From Desert Waves to Asian Games Dreams: The Surf World Is Going Wild
Surf culture never stops evolving, and this week's news proves it. From a revolutionary new wave pool opening in the California desert to a pair of Bangladeshi surfers chasing history at the Asian Games, and a Maui windsurfer dominating Fiji's legendary Cloudbreak reef — there's something for every surfer and shutterbug to geek out about. Let's dive in.
California Gets a Surf Paradise in the Desert
California just added a brand-new surf spot, and it's only about 100 miles from the ocean. Wavegarden has officially celebrated the opening of DSRT Surf in Coachella Valley, making it the second U.S. wave pool operated by the Spanish tech company. The first? Virginia Beach's Atlantic Park. But this one? It might be the most impressive yet.
The pool can crank out 1,000 waves per hour and offers what the company calls a 'definitive catalogue of more than 60 world-class waves.' That includes a wave type specifically designed for training aerials, pumping out air-friendly ramp sections in 30-second intervals. And then there's 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.' You can get the full breakdown right here.
For photographers, this is a goldmine — controlled wave conditions means perfect lighting setups and consistent shoots. Sessions are expected to start as low as $60 per hour, which is a serious steal compared to California's other wave pool. An exact public opening date hasn't been announced yet, but 'late summer' is the target. Mark your calendars.
Bangladesh's Surfers Are Chasing Glory at the Asian Games
Now let's travel halfway across the world to Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, where the waves are modest but the dreams are enormous. Mohammad Mannan, 25, and Fatima Akhter, 16, are preparing for the surfing competition at the Asian Games in Japan — set for September 19 through October 4. And here's why their story hits different.
Akhter has had to overcome intense stigma in the Muslim-majority nation to succeed as a teenage girl riding her board. She told AFP: 'The moment I step onto the board, I forget everything else. When I successfully ride a wave, I feel happy and fulfilled. The feeling is impossible to describe.' Meanwhile, Mannan's journey is equally inspiring. He used to sell seashell jewellery to support his family and started on skateboarding before falling in love with surfing. His parents urged him to quit and focus on studies, convinced there was no future in the sport. He refused. 'I believed surfing would eventually grow,' he said. 'Surfing isn't a lucrative sport in Bangladesh now, but nobody can say it never will be.'
Mannan has competed internationally in India and the Maldives, and he studies the world's best from afar — watching YouTube videos of Hawaii-born two-time world champion John John Florence to refine his technique. Surfing makes its debut at the Asian Games this year, and these two are determined to carve out a place for the sport in a country obsessed with cricket and football. You can read the full story over at The Daily Star.
Maui Windsurfer Bernd Roediger Dominates Fiji's Cloudbreak
Back in the Pacific, Maui windsurfer Bernd Roediger is on cloud nine after claiming first place at the Fiji Surf Pro at Cloudbreak reef. Roediger clinched the championship with a final score of 18.07, followed by France's Antoine Martin at 15.76 and fellow Maui surfer Morgan Noireaux at 14.46.
The conditions were absolutely brutal — 13-foot surf at a reef that competitors described as some of the most demanding ever ridden in professional windsurfing. Roediger claimed first place despite competing with a strained ACL and having not windsurfed for more than a month. Noireaux produced the highest-scoring single wave of the event with a 9.5-point ride, though inconsistent winds made finding a second scoring wave difficult.
The women's competition was just as impressive, with Australia's Jane Seman reclaiming the Cloudbreak title she first won in 2022. She won all three finals, consistently choosing the biggest waves and riding critical sections of the reef. The event ran from June 6-14 and gave Roediger his third major win of the season. You can read more about the Fiji Surf Pro over at Maui News.
The Takeaway
Whether you're a photographer scouting new wave pools in the desert, a surfer inspired by athletes pushing boundaries against all odds, or just someone who loves watching incredible rides on massive swells — this week's surf news had it all. The surf world is bigger, bolder, and more diverse than ever. Now get out there and catch some waves.
