Surf's Up This Week: Asian Games Dreams, Fiji Victories & California's Newest Wave Pool
This week in the surfing world served up everything from inspiring underdog stories to jaw-dropping competition results and brand-new surf spots. Whether you're chasing waves or chasing the perfect shot, there was plenty to keep you stoked. Let's break it all down.
Bangladesh's Surfing Pioneers Chase Olympic Dreams at the Asian Games
Surfing is making its debut at the Asian Games in Japan this September, and two surfers from Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh are determined to make their mark on the world stage. Mohammad Mannan, 25, and Fatima Akhter, 16, are the faces of a movement trying to put Bangladesh on the surf map in a country where cricket and football dominate the conversation.
Akhter, who has faced intense stigma as a teenage girl riding waves in a Muslim-majority nation, describes the feeling of catching a wave as something 'impossible to describe.' 'The moment I step onto the board, I forget everything else,' she told AFP. Mannan's path was equally unconventional — he started out selling seashell jewelry to support his family before discovering surfing through skateboarding. His parents urged him to quit and focus on school, but he refused, telling reporters he 'believed surfing would eventually grow.'
Mannan has competed internationally in India and the Maldives, studying the world's best surfers through YouTube videos of two-time world champion John John Florence. 'It's impossible to understand an ocean if you've never surfed there,' he said. Their journey from the shores of Cox's Bazar — home to one of the world's longest beaches at 120 kilometres — to the Asian Games stage is the kind of story that reminds us why we love this sport. You can read the full story here at The Daily Star.
Maui Windsurfers Dominate at Fiji's Legendary Cloudbreak
If you thought Fiji's Cloudbreak reef was only for surfers, think again. Maui windsurfers Bernd Roediger and Morgan Noireaux absolutely lit up the Fiji Surf Pro, claiming first and third place respectively in 13-foot surf at one of the most demanding breaks on the planet.
Roediger's victory was especially remarkable — he claimed the title while competing with a strained ACL and having not windsurfed for more than a month. 'It's an incredible feeling. I've wanted to win here since the last Fiji event in 2023, but to actually win it is totally different,' Roediger said. 'It's like a blessing.' Noireaux, meanwhile, produced the highest-scoring single wave of the entire event with a 9.5-point ride, though inconsistent winds made it tough to land a second scoring wave, leaving him to settle for third.
The women's competition was equally fierce. Australia's Jane Seman reclaimed the Cloudbreak title she first won in 2022, winning all three finals by consistently choosing the biggest waves and riding the most critical sections of the reef. The event, which ran from June 6-14, gave Roediger his third major win of the season. Four windsurfing rigs were destroyed and one competitor suffered a broken foot during the competition — a reminder of just how powerful these waves can be. You can read more about the action over at Maui News.
California Gets a Second Wave Pool: DSRT Surf Opens in Coachella Valley
California just got a brand-new surf spot, and it's only about 100 miles from the ocean — well, sort of. Wavegarden is celebrating the grand opening of DSRT Surf in Coachella Valley, marking its second wave pool on U.S. soil alongside the one at Virginia Beach's Atlantic Park. The Spanish tech company previously powered Austin's NLAND Surf Park, which opened in 2016 but closed just two years later after being sold to the WSL and Kelly Slater Wave Co.
The new DSRT Surf is a serious step up in wave pool technology. According to the company, the pool can produce 1,000 waves per hour and offers 'a definitive catalogue of more than 60 world-class waves.' One wave type was designed specifically for training aerials, with air-friendly ramp sections pumping out every 30 seconds. There's also a setting called the 'Twister' — described as a powerful, wide, and technical barreling wave. 'I never imagined I would be testing aerial waves in the middle of the desert,' said Jacob 'Zeke' Szekely. 'It's the best wave pool in the world.'
For photographers, this is a dream come true — consistent, predictable waves in a controlled environment mean endless opportunities for the perfect shot without fighting offshore winds or crowds. Sessions are expected to start as low as $60 per hour, which is a significant step down from California's other wave pool, Palm Springs Surf Club, where beginner group sessions start around $100. An official public opening date hasn't been announced yet, but 'late summer' is the target, so keep an eye on the DSRT Surf website. You can read the full details right here at The Inertia.
Wrapping Up
From Bangladesh's shores to Fiji's reef to California's desert, this week proved that surfing culture is everywhere — and it's only getting bigger. Whether you're inspired by underdog athletes chasing international glory, watching pros conquer some of the heaviest waves on the tour, or planning your next shoot at a brand-new wave pool, there's never been a better time to be part of the Surf Snaps community. Keep your cameras ready and your wax handy — the waves aren't slowing down anytime soon.
