Munich gets a surfing paradise: Dianabadwelle becomes an official wave!

Munich gets a surfing paradise: Dianabadwelle becomes an official wave!

The surfing community in Munich can be happy: On Wednesday morning, Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) and Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) gave the official starting signal for surfing at the Dianabad threshold in the English Garden. After an exchange of land between the city of Munich and the Free State of Bavaria, the area is now becoming the property of the city, which makes the implementation of this long-held wish possible. Loud South German newspaper Surfing is permitted there according to the same regulations as at the famous Eisbachwelle at Haus der Kunst - but at your own risk.

“Munich is a surfer’s paradise,” says Söder, who praises the region as a center for water sports. The opening of the wave at the Dianabad threshold fulfills a long-standing wish of surfers who can currently only enjoy the large Eisbach wave. This was closed for weeks after a tragic accident in April in which a 33-year-old surfer died. Surfing on the big wave has only been allowed again for almost two weeks, which further increases the anticipation of the new opportunity.

Challenge and departure

But surfing on the small Eisbach wave is no picnic. Until now, access to this was very difficult. A fence had made access on the west side impossible, and the east side was also blocked by residents' properties. Currently only experienced surfers can use the small wave on Oettingenstrasse. But with the planned opening, that could change quickly. Reiter has announced that the city wants to implement the requirements as quickly as possible. “We have a good knack for water sports,” he emphasizes.

The popularity of surfing is not only growing in Munich. In Germany, around 2.22 million people go surfing occasionally, which shows how deeply rooted the wave culture is here. Standing waves are particularly trendy, and the new Eisbach wave could help make Munich even more of a surfing destination on the map. Figures from surf statistics show that the surf market is growing by around 3% annually. There are around 4.5 million surfers in Europe, and Munich could soon be at the forefront with its new offerings - even if there is no real sea.

The future of surfing in Munich

The idea of ​​developing Munich into a surfer's paradise is not new. The Eisbachwelle has existed since the 1980s, emerging rather by chance and now becoming one of the city's trademarks. In 2024, the first German surfing championship took place here on German soil, which also brought the city into international conversation. The future looks promising: with further projects and potential surfing events, Munich could become an up-and-coming metropolis for water sports enthusiasts in Germany.

The meeting between the two politicians and the clearly noticeable commitment of the city administration show: Munich has the potential to bring surfing even more into people's hearts. As I said, the anticipation for the Dianabad threshold is great. It remains to be seen when the first wave riders will take on the new challenge and further advance the culture of surfing in the city. After all, there is no better place than the green heart of Munich to enjoy surfing at your own risk - and all right on your doorstep.