The past year has been tumultuous for the iconic Eisbach river wave in Munich, Germany. After a death, city closures, and the wave’s disappearance, the city of Munich has announced that the wave has naturally returned and is officially reopened to the public, with a few caveats.
An article in the AFP says that the river wave had actually reappeared several weeks ago, but the city didn’t give its formal blessing to ride the wave until May 8.
The newly released set of rules mirrors those released in July of last year, when the city reopened the wave after more than two months of closure following the death of a 33-year-old surfer. They state that the wave is only open for “skilled and experienced surfers” above the age of 16, and riders 14 years and older can surf if accompanied by an adult who is an experienced surfer. Surfers must use the buddy system, and only quick-release leashes — at least as long as the surfboard — are allowed.
The city recommends wearing a flotation vest and head protection, adding that surfing is prohibited if any dangerous objects are present in the river. Finally, the wave can only be surfed between the hours of 5:30 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. The April 2025 death occurred at 11:30 p.m.
According to Eisbach surfing legend Quirin Rohleder, the death was avoidable and would never have happened if “someone from (the core surf community) were there,” advice that was apparently factored into the new regulations.
The Munich Surf Club celebrated the news on social media.
“The wave is back,” the club said. “We are happy, relieved, and deeply grateful to see this place return — not only as a wave, but as a symbol of Munich’s surf culture.”
After several months of surfing last summer, the wave disappeared in October. The city lowered water levels to remove sediment buildup, but when the water levels were restored, the wave wasn’t strong enough to ride.
The Munich Surf Club posted periodic updates on how long they had been without surfing, tallying more than 180 days. The O2 SURFTOWN MUC wave pool in the city offered free sessions to anyone who could show photo proof that they are river surfers. More than 1,000 free sessions were awarded while the Eisbach was out of commission.
