A clandestine attempt by surfers to resurrect a legendary wave in the heart of Munich has been dismantled by city authorities, intensifying a bitter dispute over the future of surfing in the iconic English Garden.
The Disappearing Wave and a Covert Christmas Fix
The conflict centres on the Eisbach river, a channel flowing through the park renowned for its consistent, metre-high standing wave. This unique urban surfing spot, a magnet for riders and spectators for decades, vanished in October 2024 after municipal maintenance work cleared sediment and debris from the riverbed.
Frustrated by the slow pace of official discussions on restoring the wave, unknown individuals took matters into their own hands on Christmas Day 2025. They installed a beam across the river bed, successfully recreating the wave and allowing wetsuit-clad surfers to enjoy holiday sessions. A banner on a nearby bridge cheekily proclaimed in English: “Just Watch. Merry Christmas!”
City Crackdown and Safety Concerns
The unauthorised engineering was short-lived. In the early hours of Sunday, 28 December 2025, the Munich fire department moved in and removed the makeshift structure, as reported by the German press agency dpa.
The city's decisive action underscores heightened safety concerns. These were tragically amplified in May 2025 when a 33-year-old surfer died after becoming trapped underwater by her board's leash. The Munich surfing association has accused the city of stalling the restoration process by imposing excessive conditions.
What Happens Next for the Eisbach?
Munich officials have urged patience, appointing an engineering professor from the Munich University of Applied Sciences to advise on potential safe solutions. The core tension remains between the surfing community's desire for immediate access and the authorities' responsibility for public safety and infrastructure.
This incident highlights the growing pains of established urban sports cultures. The fate of the Eisbach wave, a symbol of Munich's alternative scene, now hangs in the balance between grassroots activism and municipal regulation.
