The city's surfers left shocked as famed water surge disappears

A standing wave in an urban waterway that has been a surfing magnet for over four decades has vanished, stranding city wave riders high and dry.

The water volume in the "ice brook" were lowered last week for yearly maintenance along the river bottom.

But when the barriers were removed and the stream resumed flowing last Friday, the famous surge failed to appear like it typically does.

"We're baffled," wave rider Klaus Rudolf stated to a publication. "I stood at the bank with my board on Friday evening and couldn't believe it."

The river surge in the Englischer Garten park has become a landmark in the southern German city since unofficial wave riders in the eighties turned it from an occasional natural phenomenon to a consistent surfing spot.

City officials pledge rapid resolution

"The city administration is cooperating with the water authorities and wave enthusiasts to find a quick solution so that the famous surf wave will return shortly again as usual," the city's mayor announced Tuesday.

The precise reason the wave vanished was still unknown on Tuesday, as stated by municipal representatives.

The recent work cleared debris from the waterway bottom and inspected the waterway.

"No structural changes were performed on the river surge or its edges during the cleanup," the city said, and an examination of the location Monday did not reveal structural issues.

Recovery attempts in progress

Officials plan to divert more water from the nearby river into the stream in hopes the wave reappears.

The Eisbach wave is generally considered the largest and most consistent inland water surge in the center of a large urban area, and has grown into a visitor draw in the regional capital, which is typically recognized for brews and bratwurst at the annual Oktoberfest.

The surf association head, head of the local surfers' association IGSM, informed AFP in July that 3,000 to 5,000 Munich wave riders use the Eisbach wave.

"Surfing is simply part of the lifestyle in the city," he said. "Not only for the surfers themselves, but also for the urban identity."

Safety measures implemented following previous event

At the time, the river surge had just reopened after a lengthy shutdown following the spring tragedy of a local surfer who got caught beneath the water 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.