Munich's Surfers Left Stunned After Famed River Wave Vanishes
A standing wave in a Munich stream that has been a surfing magnet for more than four decades has vanished, leaving urban surfers high and dry. The Eisbach wave, a natural phenomenon that has become a landmark in the Bavarian city, disappeared after water levels dropped for annual cleanup work along the streambed. When the gates reopened and water began to flow again on Friday, the wave did not form as usual, leaving surfers perplexed.
"We're at a loss," surfer Klaus Rudolf told Stern magazine. "I was standing at the edge with my board on Friday evening and couldn't believe it."
The Eisbach wave in the Englischer Garten park has become a permanent surfable presence since rogue surfers in the 1980s turned it from an occasional natural phenomenon to a regular destination. The city administration is working with the Water Management Office and surfers to find a quick solution, as Mayor Dieter Reiter stated on Tuesday. However, the exact reason for the wave's disappearance remains unclear.
The recent cleanup work cleared debris from the streambed and inspected the waterway, but no structural changes were made to the wave or its banks. An inspection on Monday did not reveal any damage. Officials plan to divert more water from the Isar River into the Eisbach, hoping the wave will reappear.
The Eisbach wave is considered the largest and most consistent river wave in the heart of a major city and has become a tourist attraction in Bavaria's state capital, known for its beer and sausage at the annual Oktoberfest. Local surfers' association head Franz Fasel stated that 3,000 to 5,000 surfers use the wave, and it's an integral part of Munich's lifestyle and image.
The wave had recently reopened after a months-long closure following the death of a 33-year-old woman who became trapped under the surface while surfing at night. New safety rules were introduced, banning night-surfing and setting a minimum age of 14 to brave the water.
This sudden disappearance has left surfers and residents alike in a state of uncertainty, and the city is working to restore the iconic wave as soon as possible.
