At a Glance
> At a Glance
> – Christmas beam removed by city workers, ending surfers’ wave.
> – Wave vanished after October sediment cleanup.
> – Safety concerns rise after a 33-year-old surfer’s fatal accident.
> – Why it matters: The incident highlights tensions between recreational use and public safety in urban waterways.
Surfers who had been riding the iconic wave of the Eisbach river in Frankfurt’s Englischer Garten were left without a wave after city workers removed a Christmas-deployed beam that had restored the surfable current. The action followed a fatal accident and sparked debate over safety and legal responsibilities.
The Sudden Wave Vanish
For years, the meter-high wave had drawn crowds, but it disappeared in October when workers cleared sediment, gravel and debris from the riverbed. Surfers then set up a temporary beam over the riverbed on Christmas Day to rebuild the wave, but the city’s fire department removed it early Sunday morning.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct | Wave disappears after sediment cleanup |
| Dec 25 | Surfers install Christmas beam |
| Sun (early) | City removes beam |
Surfers vs. City
The city urged patience and consulted an engineering professor from the Munich University of Applied Sciences for solutions. A Munich surfing association criticized the authorities for imposing too many conditions, saying the process had stalled.
Munich surfing association said:
> “City authorities are imposing too many conditions on efforts to restore the wave, and the process has stalled.”
IGSM surfing association said:
> “The city is imposing ever more conditions and added demands on the project, including indemnifying the city for any risks during a test period and procuring an engineering certificate that the adjacent bridge can support the wave device.”
- Indemnifying the city for risks during a test period
- Procuring an engineering certificate for bridge strength
- Additional demands (unspecified)
Safety and Legal Concerns
Safety concerns intensified in May when a 33-year-old surfer died after her board was caught underwater and she couldn’t free herself from the attached leash. The city’s climate and environment department warned that the beam was illegal and potentially dangerous.
City climate and environment department stated:
> “The beam was ‘illegal and potentially dangerous.'”
The department emphasized that after the tragic accident, the city cannot tolerate impermissible structures at the Eisbach wave.
Key Takeaways
- The Christmas beam removal ended the iconic wave.
- Surfers accuse city of over-regulation and stalled restoration.
- Safety incidents have prompted stricter controls and legal scrutiny.
With the beam gone and safety concerns at the forefront, the future of surfing in Frankfurt’s Englischer Garten remains uncertain as authorities and surfers negotiate new terms.
