From Desert Wave Pools to Asian Games Dreams: This Week in Surfing
It's been a wild few days in the surf world. We've got a shiny new wave pool firing in the California desert, a crew of Bangladeshi surfers chasing history at the Asian Games, and Jordy Smith calling a session in Durban the 'day of days.' Grab a coffee, let's dive in.
California Just Got a New Playground: DSRT Surf Opens in Coachella Valley
If you've ever dreamed of scoring perfect, programmable waves 100 miles from the ocean, Wavegarden just made it happen. Their second U.S. facility, DSRT Surf, has officially opened in the Coachella Valley. This isn't just any pool; the tech claims it can pump out 1,000 waves per hour with a catalogue of over 60 distinct wave settings.
We're talking dedicated ramp sections for airing out every 30 seconds, a beast called the 'Twister' that serves up long, powerful barrels, and settings for every turn imaginable. Pro surfer Jacob 'Zeke' Szekely didn't hold back, calling it 'the best wave pool in the world.' John Luff, Co-Founder at Beach Street Holdings, added that the barrel 'completely blew me away' — so long you can take a conscious breath inside.
The kicker? Sessions are rumored to start around $60 an hour, significantly undercutting the competition. Public booking isn't live yet, but 'late summer' is the target. For photographers, this means consistent, predictable light and action — a dream scenario. You can read the full tech breakdown over at The Inertia.
Chasing Waves & Breaking Barriers: Bangladesh's Asian Games Squad
While we debate pool tech, Mohammad Mannan and Fatima Akhter are training on the 75-mile stretch of Cox's Bazar beach with their eyes fixed on Japan. Surfing makes its Asian Games debut this September, and these two are carrying the hopes of the Bangladesh Surf Girls and Boys Club.
Fatima, just 16, put it simply: 'The moment I step onto the board, I forget everything else.' She's overcome intense stigma in a conservative, cricket-obsessed nation to compete. Mannan, 25, ignored parental pressure to quit for studies, learning technique by studying YouTube clips of John John Florence. His first trip to the Maldives was a wake-up call — 'It's impossible to understand an ocean if you've never surfed there.'
It's a raw, powerful reminder of why we fell for this sport: pure passion against the odds. Get the full story via The Daily Star.
Jordy Smith's 'Day of Days' at a Durban Secret Spot
When a two-time WSL Championship Tour winner calls a session the 'day of days,' you pay attention. Jordy Smith, alongside Chad Du Toit, James Ribbink, Josh Redman, and Brandon Jackson, scored a supremely hollow, heavy slab at a semi-secret Durban spot. We're talking lips thicker than a heavyweight fighter and spits more violent than a spitting llama.
This isn't a wave for the average Joe. It demands a late, committed drop, a high line, and a bit of luck. But for Jordy, that's exactly the kind of canvas he paints best on. It's the sort of session that reminds us why we keep checking forecasts and driving down dirt tracks. See the clip and story on The Inertia.
What's Your Take?
Three very different stories, one shared obsession. Are you booking a session at DSRT Surf the second it opens? Inspired by the Bangladesh crew's grit? Or just frothing over that Durban barrel? Drop a comment below — we love hearing what gets you amped.
