State of the World from NPR Surf’s Down in Munich
Nov 26, 2025
Rob Schmitz, NPR correspondent based in Munich, dives into the plight of local surfers devastated by the disappearance of the iconic Eisbach river wave following a city dredging project. He uncovers thrilling personal stories from surfers who experienced the wave's exhilarating danger. Hear how the river's alterations turned it into unsurfable whitewater and the community's daring attempt to rebuild it with a makeshift ramp. Schmitz captures the spirit of resilience as locals unite to revive their beloved wave.
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Risky Initiation Into Munich Surfing
- Jakob Netzer nearly drowned the first time he surfed Munich's river wave at 17 after sneaking out post-shift to try it at night.
- His risky initiation illustrates the city's reckless, passionate surfing culture around the Eisbachwelle.
Infrastructure Can Erase Local Culture
- The Eisbachwelle was a powerful, natural river swell that drew only experienced surfers because it was gnarly and dangerous.
- A routine city dredging project erased the wave, showing infrastructure work can unintentionally destroy local cultural sites.
Physics Explains The Missing Wave
- Hydrologist Markus Diese explains the wave's height depends on flow velocity and water depth via the Froude number.
- Restoring the wave requires adjusting sediment and flow to increase that number and recreate the standing swell.