A stationary surge in a Munich stream that has been a surfing magnet for over four decades has disappeared, leaving urban surfers without their waves.
Water levels in the "ice brook" were lowered recently for annual cleanup work along the river bottom.
But when the gates reopened and the stream resumed flowing last Friday, the Eisbach wave failed to appear like it typically does.
"We're baffled," wave rider Klaus Rudolf stated to Stern magazine. "I was standing at the edge with my board on Friday night and couldn't believe it."
The river surge in the Englischer Garten park has become a landmark in the southern German city since rogue surfers in the 1980s turned it from an occasional natural phenomenon to a consistent surfing spot.
Municipal authorities vow quick solution
"Local government is cooperating with the Water Management Office and surfers to identify a speedy fix so that the renowned water surge will soon be available to its normal state," the city's mayor announced this week.
The precise reason the surge disappeared was still unknown on Tuesday, according to city officials.
The recent work removed obstructions from the waterway bottom and examined the channel.
"No alterations were made to the river surge or its banks during the cleanup," the city said, and an inspection of the site Monday showed no structural issues.
Restoration efforts underway
Officials plan to redirect additional flow from the nearby river into the stream in attempts the surge returns.
The Eisbach wave is widely regarded as the largest and most consistent inland water surge in the center of a large urban area, and has become a tourist attraction in the regional capital, which is otherwise known for beer and sausage at the yearly festival.
Franz Fasel, head of the local surfers' association the surfing organization, told news agencies in summer that thousands of local surfers use the Eisbach wave.
"Surfing is simply part of the lifestyle in Munich," he said. "Not just for the surfers themselves, but also for the urban identity."
Precautionary rules implemented following recent incident
Previously, the river surge had recently resumed after a lengthy shutdown following the spring tragedy 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 established an age requirement of 14 to enter the stream.
