Munich Surfing Wave Disappears, DIY Fix Removed, Sparking Debate

A beloved surfing wave in Munich’s English Garden has become the center of a heated debate after city workers removed a temporary, "illegal" beam installed by surfers to recreate the popular Eisbach wave. The wave, a long-standing attraction, vanished in October due to riverbed maintenance, leading to frustration among the surfing community.

Key Takeaways

• A temporary beam installed by surfers to restore the Eisbach wave was removed by city officials.
• The original wave disappeared in October due to sediment removal.
• Safety concerns and the "illegal" nature of the DIY solution prompted the city’s action.
• Surfers express frustration with the slow pace of official solutions.

The Disappearing Wave

The Eisbach wave, a consistent meter-high (three foot-high) surfable wave in the Eisbach river, has been a major draw for surfers and spectators in Munich’s English Garden for years. However, the wave ceased to exist in October when city workers cleared accumulated sediment, gravel, and debris from the riverbed as part of a dredging project. This action, while intended to address potential dangers, effectively eliminated the surfable conditions.

A Temporary Fix and Official Response

Impatient with the lack of progress on a permanent solution, some surfers took matters into their own hands. On Christmas Day, unknown individuals surreptitiously placed a beam across the riverbed, successfully recreating a surfable wave. A banner on a nearby bridge declared, "Just Watch. Merry Christmas!" However, the festive intervention was short-lived. Early Sunday morning, city workers, including the fire department, removed the improvised structure. The city’s climate and environment department stated that the beam was "illegal and potentially dangerous," emphasizing that "impermissible structures at the Eisbach wave" cannot be tolerated, especially after a tragic surfing accident earlier in the year where a 33-year-old surfer died.

Surfers’ Frustration and Safety Concerns

The Munich surfing association, Interessengemeinschaft Surfen in München (IGSM), has voiced its frustration, claiming that city authorities are imposing excessive conditions on efforts to restore the wave, causing the process to "stall." These conditions reportedly include indemnifying the city for risks during a test period and obtaining an engineering certificate for the adjacent bridge. The association also highlights that the Eisbach wave is not suitable for beginners, even experienced ocean surfers, due to the strong current and dangerous concrete blocks behind the wave that act as brakes. Recommended safety measures include being fit, experienced, and using a breakaway leash.

The Path Forward

While the city has urged patience and enlisted an engineering professor from the Munich University of Applied Sciences to advise on solutions, the future of the Eisbach wave remains uncertain. The IGSM acknowledges that the wave might eventually reform on its own, but the timeline and whether it will be consistently surfable year-round without intervention are unknown.

Sources

• Debate over surfing in German park gets gnarly after city removes wave-creating device, AP News.
• City Officials Remove DIY Solution to Missing Eisbach Wave, The Inertia.