What to do while in Munich, Germany? Being that the town is landlocked, I imagine surfing might be the last thing that comes to mind. But that doesn't stop the Germans :)! Eishbachwelle (in the heart of the city) is a artificial endless wave that is about 2 feet high on average. It's formed by a manmade river and has been quite popular with surfers since the 1970s. Eisbachwelle also hosts an annual surfing competition. Apparently the surfers have increases the height and improved the shape of the wave by utilizing an underwater system of ropes attached to planks which channels the waves more efficiently (urban hacking!). Unfortunately, many accidents have occurred at this spot as the waves can be challenging. German authorities attempted to prohibit all surfing, however protests against it's closure and an online petition led the standing wave to be recognized as an official surf spot. Swimming is prohibited and a local sign reads, "Due to forceful current, the wave is suitable for skilled and experienced surfers only." Oddly enough, Munich has three standing waves, however two only exist during the river's near flood levels. HANG TEN!
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