From Cox's Bazar to Cloudbreak: Surf Stories Making Waves
This week in the surfing world, three stories are capturing the imagination of surfers and photographers alike. Let's dive in.
Bangladesh's Surfers Chase Asian Games Dreams
Surfing makes its debut at the Asian Games in Japan this September, and Bangladesh's Fatima Akhter and Mohammad Mannan are chasing their shot. The 16-year-old from Cox's Bazar has overcome intense stigma in a Muslim-majority nation to ride the waves of the Bay of Bengal. 'The moment I step onto the board, I forget everything else,' Akhter told AFP. Mannan, 25, once sold seashell jewellery to support his family before turning to the waves full-time. You can read the full story over at The Daily Star.
Maui's Finest Dominate Fiji Surf Pro
Bernd Roediger and Morgan Noireaux put Maui on the map at the Fiji Surf Pro at Cloudbreak reef, taking first and third respectively. Roediger claimed the title despite competing with a strained ACL and not windsurfing for over a month. Noireaux posted the highest single-wave score of 9.5 points. 'It's an incredible feeling. I've wanted to win here since the last Fiji event in 2023,' Roediger said. Read more at Maui News.
Wavegarden Opens Second U.S. Wave Pool in California
California just got a new surf spot about 100 miles from the ocean. Wavegarden's DSRT Surf in Coachella Valley is the company's second U.S. park, capable of producing 1,000 waves per hour with over 60 wave variations including a dedicated aerial training setup and the 'Twister' barreling wave. Sessions start at just $60 per hour. 'I never imagined I would be testing aerial waves in the middle of the desert,' says Jacob Szekely. Find the full details right here at The Inertia.
