Stormrider Guide to surfing Taghazout

Morocco, AFRICA

Anchor point, Patrice Touhar

Summary

+ Swell consistency	- Frequently messy line-ups
+ Long righthanders	- Strong north winds
+ Beginner friendly area	- Anchor Point crowds
+ Great winter weather	- Pollution after rain

The Taghazout area in the south of Morocco nestles behind a big cape, which funnels the predominant north winds into an offshore direction. The spots are all easily accessible by road with the waves generally breaking right over flat rock and sand. Taghazout has enjoyed legendary status for decades, as a place to escape the winter blues. Known as ÔMadrabaÕ in Arabic and called ÔIkhfloutÕ in the local Berber tongue, Anchors (or Ankas) has the ability to hold huge size and break down the perfectly angled headland for over a kilometre. The once mellow fishing town is home to an ever increasing numbers of surfers and surf camps.

When to Go

Morocco’s coastline has the straightest swell exposure in the North Atlantic. Winter is the only time to go because the bigger swells are needed to get into the series of headland protected bays that make this area so good. Trade winds from the NE will be offshore on the SW facing spots. Mid-April sees the the NW-NE wind strengthen blowing out most exposed spots until mid-September. During this period, straight N winds blow for 40% of the time, with the relative lack of swell, this is the worst period to surf in Taghazout, Anchor Point often sleeps from April to October although Killers will break on much smaller swells. Tides vary from 0.6-2m.

Surf Spots

Named after the orcas sometimes seen here Killers is the most consistent Taghazout pointbreak, sucking up all available N-W swells. It’s always bigger than it looks and the paddle-out takes close to 15mins at high tide. In small swells, at low tide, the peak in front of the cliff has a short left (heading straight into some rocky caves) and a sectioning right. As the swell increases, the take-off area moves south and powerful, thicker walls rumble down the point. Occasional barrels and difficult to make sections for the crowds of competent surfers. La Source is a small swell A-frame that provides fun, performance walls and a venue for all abilities. Best on the push when the rights hold up towards the cliffs and the rarer lefts shoulder off towards the beach. Mysteries is a fickle, high tide righthander, but when the sand combines with the shallow reef it’s a sucky, deceptively long wave with the odd barrel. Best on a clean, lined-up, medium-sized swell and after the exposed, low tide reef has been sufficiently covered. Next door is Anchor Point holds massive swell and can break for up to 1km (0.6mi), all the way to the town of Taghazout. A medium to large, long period NW swell is what’s needed to light up this world-class right, first surfed by Aussies in the 1960’s. From the steep take-off at the outside peak, a seemingly endless succession of speed walls and cutback hooks present themselves. Occasional emerald green rooms appear on the sandy sections down the point. It’s easier to come in at one of the coves and walk back to jump off at the end between sets. Works on all but high tides, unless it’s huge, which is when it may be possible to ride back to Taghazout. With all the recent growth in Taghazout, pollution is a real problem after heavy rain for the crowds of people escaping the northern winter. In Taghazout town, Hash Point is very protected from the swell and very dependant on how the sand lines up off the rocks. The name is a clue to the mellowness of this crumbly righthander that is good for starters and stoners. Could be some pollution from the town’s sewers and when there is heavy rain. At the southern end of town is Panoramas, another right point that’s often overlooked by Anchor’s aficionados since it’s fickle, fast and plagued by currents. Less crowds and good barrels are the trade-off when it does work. A long straight beach extends all the way down to Tamraght, offering easy, often mushy waves, more suited to beginners. Nestled south of a small rocky headland, a righthander can line-up off the Devil’s Rock and peel towards the point at Banana Beach. Otherwise shorebreak lefts and rights offer fast punchy waves when the sand formation allows. Not as renowned as neighbouring spots but gets quite hollow. Good learner/improver spot with few crowds and mostly a sandy bottom. Banana Beach is tucked between the usually dry Aourir rivermouth and a cape offering some N wind protection. A surprisingly long, easy right can break from the point, otherwise it’s a beginners beachbreak, which explains the surf schools in the village. Several spots are named after the number of kms they are from Agadir. The lefts of Km11 are fast and tubular on low tide, those of Km12 are softer but beware of boulders in the shorebreak. Both spots are crowded with local bodyboarders. Swell always struggles to get into the northern part of Agadir’s large bay and the beachbreak sucks anyway. The right at Anza gets quite good, but the proximity of the port, the refineries and untreated sewage outfall have terrible consequences on water quality.

Statistics

dominant swell

NW -N

swell size (ft)

4-5

3-4

1-2

consistency (%)

dominant wind

N -NE

NW -NE

E -SW

NW -NE

N -NE

average force

F3-F4

consistency (%)

water temp (C)

wetsuit

3/2

springsuit

3/2

Travel Information

Weather
Morocco's central surf zone is a semi-tropical venue. The winter climate gives warm days, chilly nights and some rainfall. In Agadir, you may see 40mm of rain a month in mid-winter, making the rivermouth breaks very dirty. Summer gets extremely hot with virtually no rain. Minimum water temps get down to 16°C (60°F), but a 2mm short-sleeve fullsuit or a springy is ideal either side of winter.

Lodging and Food
Dozens of surf camps operate from Taghazout to Tamraght and offer everything from budget accommodation to all inclusive packages. Lessons and yoga are a big part of many camp deals. Surf Maroc has multiple locations around Taghazout with all inclusive packages fr $620. Zen Surf Morocco in Tamraght has packages fr $500 a week. Houses can be rented cheaply in Taghazout or basic cell-like rooms - ask around town for deals. Big resorts in Agadir. The food is excellent, like seafood and vegetable tagines. Alcohol is only available at tourist locations, but sweet mint tea is everywhere. A good meal shouldn’t cost more than $8.

Nature and Culture
Morocco is a sensory feast full of amazing natural and cultural beauty. Unforgettable sights close to Taghazout include Paradise Valley. Further afield the edge of the incomparable Sahara Desert (4.5h drive), best seen around the small Oasis of Tata or to the east of Goulmine. Check the snow capped mountains of the High Atlas (ski resorts are 5h drive), or the Anti Atlas around Tafraroute (3h drive).