Surf Park Book: Preview #2 - Palm Springs Surf Club

They said Palm Springs would be weird and it didn't disappoint. The California desert is at once a hotspot for surfers, a haven for the elderly, and a sight for sore eyes.

The greatest desire of a surfer is perfect waves and no one else around. The surf park industry has the first half of that equation dialed but, of course, wherever there are fun waves, there will be tons of people lining up to ride them and even more gathered to watch. Those people can truly make or break the experience of a surf session. Surf parks recognize that the formula for epic surf sessions in a wave pool depends not just on technology, but also on the social interactions both inside and outside of the pool. On the quiet, early afternoon of a random Tuesday in March, Palm Springs Surf Club had aced it.

The City

It was my first time visiting a surf park after nine months obsessing over them and I couldn’t anticipate how I would feel. As I drove across a flat, dry, dusty valley, I was met with vast mountain vistas that I could barely make out. It was like watching the sun set—it’s almost too much for your eyes to take in but you still understand how beautiful it is. I passed the o…