Registered or Premium Member? LOG IN | Become a Member: TRY PREMIUM FREE
|
SPAIN + MOROCCO CRANK
First solid swell of 2009 hits Europe and North Africa
By:
Marcus Sanders
Photos: Photos: Pablo Azkue + Imanol Sorazu(Spain); Will Henry (Morocco)
|
January 25, 2009
44075 visits
|
|
While West Coast surfers
spent all last week milking the remains of a big, complex low off Japan, the other side of the Pond has been on fire. Not everywhere, to be sure, as south winds accompanied much of the swell, but enough places in Northern Spain (which faces north) and Southern Morocco (far enough away from the storm to remain clean) saw day after day of pumping surf - some of it tow-able in the Playa Gris/Roca Puta area of Spain, and some of it fun-as-hell-shortboardable in North Africa.
|
|
"The North Atlantic has been going crazy the past several weeks with a steady stream of intense storm systems putting solid surf in the water for breaks across Europe. The strongest system so far this winter occurred late last week: On Thursday, January 15th, a 949mb area of low pressure was located between Newfoundland and Greenland, with winds in excess of 70kts directed towards Europe. Over the next few days, this system slowly pushed through the North Atlantic, setting up a SOLID, long period WNW swell that moved in for Sunday with the bulk of the swell on Monday and Tuesday. Locally, conditions were superb due to S/SW winds for the breaks that could handle the big, long-period swell. Meanwhile, after seeing the purple LOLA blobs, Save the Waves founder Will Henry high-tailed it to Morocco to score some great point surf. Here's what he had to say: "I thought I never would say it, but I wish we had a few pros on our trip. "Usually for a surf photographer it's the other way around: travel with pros and end up spending most of your time on land with a long lens in your hand. Then when you do get in the water, you barely have time to catch a wave, or the guys won't even LET you catch one. But nope, not this time. There are more waves than I could possibly catch, and I have all the time in the world. Perfect walls spinning down long sand-bottom point breaks. Empty wave after empty wave reeling by my camera. By the second day of the trip, I have more photos of empty waves than I could ever hope to publish. Where are the crowds when you need them? By the second day of the trip, I have more photos of empty waves than I could ever hope to publish. Where are the crowds when you need them?
--Will Henry on his trip to Morocco
"We arrived in Agadir four days ago. The surf was small at first, so we hit the beachbreak early morning, and in the afternoon drove to the marketplace in Essaouira. The ancient walled city was teaming with people selling their wares - silver Berber jewelry, colorful rugs and tapestries, ornate wooden carvings and boxes - and we Westerners were obvious targets. "Please sir, come into my shop. I make special price. Here we are not pushy." It seemed I had heard the same line in a thousand different tongues in all parts of the globe. The sites and smells of the market overwhelmed me, and after a few hours we couldn't take it any more. We retreated to a bar. Over Casablanca beers, we talked over the options for the coming days. The swell was on its way, and it was going to get big. "We arose early on our second morning in Morocco and drove south to a secret spot. Past riders on camels and shepherds with their flocks. Past noisy intersections and burka-covered women. Past sand dunes and fishing villages. The swell was already on the rise. Our guide, Hugo, knew of a place that would deliver even though the south winds had come up overnight, and he was spot-on. The waves were incredible and we had them all to ourselves. The surf-fest was on. "North to Taghazout. This area boasts nearly 30 good surf spots, many of which handle to prevailing northerly winds offshore. As the swell builds everything starts to light up around here. The most famous wave in the area, Ankar Point, can get crowded, and for good reason. But nearby there are many other options. Over the next five days we surf until our arms were wet noodles, our muscles aching, our bodies completely sapped of energy." MORE SURF NEWS SURFLINE HOME PAGE |