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

A stationary surge in a Munich stream that has been a surfing magnet for more than four decades has vanished, leaving urban surfers high and dry.

The water volume in the "ice brook" dropped last week for annual cleanup work along the river bottom.

However, once the gates reopened and the stream resumed flowing last Friday, the Eisbach wave failed to appear as usual.

"We're baffled," surfer Klaus Rudolf told a publication. "I stood at the edge with my surfboard on Friday night and couldn't believe it."

The river surge in the Englischer Garten park has become a landmark in the southern German city since rogue surfers in the 1980s transformed it from an occasional natural phenomenon to a consistent surfing spot.

City officials vow rapid resolution

"The city administration is cooperating with the Water Management Office and surfers to identify a speedy fix so that the famous surf wave will return shortly to its normal state," the city's mayor announced Tuesday.

Exactly why the wave vanished remained unclear on Tuesday, as stated by municipal representatives.

The latest maintenance removed obstructions from the waterway bottom and examined the channel.

"No structural changes were made to the Eisbach wave or its edges throughout the maintenance," the city said, and an inspection of the site Monday showed no structural issues.

Recovery attempts in progress

Officials plan to redirect additional flow from the nearby river into the Eisbach in attempts the surge returns.

The Eisbach wave is generally considered the biggest and steadiest river wave in the heart of a major city, and has become a tourist attraction in Bavaria's state capital, which is otherwise known for beer and sausage at the annual Oktoberfest.

The surf association head, leader of the wave riders' group IGSM, told AFP in July that thousands of Munich wave riders use the Eisbach wave.

"Surfing is simply integral to the culture in the city," he said. "Not only for the riders personally, but also for the urban identity."

Precautionary rules established after recent incident

Previously, the river surge had just reopened after a lengthy shutdown following the April death 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 established an age requirement of fourteen to brave the water.