After the first beginner session, I wonder about getting onto the wave on my own. I’d like to book myself into an advanced session where there’s no assistance.

But I’ve decided on principles for this project. One principle is to ask for advice or permission before moving to a next level, however small a step that is. And so I call reception and ask whether an advanced session is a reasonable next step.

The person who picks up the phone sounds friendly. Her voice is young, but hesitant about endorsing my plan. A new kind of beginner class is being set up for people like you from August to support progression to the advanced level.

Sounds good, I say, but I’ve booked myself onto the “Pure Surf Day” next week, and I’d like to get up on my own before then. And I don’t mind failing, I say, I just want to experiment. Her attitude changes: Yes, that will be fine! We just want to avoid disappointment. She says that some people complain after advanced sessions if they can’t get going.

Done. I tell her I’m not worried, I’ll be happy with whatever happens. I ask for her name, it’s K.

But I get started too late. I’ve underestimated the time to get to the ‘arena.’ Another principle of this project is to use public transport and bikes, no cars. I call in again from the S-Bahn to ask for a re-booking to the later slot. It’s K. again. We have rapport. No problem, I should charge you for this, but it’s short-notice, so I’ll make an exception.

S-Bahn to Ostbahnhof and then change to Taufkirchen. Foldable bike to the indoor surf-arena via a pretty road through fields, crops growing high on both sides, then under a bridge, then onto a broad cycle path next to a quiet road in an industrial area. They let me park my folded bike inside by a coat-hanger. I look for K. to say thank you, but they say she’s at another desk, main reception?

I recognise the supervisor of the session from the beginner class, I’ll call him F. though I don’t know his name. He’s friendly, he moves to the music in the arena, sometimes, which is too loud, making a fist with thumbs outstretched and moving his lower arms up and down.

I watch the previous advanced class and the way people get on the wave. It’s a bit tricky, but doesn’t look all that difficult. You have to hold you board on the side and put it on the wave, get your back foot on, then the front, apply some pressure, and then you’ve got the side-wall to help you get up and you can ride down a little bit while hanging on to the wall and then let go…