Team News

Jack Johnson sessions Munich Eisbach as gov't eyes ban

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 July, 2008 : - - Friday night just before his gig in Munich-Riem, Jack Johnson has been ripping the Munich Eisbach. Like all the locals he was dressed in boardshorts waiting with a camera man to catch a river wave.

Local Michi recognized the Hawaiian Surfer first and lent his surfboard to him. Jack seemed thrilled and it did not take him long to surf the small but challenging left wave. The atmosphere was great and every local was keen to have Jack ride his board. All cheered at every wave of the superstar. The locals gave hints on how to manage the tricky current that pushes the surfer behind the wave.

Although Jack's rides were rather short, he was doing really well. And he also seemed to enjoy himself: as always relaxed, he was joking with the others. An hour later, he distributed free tickets for his concert to the surfers and then rushed of to the stage.

Jack Johnson's visit to Munich famous river wave came just in time: On the same day, there had been a meeting of the city coucil on surfing the local river. From 2009 onwards the city finally wants to ban the Eisbach Surfing according to the local TV-channel Bayern 2.

News could not be worse for the local surf community. For many competition surfers and also some members of the German National Juniorsteam the river is the only possibility to practise their skills at home. Therefore the visit of the famous Hawaiian surfer was a specially honour to all the locals and hopefully will be a good sign to change the mind of the city fathers.

Jan Groenendijk, president of the German Surfing Association (Deutscher Wellenreit Verband): For the surfers in Munich the Eisbach is the centre of their surfing life. In Germany, we probably have the world's best river surfers and the city of Munich can be very proud of them. There have always been great talents among the river surfers.

The German Surfing Association and the German Surfers report proudly of their Munich Inlandsurfers. The DWV will try to support the Munich surfers to fight together for the Eisbach.

To ban the Surfers from the river would heavily damage the image of the city of Munich. The wave is known worldwide – and thanks to Jack Johnson its fame will even spread a little further. Of course we are proud to see someone like Jack surf the Eisbach and the smile on Jack's face will guarantee that he will tell with enthusiasm and fascination the story of Munich, its wave and locals at the river. Keep on surfing, Munich!

www.surf-dwv.com

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Jan Groenendijk

Team - Surfersvillage