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A dispute intensified in Munich on Sunday regarding the disappearance of a well-known river surfing wave after authorities removed a beam that had been placed over Christmas to restore the feature. The Eisbach wave, located on a side channel of the Isar River, had been a prominent spot in the Bavarian city since the 1980s but disappeared in October following the annual riverbed cleanup.
Activists reportedly installed a beam in the water early on December 25th in an effort to recreate the wave partially. They also displayed a banner overhead that read “Merry Christmas.” However, a fire department spokesperson told AFP that the installation was taken down on Sunday at the directive of city officials.
Since October, activists have tried multiple times to bring the wave back in Munich’s Englischer Garten park, but each attempt has been overturned. On Thursday, the local surfers’ group IGSM announced on its website that it was abandoning its efforts to preserve the wave, accusing city officials of delays and lack of action.
The Eisbach wave was considered one of the largest and most reliable river waves in a major urban center, drawing tourists and local surfers alike. Franz Fasel, leader of IGSM, mentioned in July that approximately 3,000 to 5,000 local surfers used the wave regularly.
Earlier this year, access to the wave was temporarily shut off after a 33-year-old woman from Munich drowned while surfing at night and became trapped beneath the surface.
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