Eisbach
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Eisbach, which means "ice brook" or "ice river", is a small man-made river in Munich. It flows through the Englischer Garten and is a tributary of the Isar River.
Just past a bridge near the Haus der Kunst art museum the river forms a standing wave about 1 metre high which is a popular surfing spot. The water is cold and shallow, making it suitable only for experienced surfers. Being a standing wave it can be surfed for as long as one's balance holds, and in busy times a queue of surfers forms on the bank. In the past surfers tied a leash to the bridge to hold onto, but a sign announces that this is both dangerous and forbidden.
A better wave for beginners is up in Flosslände near the Thalkirchen U-Bahn station, it's wide enough to take a few surfers at a time. Both waves have been surfed since 1972 and surfing competitions have even been held.
A third standing wave in Munich forms on the Isar itself near the Wittelsbacher bridge, but only when the river floods, and a flood brings dirt, manure and objects like tree branches down with it.
[edit] References
- Surfing at Eisbach by Markus Matern
- River Wave, Munich at surfxchange.net
- Isar River Surf die Eisbach Wellenreiter am Haus der Kunst at ganz-muenchen.de (translation by google)
- Surfing the Eisbach, on kayaking
