Video: Fat Biking and Surfing in Munich

Mar 24, 2013 at 6:00
by Colin Stewart  
Views: 32,373    Faves: 212    Comments: 18


The Eisbach wave in Munich is probably the most watched and surfed wave in the world. It's literally surfed 24/7 all months of the year. It's located under a road bridge on Prinzregentenstraße, next to a famous art gallery called "Haus der Kunst" on the Southern edge of the Englischer Garten. From the city center, at Marienplatz, it's reached in a 15 min walk via Odeonsplatz and through the Hofgarten. It's not uncommon to see the surfers, carrying boards, walking or cycling through the city on their way to the wave.

The wave has been surfed since the early 70's, but came and went depending on water levels. Since about 10 years ago the local surfers placed planks of wood underneath the water to constantly channel the flow and make a permanent standing wave across the river. In that time the local authorities have also sanctioned using the wave and are no longer threatening to demolish it due to safety concerns.

photo

After making a short night time MTB movie with Max Schumann at Bike Park Samerberg at the end of last year, I was super motivated to do a similar style of movie at the surf wave. Fortunately, local surfer Maximilian Schwarzkopf was also motivated and braved a couple of nights of sub zero temperatures to get the filming done. Lupine Lighting Systems supported us with lights to use, both on the bike and in the water. I was surprised about how water proof they actually are and pleased to use them for continuous video lighting at the same time.

photo

photo

For filming I mainly used the Nikon D800 recording in 1080p/24 and Nikkor lenses 85mm f1.4 and 24mm f1.4. Some of the stills were done just using the Lupines for additional lighting and others, like the B&W image above, with Nikon Speedlights.

I hope you enjoy a glimpse of something a little different and a piece of Munich surfing and riding soul.

-Colin Stewart, March 2013.

Author Info:
Big-Col avatar

Member since Feb 14, 2010
15 articles

57 Comments
  • 29 0
 U gotta love them Germans!!
  • 16 0
 That was rad. Kinda makes me want a fatbike. If for no other reason than to go surfing in the middle of winter, in the middle of the night.
  • 5 0
 you just wouldnt believe it if someone said it to you... german in a wetsuit goes out on fatbike in city with a wetsuit, surfs a wave on a river under a bridge, in a town, then dries his hair in a public toilet after having a coffee... oh germans, you so crazy!
  • 12 1
 Nice video. It's cool to see videos of other action sports on Pinkbike and it's awesome that there's surfing in the middle of a city!
  • 2 0
 infinitylist.com that site has a myriad of high quality edits in skating, ski, snow, rock climbing, moto, surf, and mtb
  • 10 1
 I use to think that fat bikes were a fad, but it's like having good sex with a fat girl.......It's really fun and good. Think of it like Archer and Pam...sure, it maybe shameful, but you keep coming back for more.
  • 3 0
 Everytime I'm in Munich I try to get over to that bridge to have a look. Never realised though that they surfed at night. Have to have a look next time. Really mega Video too ! Brought a smile to my face in this never ending grey winter here in Southern Germany.
  • 5 1
 looks fun, but isnt that really dangerous to surf in a chanel with a such amont of water ? Maybe i m getting old, but i found it scary.
  • 5 0
 Yeap...we are getting old.
  • 2 0
 Depends what is downstream. It may go down a drop and then flatten out and lose a lot of speed and power. The high volume of water could also keep you off the rocks and push you right through that section. Hard to tell from this video. I used to spend a lot of time whitewater kayaking on similar waves, surfing them facing upstream. I'd be much more up for this in the daylight and summer temps though. At night in the winter temps scares me more than the volume of water.
  • 3 0
 Main issue is the depth of water underneath the trough of the wave, it's only about 40cm..
  • 4 1
 Great article. I know I love surfing more than mtb but being able to do both is the greatest
  • 4 0
 Fuck bringing the board into the bar, I'd be bringing the Surly in!
  • 3 1
 An entertaining video.

This mix of surf and fat in the city is pleasant.

Nice Smile
  • 1 0
 I was there a couple of years ago and seen a line up of guys hitting that it was great. It's actually very simple how they make the wave there. Pretty cool
  • 10 10
 that edit go really gay at the end
  • 5 2
 i was expecting that to be an extremely bigoted comment prior to watching... but you are absolutely right.
  • 3 5
 oh i tought it was from the beginning.... with music like that....
  • 2 0
 i ve been there last summer.. i have to say surfing on river is kind weird..
  • 1 0
 I surfed it last summer too. And being from Australia it felt really weird being in the middle of the city with a board and actually going for a surf.
  • 1 0
 I didn't get to surf it but I saw people shredding that wave when I visited Munich last summer
  • 4 1
 There is so much bad-ass in this video...
  • 1 0
 Ich habe alles gesehen. They keep threatening to convert the weir on the Bow River to a standing wave. Apparently, I need to learn how to surf.
  • 4 1
 Most amazing thing I saw all day besides whale birth
  • 4 1
 I'm a bit speechless right now...
  • 4 1
 Awesome dude. Nice work
  • 1 0
 Thanks!
  • 1 0
 Really sweet video.... know the place, grew up there close by. Good stuff, music as well.
  • 3 1
 Very awesome. Thanks for this one!
  • 1 0
 Looks so fucking fun. Its things like this that give me hope for the future.
  • 1 0
 Pretty cool! And its more like the Hawaiians invented the standing wave - Waimea river mouth!
  • 2 0
 Nailed it. I lived there when I was a kid. Was so fun to dig the river out to the bay and ride that sucker.
  • 2 0
 That actually looks like one hell of a good time! haha
  • 2 0
 germany in mint. oktoberfest!
  • 1 0
 THAT WAS COOL, BUT as I am building a full suss fat bike right now I was not expecting surfing
  • 1 0
 Ein Augustiner Helles? Ja Bitte. Ein Fat-Bike. Na, schoen. Aber surfen im Winter? Viel zu kalt! Nein Danke!
  • 1 0
 The first time I saw such a surfing。。。。。。。。。。。。HAHA !! NICE.....
  • 2 0
 Verrückt, ich liebe es
  • 1 0
 cracking video, epic biscuits all round
  • 1 0
 awesome! Never seen this kinda before....
  • 1 0
 Just Check Out Youtube for "Eisbach".
  • 1 0
 I would've wiped out at 1:30....
  • 1 0
 Awesome! Ballsy as hell, but awesome none the less
  • 1 0
 How do you get out of that river ????
  • 1 0
 dont let Mitchell Scott see this!
  • 4 3
 I guess its about the lights...
  • 1 0
 that was just fucking badass!!
  • 1 0
 at night you´ll get no tan!!! :p
nice idea
  • 2 0
 Germans get no tan. Germany get red :-).
  • 3 2
 Fat bike is so cool~
  • 3 3
 California invented everything. Wink
  • 4 0
 except for morphine, submachine guns, carabiners, not to mention the bicycle. actually, californians haven't invented much at all.
  • 1 1
 You are just jealous.
  • 2 1
 that was rad!
  • 2 1
 sick bike and surfing
  • 1 0
 super cool!
  • 1 0
 that is sooo rad Smile







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