What rental gear fails first? What sells in the surf shop? We speak to junior manager Max Widnig at O₂ SURFTOWN MUC for an insider’s peek.
At O₂ SURFTOWN MUC, Germany’s inland surf park near the Munich airport, managing surf equipment involves more than just reordering wetsuits and repairing dings. According to Max Widnig, junior surf shop manager, the job spans both the retail and rental departments with a lot of crossover.
“I started here one year ago, and I’m now officially the junior surf shop manager,” Max said. “I do all the ordering and reorders for the shop. I’m also talking to our delivery partners about what kind of products are interesting for us. Especially because we work with a lot of brands, I’m in contact with the brands as well to figure out what line is best for the shop.”
The position includes responsibility for the rental operation, particularly managing boards and the wear they endure from hundreds of daily visitors.
“It’s a pretty interesting job. It’s not only about the shop, it’s about the whole concept between rental and shop,” said Max. “I’m involved in the rental side—taking care of rental equipment like what boards we use, since we also sell the same boards in the shop. I also manage damage on fins and boards which can be quite extensive in a wave pool.”
At O₂ SURFTOWN MUC, some rental boards have proven remarkably durable. One in particular, a Firewire Greedy Beaver, has been rented hundreds of times according to Max, and remains functional.
O₂ SURFTOWN MUC offers both premium and standard rental options. Hardboards are available at 40 euros per session, softboards at 20 euros. Not all gear survives the rental cycle. A trial with a 3D-printed sustainable surfboard did not appeal to clients.
“We really liked the concept; it’s very sustainable. We tried them in the rental. For us, it was cool, as the team here liked the boards. But it was really hard to convince customers about this new technology.”
Even with a free rental promotion for the boards, customer interest remained low. Max attributes this to hesitation with unfamiliar gear.
“There’s a lot of education needed for new constructions,” he said. “People come in, see Firewire boards or Pukas or Channel Islands, and they know them. They’re comfortable renting those.”
Wetsuits see constant use during Germany’s cooler seasons. Despite high usage, Max says rental suits hold up well, especially after a recent off-season overhaul.
“We were expecting more damage, but we also optimized some things. We were closed for a couple of days, and during that time we optimized processes,” Max said. “For example, we had a team fixing the rental wetsuits. Now there were only around thirty wetsuits we couldn’t repair—and that’s not many.”
The rental fleet includes 70 to 80 surfboards and 250 to 300 wetsuits in active use. Around 1,800 more wetsuits are kept in storage to meet seasonal demand.
“You need them here because of winter,” said Max. “You need 5/3s. Right now it’s 4/3s, and then there is 3/2 season. In summer, it’s shorties or no wetsuit at all.”
Wetsuit failures are often linked to user behavior. Many suits are used by beginners still learning how to put them on properly.
“Sometimes it’s just tearing from people pulling wrong,” Max said. “At the neck, mostly with women’s wetsuits, or at the end of the wetsuit sleeves, puts an unusual strain on the material.”
The retail shop performs well in hard goods like surfboards and fins.
“Last summer was really good,” Max said. “We’re happy, and we think there’s more potential. It’s cool having this destination shop with the wave next to it. People get what they need. They can rent a board and buy it afterward, getting the rental price reduced.”
Max said that surfboard prices remain competitive with the wider market.
“For surfboards, I think we have the same price as everywhere else,” he said.
Surf retail can be unpredictable. At some surf parks, the shop is more aesthetic than functional. In Munich, the surf culture is stronger, and purchasing patterns are more event-dependent.
“There are weeks where we sell five boards and no fins, then the next week we sell ten pairs of fins,” Max said. “It depends on who visits. When we have large-scale events, people might need new fins or have lost theirs.”
Soft goods like hats and sunglasses sell best in good weather. Items such as towels had a slower turnover until recently, when the team adjusted display tactics.
“We sell a lot of products used on the day of someone’s visit, like sunscreen, caps, even Oakleys,” Max said. “Weather impacts sales. Our Surftime towel is the best value in the shop, so we now present it directly at the counter, instead of stocking it on a lower-visibility shelf.”
Max offers advice for those launching surf retail operations at new wave pool developments. He encourages a cautious approach to inventory.
“Go easy on the orders. You don’t know how it’ll turn out or what customers will want. We didn’t know there’d be huge rental demand for mid-length boards. That was a surprise. Compared to last year, we learned and now have more of those. If you’re pre-ordering for your opening season, don’t overdo it.”
Surftown’s own merchandise line has become a point of pride, both as branding and as a locally made product.
“It was important for us that it’s a good product. I really recommend having good-quality merch. It makes the brand better,” Max said. “Ours is 100% cotton and printed or stitched in Munich. Our designer is also in Munich. We try to support local as much as possible.”
As more wave pools are built across Europe and beyond, operators may look to O₂ SURFTOWN MUC not just for wave scheduling, but for lessons in retail logistics and gear management. This surf park continues to shape how inland surf venues run their business behind the scenes.
Interested in a surf park career? Find more wave pool jobs at the WavePoolJobs.com website
