· Von Eisbach Riders
E2 Wave Munich: Guide to the Eisbach's Second Standing Wave
You've ridden the main Eisbach wave. You know the drill: arrive early, wait in line, drop in, ride for twenty seconds, repeat. It's brilliant — but it's also Munich's worst-kept secret. What if there were a second standing wave in the English Garden, just a short walk upstream, with nobody on it? There is. It's called the E2, and most surfers walk right past it.
What Is the E2 Wave?
The E2 is the second standing wave on the Eisbach river channel, located roughly 300 metres upstream (south) of the famous main wave near the Prinzregentenstraße bridge. While the main wave sits at the northern outflow of the Eisbach channel where it re-enters the English Garden, the E2 forms further up the channel at a different weir section — less infrastructure around it, fewer spectators, and on most days, no queue at all.
The wave was known to a small circle of Munich surfers long before the main wave became a global landmark. It doesn't have an official name; locals call it E2, the "second wave," or simply "the upper wave." Don't expect a sign pointing to it.
Location and How to Get There
Start at the main Eisbach wave on Prinzregentenstraße. Walk south along the river channel (upstream, into the park), keeping the water on your left. After about 300–350 metres you'll come to a second weir structure. The wave forms just below it. The path is well-maintained and easy to walk even in flip-flops carrying a board.
- By U-Bahn: U4/U5 to Lehel or Odeonsplatz, then walk into the English Garden
- By bike: Bike racks at the main wave; ride or walk from there
- Parking: Minimal near the park — public transport is strongly recommended
The access point is an informal dirt path down to a small concrete apron beside the weir. There's no railing or official entry point — you step in from the side and paddle or wade into position. Scout it from the bank first before entering the water.
Wave Character: What to Expect
The E2 is a fundamentally different wave from the main Eisbach, and understanding that difference will save you frustration on your first visit.
Size and Power
The E2 is smaller and shallower than the main wave. The face is typically 60–80 cm in height depending on water flow, compared to the main wave's more consistent 1–1.2 m. Power output is lower, which means you need to generate your own speed more actively. It rewards a surfer who can pump well and isn't relying on the wave to throw them around.
Consistency
This is the E2's defining characteristic — and its main limitation. The wave is highly sensitive to water levels. After heavy rainfall or snowmelt, the increased flow can wash it out completely; in dry periods, it can flatten to almost nothing. At optimal flow it holds a clean, rideable shape for minutes at a time. Locals check the Eisbach gauge on the Munich water authority website before making the trip specifically for the E2.
Shape and Ride
When it's on, the E2 offers a surprisingly fun, punchy little ramp. The pocket is narrower than the main wave, which actually makes certain manoeuvres easier — snaps and cutbacks on the shoulder are more accessible here than on the faster, more aggressive main wave. The water is equally cold year-round (8–12°C), equally fast-moving, and the rocks and weir infrastructure upstream mean you still need to surf with awareness.
Who Is It Suitable For?
The E2 sits in a useful middle ground in the Munich surf scene:
- Intermediate surfers who can hold a line on the main Eisbach but want to work on specific turns without the social pressure of a long queue
- Regulars looking for solo sessions — it's often empty on weekday mornings even in summer
- River surf explorers who've already ticked the main wave and want to understand the full Eisbach system
- Fin testers — the lower-power wave is actually a great place to feel the difference between fin setups without consequences
It is not suitable for complete beginners. The entry and exit points require comfort in moving water, and the weir infrastructure means errors carry consequences. If you haven't surfed the main Eisbach yet, start there.
E2 vs. Main Eisbach vs. Floßlände: How They Compare
| Wave | Height | Consistency | Crowd | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Eisbach | 1–1.2 m | Very high | Always busy | All levels, spectators |
| E2 | 0.6–0.8 m | Flow-dependent | Often empty | Intermediates, solo sessions |
| Floßlände | 0.5–1 m | Seasonal (summer) | Moderate | Longer rides, SUP-friendly |
Floßlände, further south in the Isar, offers the longest rides of the three and is more accessible for SUP boards. The main Eisbach is the benchmark for intensity and crowd culture. The E2 is the one you go to when you want to surf without an audience and actually think about your technique.
Best Seasons for the E2
The Munich surf season runs year-round at the main Eisbach, but the E2 is more selective:
- Spring (March–May): Snowmelt increases flow — the E2 can be excellent or completely washed out depending on the week. Check levels before going.
- Early summer (June): Often the most reliable window. Flow is moderate, the wave holds shape, water temperature is still cold but manageable.
- High summer (July–August): Lower water levels can flatten the wave. Worth checking, but hit rate drops.
- Autumn (September–October): Rainfall returns, flow picks up — a second reliable window. Crowds at the main wave thin out, making the E2 even more of a bonus spot.
- Winter (November–February): Possible on the right days. The committed surfers who do it in winter tend to have it entirely to themselves.
Fins for River Surfing: What Works at the E2
The E2's lower power and narrower pocket put a premium on fin setups that generate speed and allow quick, snappy turns. A thruster (three-fin) setup is the standard choice — it gives you enough drive to pump through the flatter sections and enough release to snap off the top without washing out.
If you're already running an FCS II box and want to use FCS I fins, the FCS II to FCS I Adapter (€7.95) bridges the gap cleanly. And always carry a fin key and spare screws — the last thing you want is a loose fin mid-session with nobody watching.
The Unwritten Rules
The E2 doesn't have the codified etiquette of the main wave (one surfer at a time, the queue, the countdown), but a few principles apply:
- If someone is already surfing, wait and watch before getting in — they've likely been there a while and earned their session
- The wave is small enough that two people simultaneously is genuinely awkward; take turns naturally
- Pack out what you bring — there are no bins and no staff at the E2
- Respect the banks and surrounding park — the English Garden is public green space, not a surf facility
Finding Your Flow
The E2 won't replace the main Eisbach wave. It doesn't have the power, the spectacle, or the history. What it offers is something the main wave can't: space to think, room to try things, and the rare pleasure of a solo river session in the middle of a city of 1.5 million people. On the right day, with the right water level, it's quietly excellent.
If you surf it on a grey Tuesday morning in October with nobody else around, you'll understand why the locals who know about it prefer to keep it that way.