California's Desert Just Got a Major Surf Upgrade
Hold onto your boards, because the surfing landscape in the U.S. just shifted in a big way. Wavegarden has officially opened DSRT Surf in Coachella Valley, marking the second American wave pool from the Spanish tech company. If you've been dreaming of scoring world-class waves without battling the coast, this might be your ticket to paradise. You can get the full breakdown right here.
The facility is absolutely packed with features that would make any surfer weak in the knees. We're talking about 1,000 waves per hour and a collection of over 60 different wave types. Yes, you read that correctly—60. Whether you're looking to stomp your first aerial or chase down a barrel, this place has got you covered. They've even got a wave specifically designed for training aerials that pumps out air-friendly ramp sections every 30 seconds.
Jacob 'Zeke' Szekely, who clearly knows a thing or two about wave pool riding, had this to say: 'I never imagined I would be testing aerial waves in the middle of the desert. Wavegarden has about seven incredible waves for turns, five for barrels, and around 12 variations for aerials. It's the best wave pool in the world.' High praise from someone who's clearly put in the work.
And here's the part that'll make your wallet happy: sessions are starting at just $60 per hour. That's a significant drop compared to Palm Springs Surf Club's $100 minimum. An exact opening date hasn't been announced yet, but 'late summer' is the target. Start planning those road trips now.
Maui's Finest Take Over Fiji
While California was getting its new desert playground, some of Maui's finest were putting on a show halfway around the world. Bernd Roediger and Morgan Noireaux absolutely crushed it at the Fiji Surf Pro at Cloudbreak reef, claiming first and third place respectively in some of the most demanding conditions professional windsurfing has ever seen.
Roediger's victory is particularly impressive when you consider the circumstances. He competed with a strained ACL and hadn't windsurfed for more than a month before the event. When asked about the win, he said: '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. So many things have to go your way. It's like a blessing.' Read more about their incredible performance over at Maui News.
Not to be outdone, Noireaux scored the highest single wave of the entire competition—a ridiculous 9.5-point ride. Unfortunately, inconsistent winds made finding a second scoring wave difficult in the final, leaving him to settle for third place. But when you're putting up 9.5s, you've definitely made an impression.
The conditions at Cloudbreak were no joke. Four windsurfing rigs were destroyed during the event, and Australian Jaeger Stone suffered a broken foot after a heavy wipeout. These athletes were pushing the absolute limits of what human beings can do on a board with a sail attached to it.
Two Very Different Stories, One Common Thread
What's beautiful about these two stories is how they represent the spectrum of our sport. You've got high-tech innovation making waves more accessible to everyone, and then you have raw human determination and skill pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the ocean. Whether you're charging at Cloudbreak or getting your first taste of barrel at a desert wave pool, we're all part of the same stoke. Keep charging, keep creating, and most importantly—keep those eyes on the horizon.
