Southern California has it’s first wave pool, the Palm Springs Surf Club. With a beautiful mountain backdrop, you can ride perfect waves under the hot desert sun. Allow me to take me through my firsthand experience at the Palm Springs Surf Club (PSSC)!
Where is Palm Springs Surf Club?
Palm Springs Surf Club is about a 2.5 hour drive from San Diego. Whether you are coming from San Diego or LA, Palm Springs is a reasonable drive for the day. However, I would suggest making a weekend and getting a round of golf in after surfing. The surf club is located right on the edge of town in close proximity to downtown Palm Springs and popular hotels.
What is the wave like at Palm Springs Surf Club?
Consistent. You know what kind of wave you are going to get in Palm Springs which is very different from the inconsistent surfing in the open Ocean. For some people, they might like that if they are trying to perfect a specific maneuver. Others may not like the wave pool consistency due to a lack of variety.
With that said, the surf club offers different types of waves depending on the session you choose. All the wave types are super fun but the rides are shorter than I was expecting, even the Lefts and Rights session (the longest waves produced in the pool). You also want to be aware of safety with the concrete bottom and walls. Don’t surf too close to the walls and be sure to fall flat. The pool is shallow in some places.
Lefts And Rights
The longest wave option in the pool. The lefts and rights come in sets of 6. The side where the wave is pumped from is exchanged from left to right so you know exactly which side of the pool to lineup on before it spits out. This is a fun, extremely rippable wave that rides like a point break. It hollows out for a split second before opening up and weakening out on the edge of the pool.
After catching the longer lefts and rights on the outside, you can also catch a shorter inside wave in the opposite direction to make the most of your session. The lefts and rights was my session of choice. Not only was it the most fun wave in my opinion but it was less chaotic and more organized with the set waves than other wave types offered here.
A Frames
The A Frames session is most similar to a punchy beach break. 6 waves pump out from the middle of the wave pool allowing surfers to go left or right. The waves are shorter and faster than the lefts and rights session. Waves also come in 6 wave sets but the swell period in between each wave is shorter and more surfers are paddling back out after catching a wave. This made it feel more chaotic and disorganized.
Slabs
The slabs session is the most advanced wave at Palm Spring Surf Club. It’s a quick takeoff that goes straight into a tube so it’s the most similar experience to barrel riding that you can get. After a quick entry, the wave opens out for a quick carve or aerial maneuver.
Waikiki
The beginner wave of the group. Just like the famous Waikiki break in Hawaii, this is a slow, mellow peeler. It’s perfect for beginners or anyone looking for a more gentle ride.
What kind of board to surf at Palm Spring Surf Club?
Generally, the wave is on the mellower side here. As such, I recommend riding a fish instead of a shortboard. I rode the Cloud from Degree 33. It’s a groveler type board and was perfect here. Of course, the wave type you ride will also dictate the type of board you choose. While I recommend a fish for the Lefts/Rights and A Frame session, you will want a shortboard for the Slabs session. Finally, you can ride a longboard or foamie for the Waikiki wave.
If you don’t bring your own board, they do have boards available to rent.
How much does Palm Springs Surf Club cost?
It’s not cheap. A one hour long session is $200. When you do the math, you can expect to ride about 10 waves in a session which means each wave costs about $20. Don’t miss a wave or fall – it will cost you literally!
How to book Palm Springs Surf Club?
You can book sessions directly online or by calling the club. The slots open up for booking about a month in advance. If you are planning a weekend visit, be sure to book it a few weeks beforehand.
Other Amenities at the Club
The extra amenities at Palm Springs Surf Club were unexpected but a welcome surprise. Before or after surfing, you can hang out in a separate pool that has a lazy river and water slides! You can also enjoy sunbathing by the pools and enjoy a drink at one of the two outside bars. Both bars have TVs to enjoy whatever sports are on. Inside the club, you will find a full service bar, restaurant, and store to shop premium surf brands.
Bottomline: Is Palm Spring Surf Club worth it?
Yes! But it’s a novelty. It’s worth doing once or twice to experience a wave pool but the price tag makes it out of reach to frequent too often. Bottomline, the Ocean is still free 🙂
Check out other wave pools here.
