IWT Morocco 2017 Windsurfing Wave Contest

Here's my daily journal from my trip to the 2nd IWT Morocco wave windsurfing contest! Flipping though the pictures gives a pretty good idea of the trip!

Friday May 5
‎I was lucky to have an easy connection through Munich on my way to Morocco. My flights were relaxing and I started changing from city to windsurf mode.

I arrived in Marrakech and was greeted by a nice taxi driver who drove me the two+ hours to Moulay Bouzerktoune. There a tent city had been ‎built on the beach for us to sleep in. Other tents and structures indicated that there was going to be a big event soon.

The taxi ride from Marrakech to Moulay Bouzerktoune

A Fantasia "horse culture performance" fair setting up on our route in Had Draa 

I arrived at the beach to an international welcome!

I caught up with a bunch of the IWT regulars ‎and we had our first dinner in the beach tent city illuminated by the generator powered lights. The forecast was looking good for the opening day of competition. ‎

Saturday May 6
The next morning I hit snooze too often and actually only woke up because it got quiet when everyone headed up to the skippers meeting. Luckily I could register, get my lycra and pick out my rental gear before the first heats started. ‎

Syncing my watch before my first heat

I was in amateur heat 4 and headed out to windsurf for the first ‎time in 5 months - on rental gear. But I was set up OK, and could water start and got out through the shore break. I caught 2 waves and then was struggling due to the low wind in the relatively easy shore break. With still 2 minutes left in the heat I headed in to shore to save myself for my upcoming masters heat.‎

My masters heat was also ‎a short 17 minute adventure. JP and I were the only two 45-55 year olds (another was on his way) so we were out with the two grand masters Colby and Gerhart who I sailed with last year. I caught a wave, did a bottom turn, hit the nice lip on the wave and was a bit afraid of my ride in the serious whitewater. But instead of letting go in fear like I'd have done in the past, I held on and made it. (Later one of the judges noted that they actually have seen an improvement in my windsurfing - specifically thinking oh Carl's gonna let go - wait he held ‎on!)‎ I caught another wave toward the end of the heat and then sailed right back into shore with no drama.

It didn't take long to announce the results, ‎JP had bested me just like he has in the half dozen or so heats ‎we've had in the last two years.

Happy after my first heats

JP Wins round one!

Part of the tent city includes a pair of restaurants where I had a great 'salade compose'. I took Mat from Switzerland up to Lawama's where we watched a bit more of the contest from the nice balcony there. Then back to the beach to watch the last of the amateur, women's and pro finals.

View of the event site from Lawama's cliffside bar

After cleaning up with quick hand held bucket showers, we all boarded buses for the 30 minute drive to Essaouira. Our first stop was the Cultural centre, where Boujmaa's efforts in creating this event were lauded ‎by the dignitaries that were in attendance. By then, the very hungry riders and staff were ready for the hors d'oeuvres. Later, we headed to Taros for the opening party. My phone actually remembered the WiFi code from last year and I got my first emails. Back in the tent city we had a third bite of dinner, now much quieter under the full moon as electricity had been extended to the camp. ‎

Headed to the opening ceremony!

Opening ceremonies in town!

Sunday May 7
Another nice sleep in. Only Tom (also from Toronto ‎and whose name I knew well but had never met) slept longer than me. I headed out on a big 172l SUP and slowly got used to the conditions. I had several very nice wave rides on the big SUP. Lunch was wonderfully French at the well stocked Fanatic centre.

We had a lovely yoga session looking out onto the sun setting on the Pacific. The group ate a quiet dinner under the bright moon. I fell asleep listening to the organizers of the tent city playing their traditional instruments with the rest of the windsurfers slowing joining in and eventually finding their rhythm.

Yoga on the beach

Dinner in the tent with a very international group of windsurfers

Monday May 8
There was a bus organized for us to go to Essaouira ‎so 20 of us headed into town. Boujmaa gave us a tour. For lunch, he bought some fish at the dockside market and we headed to a restaurant where they cooked it for us.

Exploring the markets in Essaouria

Windsurf  world champion tourist in the fish market!

The boats that caught our lunch

The crew after the freshly prepared fish lunch

I tried a few cafes for Internet and finally got connected to work and did the few minutes of tasks I needed to complete. I also looked at the photos ‎from our family trip to Morocco from 20 years ago. It brought back many great memories. In many ways things remain very much the same here. What was indeed different is that when I suddenly wanted to share my memories with those back in Canada I could easily phone home and talk to my wonderful wife.

Laptop overlooking the harbour

We headed back to Moulay on the bus with everyone showing off their purchases. There was another yoga session planned, this time the local kids joined in which made it very entertaining as they tried to be serious but inevitable giggles took over. ‎

Tuesday May 9
Wow! I woke up earlier and in time for ‎the beach cleanup that was planned to help raise awareness for the Trash Hero campaign.

Photo op after the trash hero beach cleanup

I headed out for a short SUP session that was very hard for me in the occasional large set.‎ So I had another lunch in the tent restaurant and then caught a ‎cab to Essaouira. I was off to meet my sister who had planned a tour of Morocco that nicely had a stopover in Essaouira during the contest window.

I caught up on Facebook in the Hotel and then met up with Veronica and her tour group who had just returned from the desert. After a nice shower in the quaint Riad, we went to watch the sunset from a terrace overlooking the Atlantic. That was followed by a fun dinner complete with African 'trans‎' music. I ordered the lobster because the trip notes from 20 years ago said I'd enjoyed it back then. It was delicious again. I also got to know many of the people in her tour group who were all very nice.

My sister's tour group overlooking the sea and ready for dinner!

Wednesday May 10
The tour group set off from the hotel for a 3 hour walk through the streets and medinas of Essaouira. Even though I know my way around pretty well now, ‎I discovered some of the exact spots we'd visited 20 years ago.

Exploring Essaouira with Veronica's tour group

Surf's up is a theme in this town!

In the afternoon my sister and I headed to the long sand windsurfing beach. I rented gear from Ion Surf and had an almost frustrating first hour. I went back out then for two more runs and then I finally started ‎getting comfortable. Every time I came in, I would head out for one more ride. I caught some great waves and even had a party wave with JP. Two and a half hours later I finally came in. I met up with my buddy Chris from Maui board tests who had come to Morocco with friends. The set up reminded us of Bonaire. Just add camels (the real kind, but the Europeans were smoking there too!).

Heading down the French inspired shore-side toward the windsurfing centres

Camels on the windsurfing beach!

That's me on one of the many waves I caught out there.

Coming in happy!

After a very satisfying session Veronica and I walked back to her hotel and then went out for a wonderful French / Moroccan fusion dinner.

Thursday May 11
After a quick ‎breakfast in the Riad in Essaouira I got into a petit taxi to go to the spot where the grand taxis are. But my driver had an idea to have his friend take me. I got a bit anxious when we headed the wrong direction and stopped at the back of a building way at the edge of town. But the petit taxi driver eventually found the grand taxi he'd called and we headed to Moulay.

I got there just in time to hear that we were going to run more amateur heats in the relatively good south wind. ‎My first heat was against JP for the masters double elimination and I barely caught one wave. I was definitely struggling but at least got back to the beach OK. My next heat was a free pass as a few of the amateurs did not show up for the double elimination. Apparently many of the local amateurs didn't like the unusual port tack conditions. Then I was up against JP again and Stephano. This time I caught 3 waves but barely rode them and wasn't surprised to come in 3rd. My amateur heats were over but I cheered JP who won 5 straight heats.

Later in the afternoon I took on the role of beach marshal to try and keep the recreational windsurfers out ‎of the competition area. It worked pretty well and for one heat only the two finalists were on the water. That made things much easier for the judges.

Carl as beach marshal! (flight director)

We all headed to Lawama's which was super busy. I checked out the accommodations at Tatanga, and will be looking at the place next time...‎. After another fun dinner talking about awesome things like windsurfing Jaws with one of the first women to do it, I headed to bed and had another good sleep in the tent.

Friday May 12
We got up this morning knowing that it would be a strange media day. No wind, but the ‎photo crews from France and Morocco wanted beach scenes. So we got on tour buses and headed into Essaouira.

The beach side hotel I stayed at 20 years ago - still there for fancy tourists!

We did the boot camp exercise class on the beach that had been arranged. There was great WiFi at the luxury hotel across the street so we were going back and forth from camels and sand to 5 star poolside showers. Then the chefs at the hotel brought out trays of sandwiches for us.

Beach media

Boujmaa and Tom entertained us with some tow in windsurfing. ‎Boujmaa got 3 jumps - Tom was doing it for the first time and he got going nicely on his second run. Yeah Canada. ‎

Boujmaa and Tom Soltysiak entertained us with tow in windsurfing

After a ride back to ‎the tent city and a nice photo opportunity for Tom and me at the IWT road sign, we headed to a nice Friday night party at 'beach and friends'.

Canadian photo op on the road to Moulay!

Saturday May 13
There was wind building slowly from the correct direction as predicted so head judge Duncan ‎started the heats at 12:30. It was rotating through pros and women and youth so I was put on beach marshal duty. I had fun helping Tom and Ben who were doing the colour commentary on the PA system. I also worked to try and figure out what sails the local kids were on.

In the midst of this, I was happy to see my sister arrive from Marrakech. Her bus was late getting to Essaouira ‎but she had met up with the driver that Boujmaa had very nicely arranged for her. Yes, Bouj was running EVERYthing and doing an amazing job.
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There was a mix-up on one of the women\'s results which was sad for the ladies and ‎frustrating for me. Tom sailed his last amateur heat against local Yves and kept his 2nd place.

We watched the women's final then the Pro men. Yes, Bouj was still doing a million things at once; running the event, arranging taxis and picking up litter, but would still go on to win the Pro double elimination against Kevin Pritchard. Wow.

Boujmaa - the winner of the Pro event!

I had selected my gear, the same 110l Severne twin fin and a 5.7 Severne Gator sail. We were going into a final combined master and grand master heat to determine 1st, 2nd and 3rd places.

Ready for my final heat - nice to have my sister cheering and taking pictures!

As the 6 of us headed into the water at the end of the pro final, my rig felt strange. I looked down and saw that my universal was broken. Grrr.

Oh cr&p, my universal is busted

Luckily Soufian who works in Bouj's shop and who I knew from Cap Verde and last year saw me and ran to my aid. He grabbed the universal from his rig and set me up to go.

Soufian to the rescue

Soufian helping me with his universal

I'm proud that it didn't really phase me. I just headed out and got ready to look for waves.

The Masters / Grand Masters ready to go

Heading out for the Master / Grand Master final heat

I caught 2 small waves in the heat but didn't do anything noteworthy on them. I wasn't surprised that JP kept his first place. We smiled at each other on the water while I was heading out and he was riding in on a sweet wave. Simeon had also arrived from Maui to join us. In the grand masters luckily Chris Pow was able to compete and then raced off to catch his taxi to the airport just as the wind started building more.

The event was now complete and I finally had enough wind ‎to waterstart consistently and enjoyed some great free sailing in the waves. It was crowded but it felt like I knew most of the people in the water. I even got planing a few times and kept upwind OK. I got my best waves of the week and returned to shore with a big grin.

I packed up and ‎we headed to the closing party. I'd booked a Riad (hotel) right next to the Ocean Vagabond so it was easy to drop our bags and still make it to the awards ceremony in time to pick up my 2nd place trophy! I was great to see Boujmaa taking the first place Pro prize. He deserved it!

The Masters podium - I was thrilled with 2nd!

Event results:
2nd in masters, 17th in Amateur simply because I showed up for all my heats!

The party had a super warm feeling and there were a lot of Moroccan officials ‎to thank in the speeches. We all slowly said our goodbyes. I hadn't drunk all week but bought a few bottles of the organic wine with the Boujmaa labels. Maybe I'll import some for the Toronto Windsurf Club events.

My sister and I went back to the hotel and got our bags ready for the next morning and reflected on the wonderful closing day of the event.

Sunday May 14th
Hotel, taxi, plane, car, visit my nephew in Germany, car, hotel, plane and taxi. Back to reality. ‎

All smiles for the event video (timestamp :032)!

Awesome Morocco AWT Experience!

Ok, here's my photo and text heavy blog entry about one of the most unique windsurfing trips I've ever been on. Spoiler alert, it is also the only contest I've ever won 1st place at (even if there were only four competitors in my division)!

Spoiler alert - Boujmaa Guilloul announcing that I came in 1st out of 4 old guys

Monday May 9
I arrived at Marrakesh airport feeling a bit nervous. What am I doing alone in Africa leaving a stressful time at work and going to windsurf where I don't know the conditions? But ‎world famous professional windsurfer Boujmaa had personally invited me and my good memories of Morocco from a visit 19 years ago were strong.

Diony and Boujmaa picking me up at Marrakesh airport

Boujmaa's and Diony's flight from the Defi in France had just arrived so they waited for me. It was great getting first hand stories about Morocco from Boujmaa on the two hour drive from Marrakesh to Essouira. Diony remembered me from Ho'okipa and from years ago in Margarita when he carried our gear back to the centre at the end of each day.

We stopped for gas and later a roadside snack eaten the traditional way - by hand. The early evening roadside police check was uneventful. We arrived at Boujx sports new guest house in Moulay Bouzerktoun and settled in.

Tuesday May 10
I woke up to a wonderful breakfast spread set out by Ahmed, the kind innkeeper. It looked good for windsurfing and the Russians left for the beach early but soon it was raining. Rain happens here around 15 times a year I was told. Between rainstorms I walked with Diony and Edvan down to the beach to check out the shops. Bouj's shop is nicely stocked and Soufian greeted us warmly.

The view from Boujx Sports shop in Moulay

The view from Boujx Sports guest house

Later in the afternoon Bouj drove us into Essouira. We did some errands getting a feel for the town. I like the noss noss (1/2 + 1/2) coffee at the beach side coffee shop / windsurf rental place. There are a ton of windsurf / kite / SUP / surf shops on the main promenade that is reminiscent of the French seaside towns which the designers copied. We then went to Bouj's ‎house and met his wonderful mother and enjoyed deep conversations over tea. I understood a lot of her French and Diony kindly translated what I missed while Boujmaa did errands.

A quick visit back in Moulay to Fettah Lawama's beachside cafe and guest house. He's been running that place since 2000. Fettah was also the star of Atlantic the movie. We reminisced about having met during his visit to TIFF in Toronto in 2014.

Fettah remembered meeting me in Toronto in 2014

The view from Lawama cafe/restaurant and guest house

Then back to the Boujx sports house for dinner as more guests arrived: Colby who I knew from previous events and Mitchell were my new and easygoing roommates.

The Boujx Sports house

Our common room in the great Boujx Sports house

Wednesday May 11‎
‎We awoke to South (wrong direction) wind again but headed to the beach for a morning session. I used a 5.5 Severne gator sail and 110 Severne wave board. It was enough to get out into the waves but there wasn't much planing going on. The Jem Hall clinic doubled the number of sailors on the water from 10 to 20 as they came in and out for their lessons.
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After lunch ‎Bouj drove us into Essouira to meet up with Russ, K-Mac, Morgan and Ruben. They were booked into a small Riad in town. We had a great walking tour of the Medina (old walled city). Boujmaa is pretty well known in town and there were posters advertising the event in some storefronts. Colourful shops selling clothes, olives, leather goods etc. line the narrow streets. The harbour is exactly as I remember it from 19 years ago with bright blue fishing boats ready for their next day on the ocean.

Thursday May 12
I didn't leave the house all day. Our international group of 12 house guests (Brazilian, Venezuelan, Russian, Sicilian, American) came and ‎went but the Canadian stayed home and used the newly available but slow Internet. It was good to catch up on a family photo project that I could work on off-line. ‎Dinner was nice local fish with an amazing onion raisin garnish.

There was a music festival in ‎Essouaria that apparently had the city packed. I was happy for the quiet in Moulay but had a hard time falling asleep.

Friday May 13
Lucky day. The wind slowly built and after some more photo work and a ‎nice mergez sausage lunch I headed to the beach. I took the same 110l Severne board and 5.5 gator sail. There was much more wind and I was feeling great out on the ocean sailing.  ‎

The best part of the trip so far was being out on the water in a strange new place but knowing so many of the windsurfers. ‎Everyone was smiling. The pros were warming up and throwing loops everywhere. I caught a few small waves and managed 2 nice turns on each.

The pros heading back with their gear

My road home was temporarily blocked by cute goats

After my session I walked over to Fettah Lawama's place and watched the action from up high. Everyone was gathering there with a great post session vibe. ‎I showed Fettah the photo from the TIFF event which was a nice moment.

Dinner at the house was two huge tajines of couscous and vegetables. I'm guessing I'll sleep better tonight. Tomorrow should have more wind!‎

Saturday May 14‎,
Do my arms look longer in this wind?‎ That's what many of the windsurfers were saying as we got off the water.

As predicted, the wind did build. I started on a 5.0 and an 88l twin fin Starboard wave board.

That was too big a sail and it felt like survival sailing. So I went down to a 4.2 which was perfect but the smallest sail I've used in a long time. The waves were small so it was easier getting used to the strong wind. ‎I'm still not a fan of the multi fin boards but that is what everyone is using these days in the waves... at least I was able to get and stay upwind easily.

I had a few short sessions and got used to going in and out of the sandy / rocky / weedy shore where the waves break gently. One time a fisherman coming in on his inner tube indicated to me exactly when it was safe to go and not scratch my fin. Did I mention the locals are all really nice?

I got a few jumps but landed one nose first and bruised my thigh on the catapult landing. Ouch. But I got enough comfort in the waves and felt that I wouldn't be nervous the way I was last year heading into a few of the competitions.

I then headed to ‎Lawama's for a Coke and a delicious Moroccan salad. The place was humming. I met some tourists from Benin who go to Essouaria every year for the music, not the wind. I'm using up almost all of the few French words I know!

Then back to our place for dinner of sardine balls. Not something I would order on a menu but I couldn't stop eating them. We added guests Olivier from France and Chris from Britain to the house and enjoyed memories of San Carlos last summer. It felt like a reunion!

My thighs were killing me as I walked up and down the stairs. ‎My bed was welcome.

I should have taken a donkey ride

Sunday May 15.
Game day. The call was for a 9am beach meeting. We headed over and saw that the tents, judging stand, porta-potties and flags were all set up!

Flying the Canadian Flag!

Skippers meeting

Traditional musicians greeted us

I was in heat 6 so I had time to get set up and watch the first few ‎heats. Colby was nice enough to lend me a watch. I forgot to bring one; again.

The local Moroccan 'amateurs' were landing clean front loops and back loops in the opening heats. Wow.

I sailed OK and managed to get through to the 3rd round of amateurs. They also put me in with the 3 grandmasters as I'm the only one in the 45-55 masters bracket and called us all masters.

A jump that likely counted, but wasn't my best... Thanks Edvan for the photos!

Overall it was some decent windsurfing and a great first day of the event. I sailed five 10 minute heats in total and managed to find some waves to ride in and then a few to ‎jump off of on the way out in most of the heats.

I had a quick shower at the house and I managed to get a photo of me in the same T-shirt and be‎lt as ‎19 years ago. The location is slightly different but the pose and emotion are the same. I'm loving Morocco.

Me, my wife and mother in law in Morocco in 1997

Me re-enacting my pose in Morocco in 2016

We then rushed ‎into town for the official welcome. The King's representative greeted us in a cool art gallery in the old walled city. We all sung the praises of Boujmaa for organizing such a great event.

One of the many event posters in Essaouira

The official greeting

Then with our event lanyards we got a back stage pass though the music festival and headed to Taros restaurant which had a great view of the main stage. Even better were the views of the waves crashing outside the harbour. The free drinks and appetizers were quick devoured by the hungry sailors.

The view from the private party above the music festival

Colby's crew and Chris Pow were heading out for dinner and invited me to come along. I ordered the lemon chicken tajine and was pleased that it came with olives.

Lemon chicken with olives - I love Moroccan food

The 6 of us crammed into a blue Mercedes grand taxi and had a nice intimate ride back to Moulay. It is interesting to know that the street lights and paving were just installed this year. This little sleepy town is coming of age through this event.

Monday May 16
Colby and I as the old guys each had 5 heats the day before and woke up sore. There was great laughter from downstairs‎ where ‎younger guys already enjoying breakfast.

Edvan had captured a bit of my windsurfing on video and ‎kindly dropped those photos on my USB key.

‎I met a nice kid nameed Rida Aadi on the beach who wanted to connect on Facebook. He of course sold me a hat!

‎The notice board indicated that heat 12 will be re-run. Oh well more work to do!

The notice board

Morning meeting

The gear storage

Government officials came to visit 

I wasn't comfortable in that re-run amateur heat since I had a different boom and board that I hadn't adjusted properly.‎ As expected I didn't advance.

Then the four old guys (of which at age 51 I was the youngest)‎ headed out for our heat. I felt more comfortable. But on my best wave I did two nice bottom turns that felt great, and then I realized I was heading right into my friend Colby who was heading out and had right of way. We both fell and I apologized as the waves rolled over us. Luckily we didn't hurt ourselves and he wasn't mad and got going quickly.

The old guys getting ready to rock it!

After my heat was done I headed back out for some free sailing during the break before the pros. I caught a sweet wave behind Kevin Pritchard who was ripping up the one in front of me. I did 3 nice turns and saw Boujmaa down the line giving me a shaka. Sweet.

As the pros headed out for their heats. The level of action on the water increased. The jet ski was out with photographers taking turns capturing the action.

During one heat the jet ski stopped working and KP was waving for help ‎as it drifted downwind and slowly away from shore. Boujmaa hopped on his board, sailed downwind and pushed the ski to shore with his windsurfer. He then sailed back up wind in time for his heat. Unbelievable.

We watched the pros and then I did some hat shopping from the local kids. ‎I said goodbye to Colby's good friend Mitchell who was heading to visit points south.

After the pros were done a bunch of us wound up at Lawama. Fettah offered us some Rose wine which turned out to have a photo of Boujmaa on it and the AWT logo. Very nice.

I headed back for dinner and we added a professional photographer to our house. It felt great going to ‎bed and I was excited that we were going to hear the results at the skippers meeting the next morning.

Tuesday May 17
This was my day to leave Moulay. I had woken up at 4am and managed to ‎get an hour of slow internet access and connect to work. Then off to bed for a bit more sleep but I was excited to get to the beach for a last session.

After breakfast I got my gear selected and went to the beach for the skippers meeting. They ‎pulled the 4 masters to the event poster and announce the winners. Gerhardt from Austria in 4th, Chris from England in 3rd, and Colby from the US in 2nd. I'd won my first ever windsurfing event.

My first ever windsurfing contest win!

I then headed out to the water on my 4.7 and a single fin 93l board and battled my way through the now larger waves. It was a struggle but I slogged out. But even ‎on the way back I wasn't planing and was already 50m downwind in the rocky area. I decided the I should humbly call it a windsurfing week.

I walked back with my gear, said some goodbyes and went to the house to pack. One last delicious meal from Ahmed, (the coriander in the salad was great) and my transfer came to take me to Marrakesh. ‎It was fun being able to phone my mother from the van as we drove into better cell service and give her my result.

The road out of Moulay

Headed for Marrakesh Airport

In the airport the news of my win was already on Facebook. I felt a bit sheepish because the fleet was small, and the others were technically from an older men's division. But we all faced the same challenge of going somewhere new and dealing with the same conditions. It was nice that Boujmaa said he wants to grow up to be like us old guys. And I admire the guys who are 10 years older than me and still rip!

I really appreciate that Boujmaa ‎organized the event. And the volunteer judges from the AWT perform a really tough job very well. The media coverage that the AWT gets is spectacular and makes it really fun to have a visual record of what happened. I also have the awesome trophy to remind me of the event!

What a great trophy! Made of wood unique to the Essaouira region.

Morocco was as I remembered it from 19 years ago: Friendly, safe, different, kind, delicious and eye opening. It was great fun being with Boujmaa and the AWT regulars and international stars. I did miss my family, and prefer having a wife, sister, niece or son at the events with me. ‎But I want to keep doing these events and pushing myself to stay fit and keep getting better in the waves. What's next, Baja?

Leaving Morocco feeling good!