From Palm Desert to Teahupo'o: Surf's Latest Waves of News
Surf fans, grab your post-session coffee because the news reel is stacked. First up, California's desert just got a whole lot cooler. DSRT Surf in Palm Desert rolled out its first super session at the Wavegarden-powered lagoon, and the invite list was a who's who: Rob Machado, Griffin Colapinto, Jacob 'Zeke' Szekely, Skip McCullough, and project partner Josh Kerr. Szekely later told the outlet it was the 'Best wave pool in the world' after sampling air waves, barrel settings, and beginner rollers. The system cranks out roughly 1,000 ocean-like waves per hour, and the resort opens late summer 2026 with a hotel and villas. You can get the full breakdown over at AOL.
Kelly Slater Takes a Tahiti Wildcard
In contest news, the 54-year-old icon Kelly Slater is trading retirement rumors for a jersey at the Tahiti Pro. The WSL handed him a wildcard for Teahupo'o, a wave he's conquered five times. Slater, recovering from hip surgery, said 'I'm really looking forward to getting myself locked in before August comes around and hoping for great conditions in Tahiti to give us all a good challenge.' He may not be the youngest on tour, but in heavy tubes he still belongs. Read more about his return at The Inertia.
Cloud 9 Lands on the 2026 WSL Tour
And the tour map is expanding. The Philippines' Cloud 9 in Siargao will host a Championship Tour stop from October 31 to November 10, upgraded from a Qualifying Series event. Regular-footer Leonardo Fioravanti is stoked, noting 'I am really excited being a regular footer and getting barreled on my forehand, which kind of only happens when we go to Pipe surfing Backdoor.' The spot's perfect right-hand tube will test the world's best late in the title race. Full details are at Gold Coast Magazine.
For the Surf Snaps community, this trio of stories is a reminder to keep lenses capped and boards waxed. Whether you're shooting the desert spray or chasing tropical barrels, there's fresh canvas ahead. Drop your thoughts below and share your dream session.
