Jack Johnson surfs, Munich?

I love Jack Johnson’s music and with young children in the house, the soundtrack from Curious George rarely leaves the CD player. However, I didn’t know Johnson was such a good surfer. Here’s an interesting short video of him surfing in downtown Munich. Honestly.

The Eisbach (German for “ice brook”) is a small man-made river that flows through the Englischer Garten in Munich City. It has been surfed since 1972 and here’s some info from Wikipedia:

• Located just past a bridge near the Haus der Kunst art museum.
• The river forms a standing wave about 1 metre high and the water is cold and shallow (sometimes only 40 cm deep), making it suitable only for experienced surfers and whitewater kayakers.
• 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.

This video might define “diehard.” Inner city winter surfing at minus 7 degrees C with Micah Lester and Toby Atkins.

Still not crazy or cold enough for you? Try at night and minus 15! These guys definitely have Sea-Fever!

Next time you’re in Munich, surf’s up!