Maui Windsurfers Shine at Fiji, Jordy Smith’s Durban Secret
First up, the Fiji Surf Pro delivered some jaw‑draining moments for the Maui crew. Maui’s own Bernd Roediger fought through a strained ACL to snag first place, while Morgan Noireaux posted the event’s highest single‑wave score and walked away with third. The competition ran from June 6‑14 at Cloudbreak, a spot that even seasoned windsurfers call a “must‑ride.” As Roediger told the mauinews.com, “It’s like a blessing when the wave finally lines up.” The article also notes French rider Antoine Martin taking second and Aussie Jane Seman winning the women’s division.
Switching continents, South Africa’s Durban coastline gave Jordy Smith a day he’s calling the “day of days.” Alongside Chad Du Toit, James Ribbink, Josh Redman, and Brandon Jackson, Smith scored a near‑perfect hollow wave with a lip thicker than a referee’s whistle. He described the feeling as “a perfect drop, a set line, and a few crossed fingers.” The The Inertia piece captures the vibe of that secret spot and why it’s already legendary among surf fans.
Lastly, wave‑pool tech got a boost with Wavegarden’s new DSRT Surf facility in California’s Coachella Valley. The park can crank out 1,000 waves per hour and offers a menu of over 60 wave types, including a barrel called “Twister” that lets riders actually breathe inside the tube. Jacob “Zeke” Szekely called it “the best wave pool in the world,” and the opening could give photographers fresh back‑drops for surf shoots. Check out the The Inertia for the full scoop.
All three stories show how surfing keeps evolving — from jaw‑draining contests on faraway reefs to hidden gems in Durban, and even desert wave pools that could change how we train and shoot. Which one are you most excited to explore?
