Surfers Chasing Waves from Bangladesh to Fiji
Surfing is having a moment unlike any other right now. From the shores of Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh to the legendary Cloudbreak reef in Fiji, and a brand-new wave pool in the California desert, the surfing world is buzzing with stories worth telling.
Bangladesh's Brave Surfers Chase Asian Games Dreams
Meet Fatima Akhter, a 16-year-old from Cox's Bazar who's fighting stigma just to ride a wave. '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.'
Her training partner Mohammad Mannan, 25, used to sell seashell jewelry to support his family before turning to the waves. His parents wanted him to quit and focus on studies, but Mannan believed surfing would eventually grow in Bangladesh. He's been studying the world's best from YouTube, watching John John Florence videos to refine his technique. 'I believed surfing would eventually grow,' Mannan said. 'Surfing isn't a lucrative sport in Bangladesh now, but nobody can say it never will be.'
Surfing makes its debut at this year's Asian Games in Japan (September 19 to October 4), and both Mannan and Akhter are chasing a place on the lineup. You can read the full story over at The Daily Star.
Maui's Finest Fly High at Fiji Surf Pro
Meanwhile, Maui windsurfers Bernd Roediger and Morgan Noireaux put on a show at Fiji's Cloudbreak reef. Roediger claimed first place with a final score of 18.07, despite competing with a strained ACL and not windsurfing for over a month. '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,' Roediger said.
Noireaux produced the highest-scoring single wave of the event with a 9.5-point ride, finishing third overall. France's Antoine Martin took second, while Australia's Jane Seman won the women's competition. The event ran June 6-14, giving Roediger his third major win of the season. More details are available at Maui News.
California Gets a New Surf Spot in the Desert
Here's something wild: California just got a new surf spot about 100 miles from the ocean. Wavegarden has opened DSRT Surf in Coachella Valley, its second U.S. wave pool (the first is in Virginia Beach). The pool can produce 1,000 waves per hour with over 60 wave variations, including a 'Twister' barreling wave and air-friendly ramp sections.
'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,' says Jacob 'Zeke' Szekely. Sessions will start as low as $60 per hour, with a public opening expected in late summer. Read more at The Inertia.
Whether you're chasing waves in Bangladesh, competing in Fiji, or practicing aerials in the Coachella Valley, the surfing world is more connected than ever. That's what makes this community so special. Now get out there and find your wave.
