- As far as I understand, you started learning to surf in Morocco? Why did you choose this particular country?
Exactly a year ago, I only guessed about the existence of surfing and Morocco and had
fragmentary knowledge from the stories of a former colleague, who has been running around the world, cut out
days to vacation, spent all my savings on these trips and talk about nothing else with him
was impossible. We did not work together for a long time and, as a matter of fact, did not communicate often either.
- due to his frequent absence. A couple of years passed and in the summer of 2009 I was offered a place in
another company and I had a vacation that should have been taken off before leaving.
The issue was resolved very quickly and the decision on vacation had to be made 2 days in advance. Black Sea
resorts - somehow did not attract, Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey even less. And in the travel agency, the girls offered to fly on a last minute ticket to Morocco - Agadir - some kind of exotic, the decision was made and my friend and I flew to Morocco.
At first I was scared and already thought that this would be the most terrible vacation - with the hotel
lucky (although it was listed as 4 *, but with a stretch I would give 2 *), the public beach is teeming with people, in
garbage and plastic bags float in the ocean, flies fly by the pool, families relax in the hotel
with children and European pensioners, well, + there was Ramadan in the country at that time, i.e. everything is somehow sluggish,
many cafes / restaurants are closed. What to do is not very clear, but it is clear what to lie
and sunbathing is not our option. And then I remembered the stories of a former colleague that there is such
the country of Morocco - and there is surfing in this country.
- Who taught you? How did you find the instructor?
Immediately upon arrival, they caught a guide assigned to our hotel from a tour operator and
asked: "Where is your surfing here?", which, apparently, puzzled her a little, but she quickly took herself
into hands, made several calls and said that tomorrow the instructor would pick us up at 9 in the morning. Hooray
Hooray!
At 9 a.m. we were picked up by an instructor - known to many Aziz from the SurfTownMorocco school, with whom
we walked for 15 minutes in circles one after another, trying to find out if this was the right person (we were
are sure that this is just a driver from school (in my dreams there was an image of a tall, muscular macho with
burnt hair). This is where our friendship with the instructor began and continues until
so far.
Aziz is an excellent instructor - attentive and caring - i.e. manages to follow everyone
always give advice, point out mistakes and explain what needs to be done - he will also take a picture "on -
admire how you blundered. "Well, he will rejoice along with his every success, but personally I wanted
I wish the instructor was a little harder and for me, as for a notorious lazy person, it is important
so they won't let me be lazy. Aziz has complete democracy - his signature phrases "as you
like "and" you are welcome. "When there are a lot of people, several instructors work.
We also taught Aziz a very strange set of Russian words and when he heard that we
we talk about him, but did not understand or considered it indecent - then he inserted one of them - "Bribe"
or "Rake" - everyone shut up and started laughing. Well, we also gave him the nickname "Cheburashka" -
after which he walked around and wondered "i" m cheburashko ??? "
- How much does it cost to study at this school?
We booked the full package at SurfTownMorocco surf school and due to the fact that we had
a large group gave us a small discount. So 10 days - all inclusive (accommodation,
meals 3 times a day, equipment, training, transfers from / to the airport, transfers to spots)
cost 500 euros.
- How did the training go at the very beginning? What spot? What boards?
As a rule, all beginners are taken to the Panoramas spot - there is a flat sandy beach without
surprises - the right small stable wave. It is better to start classes early, at 9 o'clock,
because around lunchtime the tide starts, the water reaches the rocky shore
and you need to lift all things up. On my last visit, content with the caught wave
I jumped right onto the rocks and pierced my heel. As a result, I sat on the shore for 2 days - it was
insulting.
But we skated on different spots every time. And sometimes they went very far - to the north and
South. Favorite is devils rock with a very picturesque rock. When a wave hits her,
from the holes in the rock, it spills out in the form of a powerful fountain and Imessouane - always great waves, a picturesque landscape, and there are no tourists - only surfers.
All beginners are first given the simplest longboards (these are long and thick boards on which
the easiest way is to catch waves and learn to get up), on my second visit I switched to a fanboard,
I hope I'll start mastering the shortboard soon.
The learning process itself begins on the shore with an explanation of the basics - the structure of the board,
safety measures, precautions and ethics of conduct. Then it is worked out on
the bank of the technique of getting up on the board - how to stand up correctly, what position you need to take. Watching
attentively for each student. This is followed by a warm-up to warm up the muscles. Instructor
explains where and how best to go into the water, how deep, and what waves to try to catch.
With each newcomer, again, the instructor fiddles and looks who is doing what, where he went, where
swam and what is doing wrong and why it does not work. Teaches you how to row properly.
When everyone succeeds in catching waves regularly (more precisely, so far only foam =))) go again
ashore and again practice the technique of getting up on the board, as well as the position - how to correctly
stand. Then again everything is in the water and try to catch the waves and get up. Instructor girls
at first they help - they push them so that they feel the wave and do not get exhausted,
trying to row fast enough. The muscles in the arms and shoulders hurt unmercifully at first,
especially on the first day.
As a rule, a day at a surf school is built on the principle of surfing from the morning (hours from 9.00) to
lunch. Lunch - As a rule, when the tide starts, after lunch, surf again (until 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm).
Aziz generously allowed us to splash even until sunset - the main thing is that we
were satisfied. As far as I know, this is an exception, because the rest of the instructors offer
program 2 hours before lunch, lunch and 2 hours after lunch.
Also, if there was a group and someone wanted to finish the lesson earlier, but someone else wanted
continue - then everyone was waiting for someone who wants to still surf - because as he said
Aziz - "this is a surfing school, first of all, and everything else later."
- So how is the progress? Have you learned a lot?
Regarding progress ... I caught the wave and got on the board on the first day - at the end of the lesson.
I thought it was an accident, but when on the second day it was repeated several times in a row -
realized that it was me already. In principle, according to my observations, all my friends got up on
the first - the second day is obligatory. Especially quickly it turned out for little thin ones.
girls snowboarding =)))
On my second trip, I learned to catch green (growing) waves and swim to the line
up. Well, in the last one, I switched to a smaller board and started trying to somehow
maneuver. In short, there is progress, but not as fast as we would like. Apparently the reason
is my laziness and not the best physical fitness.
- What do you think is the best physical fitness? What is needed for this? Endurance,
pumped up muscles or something else? Will you somehow train before
next trip?
I lacked stamina and rowing skills - I go to the pool!
- What are the waves in Morocco?
Waves in Morocco…. difficult to say in general phrases and keep within a couple of sentences. Basically, these are right-handed waves. In summer, the waves are usually not very large - ideal
for beginners and intermediate surfers, although sometimes there are waves on some spots,
which would satisfy the professionals too.
- When does the surfing season start in Morocco?
For advanced surfers, the surfing season in Morocco starts in October and ends at
end of April. The largest waves can be seen from late November to early March.
In winter, Kelly Slater comes to Morocco to skate =))
When we were in January, there were days when the waves were up to 6 m - and then we went to the neighborhood
Agadir - in the paradise valley and in Taghazut - admired the waves and professionals.
- Are there many surfers there?
There are quite a few surfers - but not so much that you have to fight for the waves or someone does not
enough space. There is no crowd. Basically, the French and the British come there, recently Italians have got into the habit. On New Year's Eve, the Australians and New Zealanders rode with us - they said that their conditions for skiing were about the same - i.e. in Morocco, it is no worse, and in some places even better - I personally cannot say anything about this - so I happily believed it =))))
- What are the riding conditions? Is the water cold, warm?
In summer, you can ride without a wetsuit - i.e. June - September. But in the rest of the months
it will not hurt - the water in the Atlantic is cool, mostly about 18 degrees. Same way
A wetsuit is useful as a remedy for abrasions and bruises. Yes, and in the water allows you to
longer time. Grabs a wetsuit 3/2 thick.
- And what about the insurance? Did you make out for yourself?
Personally, we preferred not to rely on anyone, and we ourselves always arrange a sports
insurance for extreme sports - it costs about 600 rubles for 2 weeks.
Once it was even very useful to us - the young man damaged his ligaments and could not walk.
My leg is swollen. They called the insurance company - an hour later they called us back, told where to go
for help. The boy was taken to the hospital, put in a plaster cast - everything quickly and efficiently. Insurance
it cost 600 euros. The boy has only 1000 rubles for telephone calls. Gypsum
put some kind of unusual for us, that in Russia they did not know how to shoot it =))) So that it
removed, a special saw was needed, which was not available in city hospitals in St. Petersburg.
- How did you fly, and how long was the trip as a whole?
At the moment, there is no direct air link between Russia and Morocco.
regular airlines, so the trip can be organized taking into account the transit
through third states to Casablanca or Marrakech. From Casablanca and Marrakech to
Agadir has a regular bus service (bus companies STCR, CTM).
We flew the low-cost airline Ryanair on the Riga - London - Agadir route, because
it is quite easy for residents of the northwest to get a Schengen for a year. Flight cost
was about 10,000 rubles round trip. To summarize, a trip for 7-9 days per person
it turns out about 1000 - 1200 euros, taking into account pocket expenses. This is somewhere around 400 - 500 euros
Flight + 400 - 500 euros there (all inclusive - accommodation, meals, transfers, training,
equipment) + 200 euros for pocket money without fanaticism, but it should be quietly enough (for
souvenirs, massages, nightclubs).
- Where did you live? What are the housing prices and conditions in Morocco?
After the first trip, we had already as follows, having found out and reconnoitred everything, drove 2 times large
company directly to the surf school with the accommodation they organized - first in
apartments (for New Years) and then in a hotel-type villa (in May).
At prices - if you rent an apartment, then in such villages as Taghazut and Tamrhat (the most
famous surfer villages in the Agadir district) you can focus on the rental price
in St. Petersburg, i.e. apartment with 3 bedrooms, living room, terrace, shower (or two showers
rooms) and a kitchen for 6 - 8 people will cost 350 - 500 euros / week, accommodation in a villa
costs about 240 euros / week per person (half board breakfast and dinner) and 180 euros / week from
person - if only breakfast.
- What are the people in Morocco?
People in Morocco - as elsewhere - are different, there are kind, decent, there are notorious villains,
but more often than not, there were benevolent and sympathetic people. But of course you need to understand
that if you came to the market (bitch - as the Moroccans call it), then you MUST be there
try to short-count and bargain to the last, smiling, cajolery, grabbing hands and not
letting go nowhere - all according to the law of the genre (you can safely offer your price 2 times lower), on
products and fruits on the market are more or less fixed prices. 
Our friends from surfing school - I've rarely met nicer people in my life. Mom of one
of them - Hafida - on each of our visits prepares something Moroccan for us (seafood soup,
halva, Moroccan sweets). Aziz, on the other hand, fiddles with us like with children - he takes us around the neighborhood and
attractions (we went to Tafraout - a city of stones, a paradise valley and Lagzira beach), leads to discos. On my last visit I rented a car for us - and I didn't take anything extra - i.e. we belonged to ourselves. One day, in this car, someone broke the glass in the evening - in the morning it had already been inserted.
The guys spent all their free time with us from morning to evening - they also managed to bring
boards and wetsuits in order - when they slept - remains a mystery to this day.
On the other hand, when we went to a disco, I found myself in a not very pleasant situation with
local contingent, when one impudent man grabbed my hand and tried persistently with me
to get to know each other and no arguments reached him, and when she raised her voice a little,
demanding not to touch me - he began to scream and defile me, my country and my family - saved
the presence of guys from our company, who pulled him away from me and did not allow me to give
a slap in the face (I really wanted to). Then they explained to me that it would be more correct to grab him himself.
by the hand and offer to walk to the police. In Morocco, the police are very strict about
so that tourists are not offended and treated with respect.
If, for example, a police officer sees a tourist in a car with a local resident, then
they will definitely stop, check the documents, and they will also ask the driver for money for what he carries
tourists without a license.
- Why is it worth going to Morocco? What is worth visiting? What should you pay attention to?
From what you should visit / see - everyone will find something of their own. Me more
attracted by nature reserves and landscapes - a very beautiful road to Tafraout, lying
at the foot of the anti-Atlas mountains, a city of stones, and in the same place outside the city a composition of painted
stones, created by a French artist in 84 (sort of). The spectacular sight is
Lagzira beach near the town of Sidi - Ifni, where the arches of rocks come to the shore.
Not far from Agadir - there is a place called the Paradise Valley - words cannot be described - you need to see - there you feel peace and some kind of grace. There, among the palm trees, a small river runs along the rocks. We rode on it, like in a water park, and then sunbathed on the hot stones. Some may like the bustling and loud red city of Marrakech or the blue and white city of Essaouira.
- What do they eat in Morocco?
Sooooo much bread - always and everywhere !!! First of all, they bring bread and a lot of bread.
Seafood (squid, octopus, 1000 kinds of fish, etc. - I seafood and fish
I don't like it, so it's hard for me to say something definite, but my friends minded everything for both
cheeks and said that they did not taste anything more tasty and fresh), national dishes
- harira soup (I liked it - thick and rich taste, very satisfying - cooked with lamb,
spices, tomatoes, beans, etc. - a lot of ingredients - more than 10) Moroccans, like
usually eat this soup in Ramadan.
Then the famous Moroccan dish - tagine - stew or fish with vegetables, potatoes
- if you order in a restaurant, then you need to know in which one - because everyone cooks differently, but the most
delicious tagine is tagine prepared at home. This dish is prepared in a special clay
dishes - the plate is covered with a cone-shaped lid (also called tagin).
Well, and couscous - in principle, many have heard about it, tried it - also had a chance to try it in
very different places, I liked only home.
I especially liked the stalls in Morocco where fresh juices are prepared. For a penny on our
money, about 80 rubles, - they will mix any cocktail from the selected fruits right in front of your eyes - delicious,
cheap, useful - they constantly begged Aziz so that he would not forget to turn to one of these
stalls.
The average bill in cafe-restaurants to fill up is about 10 euros.
It is difficult to say anything more specific in terms of prices - because we booked the package "all
included "and spent money only on souvenirs and trips to the nightclub. Martini with juice in
the nightclub cost about 15 euros - as I remember now. For a table for 8 people we paid about
100 euros - it included a bottle of whiskey (sort of), a large bottle of cola and 2 bottles of mineral water.
We also spent money on massage with organ oil - 20 euros an hour, 30 euros 2 hours - sooo nice
and relaxes - especially after a day of fighting the waves
- Are you planning to develop surfing in Morocco as well? Or there are plans for others
countries, maybe even continents?)
Now I can't imagine my life without surfing -
I dream of going to Portugal and Indonesia, but it’s not yet very clear when I’ll find the time =))))
