Munich's wave riders feeling stunned as iconic water surge disappears

A stationary surge in an urban waterway that served as a surfing magnet for over 40 years has vanished, stranding city wave riders without their waves.

The water volume in the "ice brook" dropped recently for yearly maintenance along the river bottom.

But when the barriers were removed and the stream resumed flowing last Friday, the famous surge failed to appear like it typically does.

"We're baffled," wave rider Klaus Rudolf told a publication. "I stood at the bank with my board on Friday evening and was astonished."

The Eisbach wave in the Englischer Garten park has become a landmark in the southern German city since rogue surfers in the 1980s transformed it from an sporadic water event to a consistent surfing spot.

Municipal authorities vow rapid resolution

"The city administration is cooperating with the water authorities and wave enthusiasts to identify a speedy fix so that the renowned water surge will return shortly to its normal state," Mayor Dieter Reiter said in a statement this week.

Exactly why the wave vanished was still unknown on Tuesday, as stated by city officials.

The recent work removed obstructions from the waterway bottom and examined the channel.

"No structural changes were performed on the river surge or its edges during the cleanup," the authorities stated, and an inspection of the site Monday showed no structural issues.

Recovery attempts underway

Authorities intend to redirect additional flow from the nearby river into the stream in attempts the wave reappears.

The Munich river surge is widely regarded as the largest and most consistent river wave in the center of a large urban area, and has grown into a visitor draw in Bavaria's state capital, which is otherwise known for brews and bratwurst at the annual Oktoberfest.

Franz Fasel, leader of the wave riders' group IGSM, informed AFP in July that thousands of Munich wave riders frequent the river surge.

"Wave riding is part of the lifestyle in Munich," he said. "Not only for the riders personally, but also for the city's image."

Safety measures implemented after recent incident

Previously, the Eisbach wave had just reopened after a lengthy shutdown following the spring tragedy of a local surfer who got caught beneath the water while riding waves after dark.

Since it reopened, new safety rules prohibited after-dark riding and set a minimum age of 14 to enter the stream.