surfing morocco 2015 - review

2014/2015 was my third winter season of surfing.

Next to windsurfing, I did not paid much attention to improve my surfing. Only, if there was no wind at Fuerte. Well, during my times on Island, I had more windy days, than without.

But with my change to Morocco, things changed with regards to surf.

Between December and May, I just had three month of surfing.

But therefor gigantic ones!

Two moth of the time I needed to leave the country to work and return home to Germany, to support my mum after an operation.

And in May: Windsurfing times :-)

Surf, relaxe & eat ...ah and of course sleepin`.

February and March have been amazing!

I discovered so many new spots further down south and improved my shortboard paddeling and a bit of riding. ;-)

ahhh...Killers Point? There? Thx!

Oh yes...thrilling memories at this spot...

Was crazy to me, first time surfing and travelling on my own. Many times I refused surf session, because of being alone, nobody out but fantastic waves! Or went back to more crowded places but not almost that great condition...

my most wanted sleeping place

And surprisingly got some visit from my Fuerte chicas and we spend 8 days of rippin` together.

Lovely!

early morning spot check with the Fuerte-Girls

All the way and the final descent was worth the trouble...we ended up in paradise!

Long ridable waves.

The chance to try some first turns... 

But after all traveling along the coast, I love returning to Sidi Kaouki...most chilling and quiet place with the chance for wind & waves same time!

Last year I returned into Morocco at the 10th of January, this year at the 9th...feels like "déjà vu"...so excited meet the waves again!

travelling alone by big camper"home"

November 2014 the journey into the unknown starts. All I did know: wanna surf, wanna windsurf and spend the winter in Morocco. By plane I brought my most necessary waterequipement from Fuerteventura to Germany to fill my new Campervan. With me: a shortboard,  3 sails, mast & boom. Had an old sailboard at home...must be enough! No more space left in the boardbag.

Vamos!

Two weeks in Germany had been enough to get brainwashed again...

"Girl: it is too dangerous, you can not do this on your own, aren´t you scared?

And Morocco...are you crazy?"

And:"Yes...now I am scared!"

...because I have to pass France :-)

But no way to stop me. I took a little ride through Paris. If I manage this City, I will manage the rest easily, I talked to myself.

City of LOVE...a must to be!

First time by car on my own. I have been visiting here twice in my lifetime before.

After Paris, it was time to continue the journey through France, to reach a nice place for the first night close to the sea. Old experiences from travelling this country made me fill up with some fears and I prayed to find a quiet place. During this ride I had to fight several kind of fears in my head.

And I made the decision to go back to Fuerte...it is safe, I now it and I like it a lot!

My first view of the ocean couldn´t be more impressively!

illuminated waves...uff

Well, now I only had to find a right place to sleep. Not that easy in France.

Upps...

The first morning view shows up that sign, I really don´t like to see. However, it was no season.
So no worries and after a relaxed breakfast I was gone.

The first night alone in the camper in France was a bit scary, but one day we all should fight our fears and why not starting now?

Bad weather, no time to lose...

...went ahead!

After rain came sun, after fear came strength.

And with every kilometer and beautiful landscapes after an other, I forgot more and more the "bla bla" and worries. And I started to enjoy this wonderful ride on my own :-)

Hossegor, great waves, great sundown...but too cold and difficult for me!

Next morning view, much better!

The tunnel of Change...not only from France to Spain. Furthermore the change of my thoughts back to roots. The haze of Germany...flew by, forgotten! My mind was free again!

Decision: winterdestination Morocco.

And now kept going on, because some wind and swell expecting in the south of Spain.

Ok...that´s windy!

Next stop: Canos de Mecca. The old Lady should find her way back into water.

Again fighting fears...first time I should go wavesailing alone, without knowing anybody. "Maybe no one takes care about me? If something happens? No, that´s bullshit! I can tell somebody I go out." But it´s not the same feeling like going out with friends...there is no safety at all.

I refused Windsurfing this first day, the swell was to big.

The second day with that swell was much easier and I took my chance to come back into ocean again.

Not a great session for me but lot´s of experiences.

Down south at Spain I met a small surf community I could spend a couple of days to enjoy some surfing around El Palmar. Nice waves and first steps with my shortboard, I really had to learn to ride this little thing. After my lovely Malibu it was hard to catch any wave with it...my new challenge.

Until the heavy SW storm hit the coast. After two nights of rain and thunderstorms, I decided to continue my journey to go further on. It became cold, everything wet. No more reasons to wait.

Never saw rainfalls like this before...was afraid my camper starts swimming away.

Some Windsurfing at Tarifa with side on conditions. I wasn´t used in since I left Germany at 2011.

But anyway, some watertime.

And amazing naturally phenomenon. 

Now it was official.

The ferry ticket was bought, the transit was waiting for me.

Last view from Europe´s side.

I said: "Good bye Europe" in December 2014.

Review 2015_Morocco Windsurfing...first try

Now it is more than one year ago, since I started my journey with my caravan from Germany down to Morocco. I went to discover some new spots looking for windsurfing and surfing on my own. After enjoying some time in the south of Spain, I was going on to see my winter destination at Morocco, Sidi Kaouki. But the first spot check showing up conditions, which have been unsurfable for me.
Big swells hitting the coastline in front of me...no way! My skills are not enough to join an adventure of Windsurfing this time.

No worries, I thought, my time it will come. So I spend days and weeks at that place, watching the spot and checking the conditions. Trying some surf ride with small swells and waiting for the right moment. However, during this winter luck was not on my side. Either I found small waves without wind, or big waves with wind. And nobody around, who was practicing windsurfing too.

Honestly, I was expecting this.

After three month without windsurfing my shape became more and more worse. In April and May the waves went down and the wind picks up...

Windsurfing times came back to me :-). But I had to fight with my muscels to come back into routine again. Further like - minded people arrived. I was happy join them in the water.

Really, best wavesailing times of the year have been arriving!

Finally, I could follow my Passion again...a month of full power windsurfing!

skepticism written in my face...waves still big for me

The first week of windsurfing again in this conditions was extremly hard for my body, but it adapted after a couple of days and many enjoyable sessions have been following. Together with a group of windsurfers I discovered further spots with much easier condition. And I started to fall in love with this amazing windsurfing playground around Sidi Kaouki & Essaouira.

zebra crossing only for surfers

Windsurfing in Morocco is much more for me, than just being in the water. It is some magic around, which makes myself feel free, like in no other place I have been before.

So many peaceful and happy people, healthy food and silent places offer an environment to calm down, relaxe and come back to  my soul. This gives me the strength to be prepared for good  and highly concentrated water action.

And finally, after train my brain most of it all, I was able to manage the conditions of Sidi Kaouki to make my first experience between power and energies of the waves at the west coast Morocco.

Most exciting and difficult part of it all was passing the powerful walls rolling inside. Moments of perfect timing on one side and luck with the wind on the other. But with every trail it starts working out more and more.

Heavy wind at Sidi Kaouki is part of the game too. :-)

3.3qm and 62 l best toy to survive!

Thx to Sidi Kaouki Station for the equipement support!

I am looking forward for this winter and how it will be at Sidi Kaouki, which new places I will discover for more windsurfing and if my skills are still working from last year experience :-)

Everybody, enjoy good 2016 conditions in the water!