The Eisbach is an artificial stream that runs through the English Garden, the biggest public park in Munich, Germany. Within the stream, a standing wave can appear. The wave is 0.9-1.1m high and about 12m wide. The flow velocity is pretty high and can reach about 5 meters per second. As the wave is steep and strong, it can be surfed.

The wave used to be a rare and unstable phenomenon and sometimes disappeared for months in a row. However, several people in the waverider community worked long and hard to understand the characteristics of the flow. After over five years of efforts, since about 2000 we are able to induce a wave that is stable over the long-term. Within certain limits, the wave can be moved and shaped into a near-optimal form.

As a result of a predictable, surfable wave in the midst of a major city, the Eisbach wave has become seriously overcrowded. This has made surf life miserable even for the old guard who made the continuous wave possible in the first place. Therefore, if you already are a good river surfer, at the very least be courteous, or consider surfing somewhere else.

But If you are a beginner, don't even THINK of surfing here. The flow-braking rocks that the stream's builders set into the concrete of the riverbed are invisible, but dangerous. Impacts on the rocks are hard and happen all the time after uncontrolled falls. Among the many injuries from the rocks, people had to lament the complete loss of a kneecap, a broken shoulder and a ruptured main aorta in a thigh with a near amputation of a leg. These accidents could force the city to close down the wave permanently. Consequently, all beginners face severe pressure from the experienced locals to get lost and to injure themselves at a different surf spot.

But the best you can do is build your own wave somewhere on this planet.

A new riversurfing movie will come out for which a trailer is available.

Our heartfelt condolences to the Family of old-time Eisbach surfer Chris Glas, who died on Friday, 1st of April, 2005 from a 60 meter fall on the Brauneck mountain while trying to recover a lost ski. Farewell, Chris. You will not be forgotten.

Impressum:

Responsible according to § 10 III MDStV / inhaltlich verantwortlich gemäß § 10 Absatz 3 MDStV:

Henrik Klagges, Arberstrasse 23, 81679 München