Munich surfers greet reopening of artificial wave in park

Surfing is permitted again on an artificial wave in a popular park in Munich, the new mayor said, after it was suspended due to an accident. 

However, only experienced surfers may use the Eisbach wave in Munich’s English Garden, according to the amended order issued thanks to Mayor, Dominik Krause hours after a new city coalition was formed.

“Surfing on the Eisbach is part of the Munich way of life; the Eisbach wave is a landmark of the city of Munich,” Krause said. 

The ruling permits “skilled and experienced river surfers" to surf the wave "at their own risk” until 10 pm. 

The rules also set out safety measures, including that surfers must use a safety line that releases automatically under strong tension, to prevent surfers from being pulled underwater by the current.

This caused the accident that led to the closure of the wave last year, when a woman died after her line became entangled underwater. 

Surfing was briefly permitted after the accident last April but was then banned again by the outgoing mayor for the river to be cleared, though some surfers used the wave illegally.