Keith Malloy taking a peek out of the port window of a Russian helicopter.
Just past a bridge near the Haus der Kunst art museum, the river forms a standing wave about 1 metre high, which is a popular river surfing spot. The water is cold and shallow (sometimes only 40 cm deep), making it suitable only for experienced surfers and playboaters (whitewater kayakers). The wave is predominately used by surfers, and animosities of surfers towards kayakers (in general not uncommon) have occasionally been reported.
The wave has been surfed by river surfers since 1972, and surfing competitions have even been held. Due to the more recent development of playboating, kayakers have only more recently and so far not in great numbers started to surf the wave.
Surfing is now (2010) officially allowed. A new sign next to the wave warns that “Due to the forceful current, the wave is suitable for skilled and experienced surfers only”. In previous years there have been issues between the authorities, who threatened to demolish the wave, and a group of wave supporters who organized activities and a website to save the wave, including an online petition to leave the wave intact.
Being a standing wave it can be surfed for as long as one’s balance holds, and in busy times a queue of surfers forms on the bank. In the past surfers tied a leash to the bridge to hold onto, but a sign announces that this is both dangerous and forbidden.
The local surfers have forced the wave to break more cleanly, with increased height, by attaching ropes to the bridge which trail submerged planks, creating two large “U”-shapes. Such a shape makes the wave easier to surf for river surfers (playboating makes fewer demands of the wave shape).
Surfing The Eisbach, photos by Thomas Prior.
of all the places I’ve been to in the world, this was one of the most enjoyable places for me to visit. It’s crazy to walk through the parks in Munich, into the business world where men are passing by in suits, only to see guys changing into wetsuits to catch some surf. We sat there for a bit drinking coffee (should have brought beers) and enjoyed the lineup.
"Do yourself a favor. Before it’s too late, without thinking too much about it first, pack a pillow and a blanket and see as much of the world as you can. You will not regret it. One day it will be too late."
—
Jhumpa Lahiri, The Namesake (via soul-surfer)
dear children…
(Source: thoughtsdetained, via soul-surfer)
"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life - and travel - leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks - on your body or on your heart - are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt."
— Anthony Bourdain (via thatkindofwoman)
(Source: chanelbagsandcigarettedrags, via thatkindofwoman)
"People. Different people. Not just creative people or hard-working people or noble people. All people. I draw inspiration from everyone I interact with. I even draw from people I observe and never actually meet. The more people I meet the more I feel inspired. And because of that, I travel. I travel a lot. But travel is just a means to meeting more people."
— jeffstaple when asked “What Inspires You?” (via jatecson)
(via secondsminuteshours)
"Someday perhaps I will go around carrying only a book, a change of clothes, a pen, a water bottle, a folding umbrella, and a little capsule that turns into my livelihood when opened. Rollable hi-res screen and keyboard, tiny computer the size of a cell phone or smaller but as light as a pen, with high-speed satellite connectivity anywhere on the globe. In this world, my sleeping bag, pad and windproof hammock weigh only a pound put together. For half of the year I travel the world, alone and with companions, with a small bag slung over my shoulder like Kwai Chang Caine. We sleep outdoors, travel on trains, and a few days of the week sit some place cozy and create beautiful software or solve interesting problems that improve the world."
— Max Shron answers the question “What would be your dream setup?” (via viafrank)
"Own only what you can always carry with you: know languages, know countries, know people. Let your memory be your travel bag."
— Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
(Source: travel-quotes, via soul-surfer)
"I can’t imagine life without surfing – it has completely changed my life in such a positive way. Because of surfing I have met some of my best friends. It has been a window of opportunity to travel the world seeing amazing things and meeting incredible people, some of which I would never have experienced otherwise. Surfing keeps me in the moment. When I am surfing, I have no worries, no expectations, no fears – just pure bliss."
—
Israel Preciado — Liquid Salt | Surf Magazine
I feel the same way about golf.
"I actually like the airport and travel experience (post-security) a lot because it feels like one of the few times in life where no one can really place any expectations or demands on you. You’re at the mercy of the airline’s schedule now, so just enjoy reading a book or watching Downton Abbey on your tablet computer or whatever. It could be worse."
— I concur. I’ve always enjoyed the time between security and takeoff at an airport. I’ve always considered it MY time to think, disconnect and have no responsibilities.
