A stationary surge in an urban waterway that served as a wave-riding hotspot for over four decades has vanished, leaving urban surfers high and dry.
Water levels in the Eisbach dropped last week for annual cleanup work along the streambed.
But when the gates reopened and the stream resumed flowing last Friday, the famous surge failed to appear like it typically does.
"We're baffled," surfer Klaus Rudolf told a publication. "I was standing at the edge with my surfboard on Friday night and was astonished."
The river surge in the city park has become a landmark in the southern German city since unofficial wave riders in the 1980s turned it from an sporadic water event to a consistent surfing spot.
Municipal authorities vow quick solution
"Local government is working with the Water Management Office 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.
The precise reason the wave vanished remained unclear on Tuesday, as stated by city officials.
The latest maintenance removed obstructions from the waterway bottom and inspected the waterway.
"No alterations were performed on the river surge or its banks throughout the maintenance," the authorities stated, and an inspection of the site Monday did not reveal structural issues.
Recovery attempts in progress
Authorities intend to divert more water from the nearby river into the stream in hopes the wave reappears.
The Eisbach wave is widely regarded as the biggest and steadiest inland water surge in the center of a large urban area, and has grown into a visitor draw in Bavaria's state capital, which is typically recognized for brews and bratwurst at the yearly festival.
The surf association head, leader of the wave riders' group the surfing organization, told news agencies in summer that thousands of local surfers frequent the river surge.
"Wave riding is part of the lifestyle in Munich," he said. "Not only for the surfers themselves, but also for the city's image."
Precautionary rules established after previous event
At the time, the Eisbach wave had recently resumed after a months-long closure following the April death of a 33-year-old Munich woman who got caught under the surface while riding waves after dark.
After returning to use, updated regulations banned night-time surfing and set a minimum age of fourteen to brave the water.
