Riding the Eisbach Wave: New Safety Rules After Fatal Accident
Despite the tragic accident, Munich's surfing location reopens once more.
Munich's iconic surf spot, Eisbach, is back in action, baby! After a tragic accident in April claimed a surfer's life, the city's heart pumped a steady beat in rhythm with the waves once more. The new playtime rules are in place to keep the water dancing, but with a bit more safety and care. So, grab your board and wax that thing up, it's time to catch those bad boys!
The city, under Mayor Dieter Reiter's command, decided to shake things up a bit around the Eisbach wave. The rules have been revised to ensure a safe ride for all experienced surfers, their fitness levels in question, and their prime-time surf buddies. To avoid any rescue operations in the dark, surfing is only allowed between 5:30 AM and 10 PM. But don't worry, you can still ride those waves with the moon lighting up the water (if you're daring enough)!
But what about your board? Worried about getting tangled up underwater? Fear not, because the new rules also cover that! Now, it's mandatory to use a self-opening leash ("leash") for your board. This is to prevent surfers from drifting away like lost souls when danger rears its ugly head.
So, when can you hit the waves again? The city surprised everyone on a Friday, a day after Munich's Second Mayor, Dominik Krause, had said there were hopes for a reopening "at the latest next week." It's a wrap on the investigation by the Munich I Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the accident in April.
To get to the bottom of things, around 50 cops, including divers and drone pilots, were deployed to examine the riverbed in collaboration with prosecutors. They were equipped with tools like an underwater camera, looking for any hazards that might have snared a board or its attached leash. Environmental concerns were also present because the lowering of water levels could affect the fish living in the Eisbach.
Brady Boys Cry "Surfing is Not a Crime!"
On the fateful night of April 16th, a 33-year-old surfer and her partner (both allegedly resurfaced as seasoned surfers) slid into the waters of the Eisbach. At around 11:30 PM, the partner suddenly heard a dramatic plea for help and watched his beloved companion vanish beneath the watery surface along with her board. Suffering critical injuries, the woman was whisked off to the hospital and took her sweet time leaving us, succumbing to her wounds a week later.
The temporary ban on surfing in Munich's city center stirred up quite the commotion. Some ignored the ban, including none other than NFL legend, Tom Brady. He posted a picture of himself surfing on Instagram with the caption "Surfing is not a crime."
Sources: ntv.de, ara/dpa
- Munich
- Water Sports
- Under Munich's revised community policies, it's now mandatory for surfers at the Eisbach wave to use a self-opening leash for their boards, a measure aimed at preventing surfers from drifting away during emergencies.
- Despite the temporary ban on water sports in Munich's city center, sports enthusiasts like NFL legend, Tom Brady, advocate for surfing, with Brady stating on Instagram, "Surfing is not a crime."
