Munich's wave riders feeling stunned as famed water surge vanishes

A standing wave in an urban waterway that served as a wave-riding hotspot for over 40 years has vanished, stranding city wave riders high and dry.

The water volume in the Eisbach were lowered last week for annual cleanup work along the river bottom.

However, once the barriers were removed and water began to flow last Friday, the famous surge failed to appear as usual.

"We're baffled," surfer Klaus Rudolf stated to Stern magazine. "I was standing at the bank with my surfboard on Friday night and was astonished."

The river surge in the city park has grown into an icon in the Bavarian city since rogue surfers in the 1980s turned it from an sporadic water event to a permanent surfable presence.

Municipal authorities vow quick solution

"Local government is working with the Water Management Office and surfers to identify a speedy fix so that the renowned water surge will return shortly again as usual," the city's mayor announced Tuesday.

The precise reason the surge disappeared was still unknown on Tuesday, as stated by municipal representatives.

The recent work removed obstructions from the streambed and examined the channel.

"No alterations were performed on the Eisbach wave or its edges throughout the maintenance," the city said, and an examination of the location earlier this week showed no structural issues.

Restoration efforts underway

Officials plan to divert more water from the Isar River into the Eisbach in attempts the surge returns.

The Eisbach wave is generally considered the largest and most consistent inland water surge in the center of a large urban area, and has grown into a visitor draw in Bavaria's state capital, which is typically recognized for beer and sausage at the annual Oktoberfest.

Franz Fasel, head of the local surfers' association the surfing organization, informed AFP in summer that thousands of local surfers use the Eisbach wave.

"Surfing is simply integral to the culture in Munich," he stated. "Not just for the riders personally, but also for the urban identity."

Precautionary rules established following recent incident

At the time, the Eisbach wave had recently resumed after a lengthy shutdown following the spring tragedy of a local surfer who got caught beneath the water while surfing at night.

After returning to use, new safety rules banned night-time surfing and established an age requirement of 14 to brave the water.