Suche
Mein Konto
Eisbachwelle: Surfers see demolition as a declaration of war on the city!
Surfers in Munich are disappointed about the demolition work on the Eisbach wave. Political disputes are increasing.
Eisbachwelle: Surfers see demolition as a declaration of war on the city!
The Eisbach wave is currently causing heated discussions in Munich: On Sunday morning, the fire department removed the ramp that had been installed over Christmas, which made the wave unusable again. William (28) and Amelie (33) from Augsburg wanted to relax by the water, but were disappointed to find that the wave was no longer surfable. “It feels like a declaration of war from the city,” says one surfer, who expresses his incomprehension about the authorities’ actions. This decision has significantly increased the potential for conflict between the city administration and the surfers, as Abendzeitung reports.
On Christmas Day, the pioneering work of unknown surfing activists had surprisingly revived the wave. Wooden boards were used to provide a temporary surfing opportunity. However, this newly formed wave was not easy to master and caused several falls among the hardened surfers. A young athlete explained that the conditions were not ideal due to the freezing bank and turbulent water at the edges, but were still great for surfing. “Not ideal, but surfable,” said 19-year-old Valentin, summing up the situation.
Political reactions and need for regulation
The reactions of political actors to the situation are diverse. Mayor Verena Dietl (SPD) expressed sharp criticism of the city administration's actions and called for a constructive exchange with the surfers. On the other hand, the Surf Club Munich and the Surfing Munich Interest Group (IGSM) criticize the city's "unfulfillable requirements", which in their opinion are aimed at preventing surfing on the Eisbach wave Spiegel reported.
In the political arena, the FDP has called for a reform of the legal framework, while the CSU/FW parliamentary group emphasizes the need for clear statements on the future of the wave. The Junge Union München goes even further and urges Mayor Dieter Reiter to take action and rethink the restrictive regulations. Finally, the Climate and Environmental Protection Department emphasizes that the removed structures were illegal and did not meet safety requirements. The conflicts between safety needs and the passion for surfing are therefore clear to see.
Looking into the future
It remains to be seen whether the Eisbachwelle will be able to operate regularly again in the foreseeable future. The Surf Club Munich had already submitted an application for an experiment under water law. However, this was canceled because essential documents for approval were not submitted. The environmental protection department emphasizes that the required requirements are not just of a bureaucratic nature, but are essential for safety reasons. An early agreement is necessary to bring the passionate surfers and the city administration to the table and find a solution acceptable to both sides, reports Tagesschau.