MEET THE TEAM RIDERS-MIRJAM MANTEL
Surfing isn't just about the ocean. It's about the people, places, and communities that form around it. And sometimes, those communities grow far from the coast.
Meet Miriam Mantel, part of our local rider team in Munich. We caught up with her to talk about life in the city, the local surf scene, and the people who make it what it is.
For this journal, we sat down with our team rider Mirjam Mantel our local team rider in Based in Munich. We talked about life in the city, the local surf scene, and the people who make it what it is.
What do you connect with most in the New Amsterdam community?
It's about passion, creativity and showing up. You guys are building a community where city life and surfing naturally belong together and I am incredibly happy to be part of it.
Munich is not the first place most people associate with surfing. What makes surfing there so special?
For me, surfing the river wave feels like taking a little vacation in the middle of everyday life. I pack my board, take my bike and twenty minutes later I’m in a completely different world. That’s what makes Munich so unique. We might be landlocked, but we still have a surf community that’s incredibly alive. It proves that surfing isn’t about where you live it’s about the people.
How would you describe the Munich surf scene to someone who has never experienced it?
What I love most about the Munich surf scene is how welcoming it is. Some days you just want to surf without saying a word, and that’s completely fine. Other days you’ll end up chatting for hours by the wave. People genuinely support each other, celebrate each other’s progress and keep showing up together. It feels more like a community than a competition.
What is it like to be a woman within the Munich surf community? Has that scene changed over the years?
I actually felt part of the local community surprisingly quickly. I had a really special moment recently. I was the only woman surfing that day when a little girl was watching from the side. She kept smiling and waving at me, and her dad told me that I had become her new role model. The funny thing is, I thought I was surfing terribly that day.
I felt insecure and frustrated. But hearing that completely changed my perspective. It reminded me that sometimes it's not about surfing perfectly it's about simply showing up. If seeing me in the water encourages another girl to believe she belongs there too, then that's something really meaningful. There are still far more men than women in the lineup, but the female surf community keeps growing. We support each other, cheer each other on and make space for the next generation.
Outside of surfing, what parts of Munich life influence you: music, fashion, nightlife, art, work or something else?
I love living in Munich, especially during summer. I'm happiest when I'm outside. I get excited about the little things starting the day with a run along the Isar, grabbing a matcha from one of my favourite cafés, eating great pastries and spending hours talking with friends.
Munich has this balance between an active lifestyle and slowing down, and I think that's exactly what I like most.
