From Desert Barrels to Cloudbreak Glory: This Week in Surf
Another week, another reminder that surfing is showing up in the most unexpected places. Whether it's a high-tech pool plopped in the California desert, a heavy-water windsurfing showcase at one of the world's scariest reefs, or a group of kids from Cox's Bazar chasing a spot on the Asian Games stage, the stoke is officially global. Let's dive in.
Surfing the Desert: Wavegarden Fires Up DSRT Surf
First up, California just got its second Wavegarden facility, and it's sitting pretty in the Coachella Valley. DSRT Surf just opened its doors, and early reviews suggest the tech has taken a massive leap forward since the ill-fated NLand park in Austin. We're talking 1,000 waves an hour and a menu of over 60 distinct wave settings.
There's a dedicated 'Aerial' mode pumping out ramp sections every 30 seconds, and a beast called the 'Twister' — a wide, technical barrel that apparently holds a spit long enough to take a conscious breath inside. Jacob 'Zeke' Szekely called it the best wave pool in the world, and co-founder John Luff said the barrels 'completely blew me away.' Sessions are rumored to start around $60 an hour, which undercuts the competition significantly. An exact public opening date is still 'late summer,' but the booking platform should drop any day now. For photographers, this means consistent, repeatable peaks in perfect light — no more waiting for the swell window.
Maui Wind Warriors Own Cloudbreak
Speaking of perfect peaks, the Fiji Surf Pro at Cloudbreak just wrapped, and the Maui contingent put on a clinic. Bernd Roediger took the top spot with an 18.07 final score, which is wild considering he was nursing a strained ACL and hadn't windsurfed in over a month. 'It's like a blessing,' he said of the win. His fellow Maui local Morgan Noireaux wasn't far behind, posting the highest single-wave score of the entire event — a massive 9.5 — before inconsistent winds left him third overall.
The conditions were described as some of the most demanding in pro windsurfing history: 13-foot Cloudbreak, four destroyed rigs, and a broken foot for Australia's Jaeger Stone. France's Antoine Martin slotted into second, and on the women's side, Australia's Jane Seman ran the table to reclaim her 2022 title. It was a raw, heavy reminder of what happens when the world's best meet a reef that doesn't forgive mistakes.
Chasing Waves in Cox's Bazar
Half a world away, the stakes are different but the passion is identical. Bangladesh is sending surfers to the Asian Games for the first time ever, with the competition debuting in Japan this September. For 16-year-old Fatima Akhter and 25-year-old Mohammad Mannan, it's the culmination of a journey that started on the 75-mile stretch of Cox's Bazar beach.
Fatima has faced intense cultural stigma as a teenage girl surfing in a Muslim-majority nation. 'The moment I step onto the board, I forget everything else,' she said. 'When I successfully ride a wave, I feel happy and fulfilled. The feeling is impossible to describe.' Mannan, who started selling seashell jewelry to support his family, was told by his parents to quit and focus on studies. He refused, learning technique by watching YouTube clips of John John Florence. 'Surfing isn't a lucrative sport in Bangladesh now,' he said, 'but nobody can say it never will be.' Their first trip to the Maldives was a wake-up call — better boards, bigger waves, constant travel. But the hunger is there, and they're representing a whole new chapter for the sport.
Three stories, three totally different corners of the surf world. One thing connects them: the drive to get on a wave, no matter the obstacles. Whether you're booking a session in the desert, studying Cloudbreak replay footage, or waxing up a beat-up board in Bangladesh, we're all just chasing that feeling.
Seen any of these spots through your lens? Drop a link in the comments — we'd love to see your perspective.
