From Cox's Bazar to Durban: The Surf Stories That Matter Right Now
The surf world is buzzing this week with stories that remind us why we fell in love with the ocean in the first place. From a teenager chasing her dream on the world stage to a legendary surfer finding magic in a secret spot, and a new wave pool opening in the California desert - there's something for every surfer and photographer to get excited about.
Bangladesh's Surfers Are Making Waves at the Asian Games
Sixteen-year-old Fatima Akhter steps onto her board in Cox's Bazar and forgets everything else. That's the kind of pure devotion that reminds us why surfing is taking over the world. Alongside Mohammad Mannan, a 25-year-old who sold seashell jewellery to fund his surf habit, these two are heading to the Asian Games in Japan this September - where surfing makes its historic debut. 'The moment I step onto the board, I forget everything else,' Akhter told AFP. 'When I successfully ride a wave, I feel happy and fulfilled. The feeling is impossible to describe.' Mannan, whose parents urged him to quit and focus on studies, refused to give up. 'I believed surfing would eventually grow. Surfing isn't a lucrative sport in Bangladesh now, but nobody can say it never will be.' These surfers from one of the world's longest beaches are proving that passion doesn't need a stadium to thrive. You can read the full story over at The Daily Star.
Jordy Smith Calls It the 'Day of Days' at a Durban Secret Spot
When Jordy Smith - a guy who's surfed a million great waves on a million great days - calls something the 'day of days,' you know it was special. Teaming up with Chad Du Toit, James Ribbink, Josh Redman, and Brandon Jackson, Smith scored what can only be described as a supremely hollow day at a semi-secret break in Durban, South Africa. The wave had a lip thicker than a losing fighter's and a spit more powerful than a llama's. This isn't a wave for the Average Joe - it demands a late drop, a set line, and a few crossed fingers. But for Jordy and his crew? It was worth every second of the hunt. The Inertia has the full breakdown right here.
California Gets a New Wave Pool in the Desert
California just got a brand-new surf spot, and it's only about 100 miles from the ocean. Wavegarden has announced the opening of DSRT Surf in Coachella Valley - the company's second U.S. wave pool after Virginia Beach's Atlantic Park. The tech is impressive: the pool can produce 1,000 waves per hour with 'a definitive catalogue of more than 60 world-class waves.' One wave type was even designed specifically for training aerials, pumping out air-friendly ramp sections in 30-second intervals. The brand also highlighted the 'Twister,' a barreling wave described as 'powerful, wide, and technical.' Jacob 'Zeke' Szekely put it best: '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.' Sessions are expected to start as low as $60 per hour when the pool opens later this summer. You can read more over at The Inertia.
Whether it's a teenage girl from Bangladesh fighting through stigma to ride waves at the Asian Games, a surf legend finding perfection in a secret Durban break, or a desert wave pool changing the game for landlocked surfers - the message is clear: the passion for riding waves is universal, and it's only getting bigger. Keep chasing those days, folks.
