Urbnsurf Sydney: Daily Mail Australia's FREDDY PAWLE rediscovered his love of surfing at Australia's newest wave pool - and it's miles from the nearest beach

I grew up learning how to surf at Australia's most famous beach, Bondi, but was so intimidated by the aggressive, territorial local surfing culture that I dropped out of the sport altogether. That's how we've landed at URBNSURF's second wave pool opening in Australia - the promise of that perfect wave breaking all-year-round, a promise which is also drawing the eye of the world's major surfing competition, the World Surf League. I tried out Australia's newest artificial wave pool at Sydney Olympic Park having not jumped on a board for years Having grown up as a 'grommet' surfing at Australia's most famous beach, Bondi, and at beaches south of Sydney like Kiama with my little brother, I was ready to give the sport another shot While it's odd to drive west in search for a wave, I was sold the moment I saw the world-class wave machine whir into action and spit out picture-perfect waves almost identical to those you would find at the world's best breaks I might have been surfing the beginner-level wave using the largest surfboard I'd ever held, making it easier to catch a wave, but standing up on the board again gave me the same exhilarating feeling I felt when I was a kid. After a quick crash course to remind me how to paddle, stand up and balance, I was back into the sport I'd given up years earlier The water may be slightly-chlorinated rather than salty but the wave felt exactly the same as open ocean surfing - just without hardcore locals dropping in or telling me to go back to shore because I'm taking their space Standing up on a board again was just as exhilarating as what I remembered, only better because it was in a controlled environment where I could get tips from instructors on how to improve With every surfer promised perfect waves and surfing based on a queueing system, everyone gets their turn to try it out Retired professional surfer and Olympic bronze medallist Owen Wright was among a number of surfers who were given the chance to try out the Sydney wave pool last month. A number of seasoned and up-and-coming surfers were invited to try out the wave pool's more difficult settings in April Former professional surfer and Olympic bronze medallist Owen Wright said the artificial wave feels 'amazing' and could help produce the next generation of world champions and Olympians Two top-ranked under-18 Australian female surfers Milla Brown and fellow up-and-comer Summa Longbottom said the new pool will help their development and entice others into the sport One of those in line to compete at Olympic level is Milla Brown, ranked the best under-18 women's surfer in Australia after winning back-to-back junior events last year at just 15-years-old.