Palm Springs! Wave pool surfing has become, like, totally a thing in this uniquely Californian desert location. And the surf park is fast becoming a surf staple for adjacent coastal dwellers (just under a two-hour drive, sans traffic of course). The Palm Springs Surf Club prides itself on its Slabs and offerings to core surfers, and while that’s been most of the focus in the media, we noted on site a strong offering of all wave settings, from beginner-friendly to pro-savvy. At the desert wave pool, we met Charlie Oldman, who works on the surf patrol at PSSC, and wanted to find out what duties, responsibilities, and perks fall under that surf park job title.
Charlie, what is your official job title here?
I started as Head Surf Liaison and helped with the liaison work at the front entry. They help with the boards and guide people when they walk in, and ask things like how much do they surf, we explain the waves, and all that. Now I’m on Surf Patrol. We line people up in the water, direct them where to paddle, when to paddle, make sure everyone’s safe, and run through a little safety briefing. And if we’re lucky, we get to surf a little.
What’s challenging about your job right now? What aspect of this job makes it something that someone can’t just walk in off the street and do?
The learning curve is mainly in reading people and the wave. I wasn’t the best surfer when I got here, which matters because the pool is a lot more specific than the ocean. There’s one takeoff point, and everyone is different. You’ve got to find what works for that person. The hardest part is figuring out exactly where to place people, based on their board, their paddle ability, and their experience. It’s not just about telling them to sit somewhere. You have to visually read what’s happening and help adjust things accordingly. That’s what prevents someone who doesn’t surf at all from just walking in and doing this job. You need at least a basic understanding of the fundamentals of surfing to help someone properly.
How long have you been surfing? I know most of the crew came from the coast.
I’m from out at the coast, but I didn’t really surf there. I moved to Australia a few years ago, and with nothing else to do, I picked up surfing because that’s what all my friends did. I lived in LA before coming here and drove to the beach every day for about six months. I really fell in love with it and wanted to get better. Being here has given me years of progression in a few months. In the ocean, getting better is all about reps. Here you get 12–15 waves an hour; out there, that would take a week or two. It’s wild.
So, your work story is a little more circuitous than the rest?
Yeah, I come from the coast, but that’s not where I learned. I first learned in Byron Bay, Australia, then kept teaching myself. I came here after the LA fires because I didn’t want to surf Malibu water for a while. A friend mentioned they were hiring here at the Palm Springs Surf Club, I came by, and months later, well, here we are.
I saw you up in the control tower working with the screen for wave programming. Can you give us a little background on that work?
We have a list of approved waves and waves we’re working on. Each wave has different delays on the caissons, which power the waves. Choosing a wave changes the caisson delay to create a specific wave. It’s like a menu. When we’re doing wave testing, we just call out what we want next. You can surf anywhere in the world inside the pool. That “Desert Left” wave is named after Desert Point. Right now, the Waikiki wave is running. We’ve got a little bit of everything.
How many wave settings are available to the public versus what’s actually on the menu?
For the public, including private sessions, there are about four options on the website: Slabs, Lefts and Rights, Intermediate A-frames, and Advanced. Then there’s Waikiki. But private pool hires can access around 100 extra waves. These are variations on lefts and rights, barrels, or softer options. Realistically, we have infinite options depending on the group.
If I booked a private session and wanted it curated to my group, could I choose from any wave setting?
You could. Usually, we start with intermediate or A-frame waves depending on skill level. Once people are warmed up, someone is always on the ledge with a radio to the tower. We can switch to lefts, barrels, slabs—whatever they want. It’s on demand, based on what the group needs. It’s pretty cool.
What’s the best part about your job?
Surfing. And helping people. Whether it’s during a lesson or just giving tips from the ledge, seeing the stoke carry through their session is rewarding. When someone says, “That actually helped,” and it made their session better, that’s the other best part. It’s a combo of both.
