Munich's wave riders left stunned as famed river wave vanishes

A stationary surge in an urban waterway that served as a surfing magnet for more than 40 years has vanished, leaving urban surfers without their waves.

The water volume in the "ice brook" were lowered last week for annual cleanup work along the streambed.

But when the gates reopened and the stream resumed flowing again on Friday, the famous surge did not form like it typically does.

"We're at a loss," surfer Klaus Rudolf told Stern magazine. "I was standing at the edge with my surfboard on Friday evening and couldn't believe it."

The Eisbach wave in the Englischer Garten park has grown into an icon in the southern German city since unofficial wave riders in the eighties transformed it from an sporadic water event to a consistent surfing spot.

Municipal authorities vow rapid resolution

"Local government is working with the water authorities and wave enthusiasts to find a quick solution so that the famous surf wave will return shortly again as usual," Mayor Dieter Reiter announced this week.

Exactly why the wave vanished remained unclear on Tuesday, according to city officials.

The latest maintenance removed obstructions from the waterway bottom and inspected the waterway.

"No structural changes were performed on the river surge or its edges during the cleanup," the authorities stated, and an inspection of the site earlier this week did not reveal any damage.

Recovery attempts underway

Authorities intend to divert more water from the Isar River into the stream in attempts the wave reappears.

The Eisbach wave is generally considered the largest and most consistent river wave in the center of a large urban area, and has become a tourist attraction in Bavaria's state capital, which is otherwise known for beer and sausage at the yearly festival.

Franz Fasel, leader of the wave riders' group IGSM, informed AFP in July that thousands of Munich wave riders use the Eisbach wave.

"Wave riding is integral to the culture in the city," he said. "Not just for the riders personally, but also for the city's image."

Precautionary rules established after recent incident

At the time, 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 established an age requirement of fourteen to enter the stream.