Munich's surfers left shocked as iconic water surge vanishes

A stationary surge in a Munich stream that served as a wave-riding hotspot for over 40 years has disappeared, leaving urban surfers without their waves.

Water levels in the "ice brook" dropped last week for yearly maintenance along the river bottom.

But when the gates reopened and the stream resumed flowing again on Friday, the Eisbach wave failed to appear like it typically does.

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

The Eisbach wave in the Englischer Garten park has grown into an icon in the Bavarian city since unofficial wave riders in the eighties transformed it from an sporadic water event to a permanent surfable presence.

Municipal authorities pledge rapid resolution

"Local government is working with the water authorities and surfers to find a quick solution so that the famous surf wave will soon be available to its normal state," the city's mayor announced Tuesday.

Exactly why the surge disappeared was still unknown as of this week, according to city officials.

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

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

Restoration efforts in progress

Officials plan to divert more water from the nearby river into the stream in attempts the surge returns.

The Munich river surge is widely regarded as the biggest and steadiest river wave in the heart of a major city, and has grown into a visitor draw in Bavaria's state capital, which is otherwise known for brews and bratwurst at the yearly festival.

Franz Fasel, leader of the wave riders' group the surfing organization, informed AFP in summer that thousands of Munich wave riders use the Eisbach wave.

"Surfing is simply integral to the culture in Munich," he said. "Not only for the surfers themselves, but also for the urban identity."

Safety measures implemented following recent incident

Previously, the river surge had recently resumed after a lengthy shutdown following the April death of a 33-year-old Munich woman who became trapped beneath the water while surfing at night.

Since it reopened, updated regulations banned night-time surfing and set a minimum age of 14 to brave the water.