A Half-Million Euro Private Rescue: Will It Save Munich’s Eisbach Wave?
The Eisbach Wave, a global icon for surfers in Munich’s English Garden, has been dormant for three months since a river clearing operation in October. While city officials and surfing clubs deliberate on its future, a bold, privately funded rescue plan has emerged from an unexpected source: Aljoscha Lubos, a 34-year-old clinic owner and FDP city council candidate, is offering half a million euros of his personal fortune to restore the wave.
This isn’t just about fixing a broken wave; it’s a test of whether private initiative can cut through bureaucratic inertia to preserve a beloved public amenity, and what compromises might be necessary along the way. Lubos’s proposal, initially highlighted by “Bild” and detailed to the AZ, is ambitious, comprehensive, and not without its controversies.
The Problem: A Wave Gone Flat and a City’s Dilemma
Since the October river clearing, workers reportedly removed too much gravel from the riverbed, preventing the wave from forming. The absence of the wave has left a void, not just for the surfing community but for the countless spectators who gather daily to watch the spectacle. The city, led by Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD), has been in negotiations with the Interest Group Surfing in Munich (IGSM) and the Surf Club Munich, but progress has been slow.
Lubos, who is running for city council on March 8, has been vocal about the city’s handling of the issue, even releasing a humorous Instagram video featuring an elderly woman lamenting the absence of the “nice boys with great bottoms” from the wave. While a playful campaign stunt, it underscored a serious point: the need for decisive action.
Lubos’s Vision: Safety, Structure, and Self-Sufficiency
Lubos’s plan goes beyond simply making the wave surfable again. He envisions a significantly enhanced and safer experience. He is prepared to finance approximately 250,000 euros for structural improvements, including:
- Cladding the concrete blocks in the riverbed with stainless steel plates to eliminate sharp edges and gaps.
- Installing a catch net for surfboards to allow for the removal of leashes, which can get tangled.
Furthermore, Lubos proposes a comprehensive safety concept:
- A heated lifeguard hut.
- A defibrillator and an emergency button.
- A night-time camera.
- “Five to six lifeguards in a three-shift system, seven days a week from 5:30 AM to 10:00 PM.” He estimates personnel costs at around 20,000 euros per month.
Lubos aims to act as the tenant of the Eisbach Wave, establishing contracts with the city and the English Garden administration. He plans to create an operating company, ideally involving surfers, which would then secure liability insurance for users.
“I want to kickstart this initially and finance it for two years,” Lubos states, estimating the total cost, including personnel, at around half a million euros. Crucially, he emphasizes, “I don’t want to make money from it; I earn enough in my company. I don’t need it.”
Long-Term Sustainability: Sponsoring, Souvenirs, and Surfer Gastronomy?
While Lubos is willing to provide initial funding, his long-term vision is for the Eisbach Wave to become self-sustaining. He has already discussed potential sponsorship opportunities, suggesting that a company might be interested in advertising. He also sees potential in marketing the wave to tourists, through souvenir sales or even a small gastronomy outlet for surfers, which could generate ongoing revenue.
However, one crucial aspect that Lubos firmly rejects is charging admission for surfers. “No,” he says, “I reject that.”
The Surfers’ Perspective: Free Access and Preserving Culture
The surfing community, represented by the Surf Club Munich, has clear priorities. Martin Grün, president of the club, emphasized before a planned meeting with Lubos: “It is important to us that surfers have free and unrestricted access to the Eisbach Wave at all times. And that the surfing culture that has grown over decades is preserved. The charm lies in the absence of lifeguards and access controls.”
The Check-in Debate: Security vs. Freedom
This point of contention-the desire for unfettered access versus the need for safety and insurance-is likely to be a central theme in discussions. Lubos acknowledges that for the wave to be insurable, some form of check-in system might be necessary. “I think that surfers going on the wave would have to register via an app with their names, for example. And confirm that they adhere to the rules,” he explains.
He is aware that some surfers will find such regulations unappealing. However, he argues, “I am sure that after the fatal accident of a surfer last year, there will either be no wave anymore. Or a safe one. So we should build a safe wave.” This statement refers to a tragic incident in 2025 that brought safety concerns to the forefront.
A Crossroads for the Eisbach Wave
Aljoscha Lubos’s offer presents a compelling, albeit complex, solution to the Eisbach Wave’s current predicament. His private capital could expedite the wave’s restoration and significantly enhance its safety. Yet, the introduction of a more structured and regulated environment, even with the best intentions, challenges the free-spirited culture that has defined Eisbach surfing for decades.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Lubos’s private initiative can bridge the gap between the city’s regulatory demands, the surfing community’s desire for freedom, and the urgent need to bring this iconic Munich landmark back to life. The question remains: can the Eisbach Wave be made safe and sustainable without losing the very essence that makes it so special?
