California's New Wave Pool, Sneaker Waves, and Subway Surfing
Summer is loading up the cooler and grabbing the keys, because surf news just hit three different beats in California.
Wavegarden's Desert Machine
Wavegarden is celebrating the opening of DSRT Surf in Coachella Valley, the second U.S. wave pool run by the Spanish tech company. The pool can pump out 1,000 waves an hour and offer a definitive catalogue of more than 60 world-class waves. There is a setting for aerials that fires ramp sections every 30 seconds, plus a barreling wave the brand calls the Twister.
Jacob 'Zeke' Szekely said, '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.'
John Luff, a co-founder, said the facility is an absolute machine for making people happy, and the barrel blew him away. The pool was not open to the public yet, with late summer sessions expected and rates starting at $60 per hour. You can read the full story right here.
Respect the Power, or Surf Another Day
Meanwhile, lifeguards up and down California are warning beachgoers about hazardous surf, including sneaker waves and strong rip currents. State lifeguards in Carmel urged caution while the National Weather Service flagged dangerous coastal conditions. Joe Stoffers, a state lifeguard, said, 'People not understanding the conditions and understanding this is a wild place that plays by its own rules, you have to know what is going on and just be aware of your surroundings.'
Lifeguards recommended staying off rocks, watching kids closely, and never turning your back on the ocean. They also announced free life jacket stations. The full details are over at Channel 3000.
The D Line Debacle
Then there was the daredevil duo in Los Angeles who got caught surfing outside the D Line train through the Wilshire tunnels. A viral Instagram clip showed one rider sitting on the front of the moving train and another clinging to the side for about 21 minutes before hopping down and walking away. Transit officials called it absolutely reckless and said subway surfing can lead to severe injury or death.
The Metro D Line extension opened in May, and Metro rules ban attaching to or riding on the outside of a vehicle. You can get the details reported by Hoodline.
For now, the ocean, the pool, and the tracks all ask the same thing: know the conditions, respect the gear, and stay safe out there.
