The Eisbach wave in the English Garden is popular both with surfers who want to pursue their sport in the city and with onlookers who come to watch the spectacle. It is considered an absolute cult in Munich and is known far beyond the city limits. But now the wave has come to a standstill and the surfers are left empty-handed. Why has the Eisbach wave disappeared?
The big creek sweep
At the end of October, the city of Munich started its regular major stream cleaning program. The city’s streams were to be cleaned, including the Große Isar, the Fabrikbach, the Schwabinger Bach and the Eisbach. The water was lowered so that garbage could be removed from the bottoms of the streams. Sediment and other debris collects at the bottom of the streams, contaminating the stream bed. This improves the water quality, which benefits the environment and animals.
It was not possible to surf in the Eisbach while the stream was being cleaned out, but this should have been possible again once the cleaning work was complete. On October 31, the inflow was restored so that the stream filled up again. However, the Eisbach wave did not build up again.
Why has the Eisbach wave disappeared?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8rmPF0fv7o
Initially, the water level of the Eisbach was too low, but in the meantime it has returned to its former level. By now at the latest, it should have built up again, but the Eisbach wave has still disappeared. Surfers suspect that the removal of gravel and the like when the stream was swept out is the cause. The necessary resistance would now be missing.
However, the city emphasizes that no structural changes were made to the Eisbach wave when the stream was swept out. A new inspection was carried out, but did not yield any findings. The city is continuing to work intensively on a solution to rebuild a stable wave. On November 4, the building department, the department for climate and environmental protection, the water management office, Stadtwerke München and representatives of the surfing community met for a joint discussion. Together they want to find a solution to restore the Eisbach wave.
New rules for surfing the Eisbach
With the end of the stream sweeping, new rules for surfing the Eisbach wave also came into force. Surfing is now permitted between 05:30 and 22:00, but is prohibited at night. New lighting has been installed to ensure greater safety, especially in the darker months. It is still only permitted to surf with a self-opening leash and an accompanying person should always be present.