Moroccan Surfers in Pro Taghazout Bay WSL QS 3000: A Day at Anchor Point
Pro Taghazout Bay WSL QS 3000 is the ultimate competition to witness Moroccan surfers perform to the best of their ability.
🌊 The energy was electric. The sun blazed over Anchor Point, Morocco’s most epic wave, as among the world’s best surfers carved through perfect, barreling rights. The Pro Taghazout Bay WSL QS 3000 wasn’t just another surf competition—it was a battlefield where local legends and international pros fought for glory. From the roar of the waves to the cheers of the crowd, the entire bay pulsed with adrenaline. And I was right there, in the heart of it all, capturing the action, meeting surf icons, and soaking in every second of this unforgettable day.
🌊 Want to experience Morocco’s world-class waves firsthand? Follow @OriginalSurfMorocco on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for live surf updates, behind-the-scenes moments, and expert tips from our instructors! 📲🌞
The World Surf League QS 3000: A High-Stakes Event For Moroccan Surfers
The WSL Qualifying Series (QS) 3000 is a mid-level competition where surfers battle it out for points to qualify for the next year’s Championship Tour—with the grand finale set in Fiji this year. The QS events range from 1000 to 10,000 points, with higher-tier events bringing tougher competition and bigger prize pools. The Pro Taghazout Bay QS 3000 took place in the picturesque Taghazout Bay, just 20 kilometers from Agadir’s city center, drawing some of the best surfers from around the world.
The Magic of Anchor Point
Anchor Point, locally known as Medraba, is a world-famous right-hand point break renowned for its long, powerful waves that can range from 3 to over 12 feet. Reserved for intermediate and expert surfers, this rocky surf spot offers an unforgettable ride with its iconic barrels. It was the perfect battleground for this high-level competition, attracting a vibrant crowd of surf enthusiasts, professionals, and local supporters.
It is the ultimate destination for Moroccan surfers to test their abilities where an international competition is being held.
A Festival of Surfing and Culture For Moroccan Surfers
From the break of dawn, Anchor Point was alive with energy. Spectators, surfers, and media crews gathered as the competition kicked off. Sponsor booths lined the rocky terrain, offering refreshments and merchandise. A dedicated VIP tent housed the athletes, providing them with a comfortable space to prepare. The WSL judges occupied the prime viewing spot, overseeing the competition with a panoramic view of the entire surf zone.
As the *heats began, the atmosphere intensified. The commentator—a multilingual pro—kept the crowd engaged, switching seamlessly between English, Arabic, and French. Music blasted through the arena, fuelling the excitement as surfers took to the waves.
Meeting Surfing Legends
One of the highlights of the day was meeting some of the biggest names in the local surf arena, including:
- Ahmed Soultane, a Moroccan celebrity singer known for his love of the ocean and his support for Moroccan surfers.
- Othmane Choufani, a fearless big-wave rider and the ambassador of the event who also participated in the competition.
- Ramzi Boukhiam, Morocco’s Olympian and local favorite and idol for rising Moroccan surfers.
- Soulaiman Khafi, a rising Moroccan talent.
- Renan Grainville, a talented French competitor.
- Ranya Squalli, a female Moroccan surfer riding waves competitively.
- Belle Betteridge, an inspiring British surfer.
🏄♂️ Dreaming of surfing Anchor Point like the pros? Our Surf Guiding Package takes advanced surfers to legendary spots like Anchor Point, where you can test your skills against the same waves that champions ride. Follow us on Instagram,, Facebook, and TikTok @OriginalSurfMorocco to stay updated on the best surf days and secret local tips! 🌊🏆
The Action on the Waves
The competition was fierce, with each surfer pushing their limits to score the highest points. Ramzi Boukhiam stole the show with his insane maneuvers, effortlessly executing snaps and cutbacks that had the crowd roaring. His deep connection with the waves was undeniable, and his performance cemented his status as one of Morocco’s top surfing icons.
Meanwhile, free surfers who weren’t part of the competition took advantage of Anchor Point’s legendary waves, but they were quickly ushered out of the competition zone by jet-ski riders, following the commentator’s instructions.
The Crowd and Local Vibes – Time For Moroccan Surfers To Shine
The spectators were a vibrant mix—young and old, locals and tourists, amateur and professional surfers—all united by their love for surfing. Moroccan hospitality was on full display, with vendors selling **tea, coffee, and local delicacies. Food stalls perched atop a **hill provided a stunning view* of the entire event, offering a unique way to enjoy the competition.
The Final Showdown of Moroccan Surfers Against Internationals
As the sun dipped lower over Anchor Point, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch. The crowd pressed closer to the edge of the cliffs, eyes locked on the lineup, hearts pounding with anticipation. The final heat had arrived—a high-stakes battle between Morocco’s own Ramzi Boukhiam and the French powerhouse, Jorgann Couzinet.
From the first wave, it was clear neither competitor was holding back. Ramzi, driven by home-turf pride, unleashed powerful carves and seamless rail-to-rail transitions, igniting the crowd with every turn. But Jorgann wasn’t about to be outshined—he answered with deep, critical maneuvers, hunting for the perfect section to explode on.
Then came the wave that changed everything. A towering right-hand set rolled in, and Ramzi took off, racing down the line with precision. The crowd held its breath as he set up for a deep barrel, disappearing behind the curtain of water. Seconds felt like an eternity. When he finally emerged, fists pumping in the air, Anchor Point erupted in cheers.
But in the final moments, Jorgann found his own golden opportunity, executing a flawless combination of speed, power, and progression. The scores dropped. It was close—so close—but Jorgann edged out Ramzi by the narrowest of margins of 0.17, securing the victory.
Though he didn’t take the win, Ramzi had proven once again why he is Morocco’s surfing icon. His performance electrified the beach, showcasing the raw talent and competitive fire of Moroccan surfers on a global stage. As he stepped onto the podium, Moroccan flags waved high, chants of his name echoed, and the message was clear—Morocco is rising in the surf world, and this is just the beginning, and it looks promising for Moroccan surfers.
If you’re interested in surfing and you want to know more about the surfing spots and conditions, check out our complete guide of surfing in Morocco.
A Day to Remember For Moroccan Surfers and Crowd Alike
The *Pro Taghazout Bay WSL QS 3000* was more than just a surf competition—it was a celebration of Moroccan surf culture, a showcase of raw talent, and a testament to the growing influence of Moroccan surfers on the global stage. Being there to document the event was an unforgettable experience, and I left Anchor Point with a renewed appreciation for the power of the waves and the people who ride them.
Morocco is undoubtedly cementing its place on the world surf map, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for its incredible surf community. Until next time, Anchor Point!
📸 Stay connected with Morocco’s surf scene! From epic waves to surf camp adventures, we share it all on @OriginalSurfMorocco. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for live competition updates, guest stories, and surf inspiration straight from Taghazout Bay! 🌊🔥
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Morocco known for surfing?
Is Morocco good for beginner surfers?
Is it safe to surf in Morocco?
- Riptides and strong currents (especially at advanced surf spots like Anchor Point).
- Local surf etiquette (respecting local surfers).
- Safe travel practices (keeping an eye on personal belongings and choosing reputable surf camps).
Where does Ramzi Boukhiam live?
Which country has the best surfers?
- Countries with a strong surfing culture and top-ranked surfers include:
- Australia 🇦🇺 (home to many world champions).
- USA 🇺🇸 (especially California and Hawaii).
- Brazil 🇧🇷 (dominant in recent years, producing champions like Gabriel Medina and Italo Ferreira).
- Hawaii 🌊 (technically part of the USA, but legendary for its surf history).
Is Taghazout safe?
- Be mindful of scams or overpricing.
- Watch out for traffic and stray dogs.
- Respect local customs, as Morocco is a conservative country.
New Year’s Eve in Moroccan Surf Camp – Experience Like No Other
New Year’s Eve in Moroccan surf camp sounds like a heck of a plan, especially when everybody wants to celebrate the end of the year with a bang.
Original Surf Morocco offers a big bang for the New Year’s celebration, a two-day event full of fun activities and Moroccan traditions for the New Year’s Eve.
In this post, you’ll find how our guests spent the last couple of days of 2024. It was a wonderful fusion of emotions, adventures, good laughs, and happy moments.
The First Day of New Year’s Eve in Moroccan Surf Camp
Breakfast with a Panoramic View
The morning began with a homemade Moroccan-style breakfast that included Moroccan mint tea, steamed milk, black coffee, and orange juice for drinks. Our primary staple is bread, and American pancakes were also served. Omelette, charcuterie, and salads were the main dishes alongside Amlou—our guests’ favorite, an almond paste made out of honey and Argan oil. Honey, jam, and cheese were presented as complementary.
The guests enjoyed breakfast at our beautiful panoramic terrace overlooking the whole of Tamraght village and left countless flattering comments for the chef.
After breakfast, the preparations begin, and during this time our surf camp feels like a beehive. Everyone gets so busy. From picking up personal wetsuits to filling up filtered water, strapping boards, and getting in the vans to head to where suitable waves are.
A Trip To Imsouane, A Magical Destination
After breakfast, we made the choice of visiting Imsouane.
Imsouane is an exotic, pristine fishing village located north of Taghazout that captures the essence of the local culture, laid-back atmosphere, friendly and down-to-earth locals, and pure love of the sea and its crashing waves. The small town is famous for its tiny harbor, fresh seafood, golden sunlight, and endless waves. It is a charming village where you lose the sense of time, and you feel the magical vibes of the place in the air. It’s the epitome of a surfer’s haven.
Beware once you go there, you may never want to come back. a few people never do.
A complete travel guide to Imsouane is in this blog where the authors capture the magical vibe that fuels the place.
Once we arrived at the town, we quickly unpacked our boards and got in our tight wetsuits, and jogged for 10 minutes as a warmup exercise. We had dogs as our jogging companions and the sounds of squawking seagulls as our morning run playlist!
After the warm-up and stretching, we practiced paddling out and balancing, then hit the waves.
The weather was perfect, the temperature was a solid 25 degrees Celsius, but the water was a bit chilly. The waves were good suitable for both beginners and intermediate surfers. Imsouane village is known for being the home of the longest waves in Morocco.
Lunch at a Local Fish Restaurant
When you have this much fun on the beach, hunger hits you harder than a 6-foot-tall crashing wave.
When you’re in an authentic fishing village, fish for lunch is the obvious and the best option. And we did it in style, we had lunch in a restaurant that overlooked the rocky shores of the town providing a breath-taking view of the port, where fishermen sail their boats on and off the bay in hopes of a full fishing creel. Some were sad with their catch while others were wearing the brightest smiles grateful for their fishing luck.
After lunch, we walked to a small coffee kiosk, we grabbed a few cups and explored the town barefoot but coffee at hand.
Celebrating The New Year’s Eve in Moroccan Surf Camp: From Waves To Sand Surfing
After exploring the charming streets of Imsouane, we set off on a joyful drive to Timlaline Dunes, a stunning oasis at Tamri where the desert meets the ocean in a breathtaking fusion of golden sands and turquoise waves.
This place looks out of One Thousand and One Nights. It’s a sight to behold. It’s where the desert meets the ocean. Amazing golden dunes with an even more amazing sunset. Before catching the sunset, we have other plans, not surfing waves but surfing those golden dunes. We sand-surfed, faceplanted a few times, and brushed the sand off our bodies.
Back To Tamraght Village
We changed to the our evening outfit and gathered around the dinner table for some succulent and delicious beef Cousous. After dinner, we were on the hunt for some street food. We ended our evening by munching on French crepes and sipping our dairies (Raib), while strolling down the corniche.
This was a wrap for how our first day at the New Year’s Eve in a Moroccan surf camp from the point of view of our guests.
The Second Day of New Year’s Eve in Moroccan Surf Camp
The next day, breakfast was as amazing as it was day before. We substituted the American pancakes with the Moroccan ones (we call them beghrir), the omelette with traditional homemade blend of eggs and tomato, and orange juice with avocado and cucumber juice.
Morning at The Souk
After breakfast. we went to one the biggest traditional market (souk) not only in Morocco but also in Africa. It’s the old blending with the new. Souvenirs, traditional garments, leather goods, you name you can find it here. Some bought souvenirs for their closed ones, others bought something for themselves, and the rest explored the charms of the souk.
Afternoon at The Beach
For the afternoon, we made way to Devil’s Rock Beach nearby our surf camp to surf and chill. The moment we got our feet in the sand some of our excited surfers ran for the attractive waves, while others chose to chill and played some laid-back volley ball but then everyone wanted to end the year surfing through the last sunset of the year.
When the sun began to dip in the ocean for the last time in 2024, we gathered around a bonfire, wrote our new year’s wishes or something we wanted to leave behind in small notes, and threw them in the fire while watching the embers ascending our desires to the crimson sky.
As it began to be filled with stars, we headed back to the surf camp for the big night.
Celebration of New Year’s Eve in Moroccan Surf Camp
With a body full of sand and hair full of salty waters, we hit the showers and changed to our night outfits. We gathered around the rooftop terrace and waited for dinner to be served.
The dinner was a feast, fish tagine was made, Soussy-style (Souss is the region where the city of Agadir is located), with those wonderful native-to-the-region spices while using organic regionally-grown vegetables.
After dinner, there was a band waiting for us in the terrace, Gnawa band to be exact. Gnawa is a Moroccan-native traditional genre of music that has deep roots in West Africa and Sub-Saharan countries. This folklore music is known for repeating a few lines over and over for a long period of time to create a sort of a trance atmosphere.
We let the music fills the air, joined in the band in the terrace, and danced the night away, we kept dancing till the sun light stated seeping through the fabric of the sky.
Seeing those few first sun rays, made us realize how tired we were but how fun we entered the new year, and we hoped that the feeling extended for the year around.
New Year’s Eve in our Moroccan surf camp is a tale of a couple of magical days that were etched in the memories of everyone’s around.
If you want to have similar experiences, head to our booking page now and select which package meets your need.
Even though the New Year is behind us, we are always on the lookout for the biggest waves to catch and we are organising incredible excursions all the time.