Sex, Surf, & Music - A Perfect Weekend In Palm Springs

It had been years since I had dipped into the music festival world and this go around all started thanks to SURFER’s involvement as the media sponsor for the Goldenvoice Surf Club event. My coworker, the illustrious-wordsmith-meets-slab-hunter, Dashel Pierson, had been holding it down the first weekend with a guest roster of surfers including Bruce Irons, Zeke, Ella McCaffray, and by the looks of it on Instagram, it was proper good time. 

This was my first visit to any wave pool, so I went in with low expectations and came out with a new perspective on what’s possible when you fuse entertainment and surfing. Weekend 2 did not disappoint as Chris Ward, Victor Bernardo, Blair Conklin and others were all in the pool for the expression session. Everyone was ripping but, in my eyes, Victor stole the show and Blair was runner up. 

Surfing the wave was a cool experience, I tried two different advanced settings and had tons of fun trying to figure out the wave and not look like a kook. I didn’t miss any waves, but I definitely didn’t make anything look too good either. The hour-long session was perfect to get a feel for the pool and get a bunch of reps in, all in all--I surfed a pool, and I liked it.

Wave pools have people stoked for an array of reasons and it’s clear to me that the chlorine-based futured of surfing is only going to continue to get the Disney treatment. Yep, full-on entertainment complexes filled with waves, waterslides, bars, restaurants, lounges, golf simulators (or full on courses), lazy rivers, and, yes, live music. 

Again, my rave days are behind me but I can still dig a good DJ set in a pool party-like setting with heaps of half naked people dancing around–it’s sexy, add in surfing and it’s fun. While surfers typically take top prize for being tan and fit, the dance music community isn’t too shabby. The music brought a more diverse crowd than you’d typically find at a wave pool, there were gay guys in thongs and bunny ears, straight guys in boardshorts and flatbills, babes in bikinis, groups dressed in matching costumes, all together representing a range of various ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities–all getting down. Rave culture may get a bad rep from those who don’t know but it’s an accepting space mostly based on good vibes, dirty beats, and dancing. The people I’ve met on dance floors over the years have mostly ranged from pretty chill to really dope–even if there’s always a few kooks in the crowd (just like surfing). 

So, as far as mixing surfing and music go, I’m into it. I’ll be keeping my eyes out for any future chances to have a wicked awesome weekend at the Palm Springs Surf Club and the Ace Hotel.