Surf's Up: Bangladesh, Maui, and a New Wave Pool
In Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, a small shack houses the Bangladesh Surf Girls and Boys Club, but its ambitions are huge. Among its members are Fatima Akhter, 16, and Mohammad Mannan, 25, who are eyeing the Asian Games in Japan this September. As reported by The Daily Star, Akhter says, 'The moment I step onto the board, I forget everything else.' Mannan, who once sold seashells to support his family, taught himself to surf by watching YouTube videos of John John Florence. Despite parents urging him to quit, he believes surfing will grow in Bangladesh.
Across the Pacific, Maui's windsurfers turned heads at the Fiji Surf Pro. Bernd Roediger claimed first place at Cloudbreak, despite competing with a strained ACL, while Morgan Noireaux scored a 9.5-point ride on his way to third overall. As covered by Maui News, Roediger said, 'It's an incredible feeling. I've wanted to win here since the last Fiji event in 2023.' The event featured massive 13-foot surf and tested even the most seasoned competitors.
Back on U.S. soil, wave pool technology just got a boost in the desert. Wavegarden opened DSRT Surf in Coachella Valley, California, the company's second American site. According to The Inertia, the pool can fire off 1,000 waves per hour and offers over 60 wave types, including a 'Twister' barrel. Sessions are expected to start around $60 per hour, making it a more affordable alternative to other inland surf parks.
Whether you're chasing the Asian Games, testing yourself on a reef break, or perfecting your air in a desert pool, there's never been a better time to be part of the surf community. Share your own stories and tag us @SurfSnaps.
