The city's surfers feeling stunned as iconic water surge vanishes

A stationary surge in a Munich stream that served as a surfing magnet for more than 40 years has vanished, leaving urban surfers without their waves.

Water levels in the Eisbach were lowered last week for annual cleanup work along the river bottom.

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

"We're at a loss," wave rider Klaus Rudolf told a publication. "I stood at the edge with my board on Friday night and was astonished."

The Eisbach wave in the city park has become a landmark in the Bavarian city since unofficial wave riders in the eighties transformed it from an occasional natural phenomenon to a permanent surfable presence.

City officials vow rapid resolution

"Local government is cooperating with the water authorities and wave enthusiasts to find a quick solution so that the renowned water surge will return shortly to its normal state," Mayor Dieter Reiter said in a statement Tuesday.

Exactly why the wave vanished remained unclear on Tuesday, according to municipal representatives.

The latest maintenance removed obstructions from the waterway bottom and examined the channel.

"No structural changes were performed on the Eisbach wave or its edges throughout the maintenance," the authorities stated, and an inspection of the site Monday showed no any damage.

Recovery attempts underway

Officials plan to redirect additional flow from the Isar River into the stream in attempts the wave reappears.

The Munich river surge is widely regarded as the biggest and steadiest river wave in the center of a large urban area, and has grown into a visitor draw in the regional capital, which is otherwise known for beer and sausage at the yearly festival.

Franz Fasel, head of the local surfers' association IGSM, told news agencies in July that 3,000 to 5,000 Munich wave riders frequent the river surge.

"Wave riding is part of the lifestyle in the city," he stated. "Not only for the riders personally, but also for the city's image."

Safety measures established following recent incident

At the time, the Eisbach wave had just reopened after a months-long closure following the April death of a 33-year-old Munich woman who became trapped under the surface while riding waves after dark.

After returning to use, updated regulations prohibited after-dark riding and established an age requirement of 14 to brave the water.