’s not something completely new for me. I actually grew up skiing before I started to surf. Once I started most of my surfing was done in freezing conditions on the Eisbach in Munich, with minus temperatures every winter, so in a way, this is part of my upbringing. That said, there’s always a certain nervous energy when it’s REALLY cold haha!
This was my first proper freezing session at o2 Surftown MUC, and the days before, the pool had actually been closed because there was ice in the water and they couldn’t even run the wave. So there was this mix of excitement and uncertainty, “Will we be able to surf? How cold is it actually going to feel?”
For me, it was more curiosity and anticipation. I was excited to experience the wave pool in a completely different atmosphere, raw, icy, and unique. Once you see a perfect wave rolling in front of you, the nerves turn into pure stoke.
Both cold and warm climates have their own challenges. It’s honestly hard to say which I prefer. Obviously, warm water feels easier and lighter, picture perfect so to speak, but there is a unique beauty to cold water surfing, challenging yourself and just totally being present with the wave.
Surfing cold water, every movement requires more physical effort. Your muscles feel tighter, your breathing feels more compressed at first. Warming up properly becomes essential. In freezing conditions, I make sure I’m fully activated before entering the water, dynamic mobility, getting the heart rate up, making sure my muscles are ready to fire. That reduces injury risk and helps performance.
Mentally, I associate cold water with fun and with home, so there is a really warm feeling to it for me, in a funny way haha! I think my preparation comes from my upbringing.
There’s always a little nervousness before paddling out, but the moment you see a clean wave forming, that feeling shifts instantly into focus and excitement. It becomes about performance and flow, not about the temperature anymore.
What equipment do you use in these conditions?
Good equipment is everything in those conditions. I’m very grateful to be supported by Rip Curl, their wetsuits are the best in the world and make a huge difference. For really cold sessions, I always wear a Flashbomb wetsuit, which keeps me incredibly warm and also dries very quickly, perfect for back-to-back sessions and to enjoy a full day of surfing.
I use 5mm gloves and 5mm boots, and sometimes I add a thermal base layer underneath from Rip Curl, to give extra insulation around the core and chest area. That can make a 5mm or 6mm suit feel even warmer.
When you’re properly equipped, you can focus on surfing instead of just surviving the cold! ❄️
There are definitely things to consider. Cold water makes your muscles tighten up much faster, so a thorough warm-up is crucial. You want to avoid cold shock and make sure your body is fully ready before pushing performance.
One thing many people forget is skin protection. Your face is exposed, and without proper cold cream you can actually get something similar to frost or wind burn. Growing up skiing in the Alps, that was normal for me, and I treat cold surf sessions the same way.
In terms of performance, you do feel a difference. Rotations and deeper bottom turns require more effort because your joints and muscles are naturally tighter. Stamina can be affected since your body works harder to maintain core temperature.
That said, being in peak fitness helps enormously. Personally, during this session I felt strong and able to keep pushing, but it definitely demands more from your body compared to warm water surfing.
How stoked are the surf community having the Wave Pool in Munich? Especially after what’s happened with the Eisbach River?
The Eisbach is incredibly special to me. It is and always will be my home. It’s where I learned to surf, where I fell in love with the sport, where I started dreaming and where my journey began. Without that wave, I wouldn’t be where I am today and surfing wouldn’t be the same in Germany. It’s the beating heart of the identity of surfing in Munich.
What happened there over the last year has been tragic and very emotional for our community… Not being able to surf the Eisbach has been hard for many of us.
Having O2 Surftown in Munich has been incredibly important and the extra support they have established for the Eisbach surf community has been a great help. It keeps the community together, keeps the culture alive, and gives us a place to train and connect. Every time I’m home and I see familiar faces in the wave there, it warms you up inside and feels truly special. It’s definitely different from the raw energy of the Eisbach, but it carries the same spirit of bringing our community together in the heart of Bavaria 🥰
Next up is my QS event in Morocco in a few weeks, which I’m really excited about. It’s a beautiful place to compete, and hopefully we’ll get some classic Anchor Point conditions.
Beyond that, the European summer will be busy with competitions and training. I am also planning to head somewhere tropical again, I love being on The Search for new locations, new waves, and new inspiration. Last year I spent some time in El Salvador, and this year we’re still exploring options for the next tropical destination.
Cold water will always be part of my story, but chasing waves around the world is definitely part of the dream too 🌊
