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Visit The Yogi Surfer for a luxury Moroccan surf trip

The Yogi Surfer is a gorgeous eco-focused boutique hotel overlooking the famous Banana Village.

Driven by values of unconditional love for nature, waves, and yoga, this luxury surf camp has an eco-friendly and sustainable imprint, and is dedicated to the wellness of body and mind through the practice of surf and yoga.

Surrounded by 15 km of unspoiled sandy beach and 15+ world class waves, this luxury surf camp is the best place to score great waves while living a healthy lifestyle and connecting with the local culture.

At The Yogi Surfer, with so many world class waves to choose from, it’s all about surfing the best spots for your individual surfing ability, progressing and maximising surf stoke.

Read on to fall in love with this special Moroccan surf camp …

Location:
The Yogi Surfer is located on the peak of a small hill, in the bay of Taghazout with stunning views of the ocean. Stretching out below are the banana plantations of Banana Village, and beyond are the long stretches of sandy beach offering a truly magnificent outlook.

Surf Conditions and Breaks:
The region has more than fifteen recognised worldwide spots, plus The Yogi Surfer local guides have a few secret spots under their belt as well. The surf conditions are constantly changing, they depend on the wind, the tides, the size and the direction of the swell. The teams in-depth knowledge of the region allows them to quickly identify where the best waves will be and at the best time.

The Surf:
Whether you are starting out or you are already a beginner, the goal at The Yogi Surfer is for you to gain confidence, love surfing and to learn, or improve, without pressure.

Surf Lesson:
A team of certified, patient instructors will teach you the basics of surfing and follow you on your progression path step by step! The team will carefully select the best spots to suit your level and the spots offering the best conditions of the day.

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Advance Surf Coaching:
This surf development program for intermediate to advanced surfing gives you the opportunity to develop and review the basics already acquired in surfing and to gain a higher standard. The best instructors in the region will work with you on a plan and discuss your personal objectives, alongside technical lessons, video analysis and more.

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Surf Guiding:
This is the most suitable option for advanced surfers who want to discover the best breaks in the region. Surf Guide Ilyas Masrour, one of the best local guides has a real knowledge of surf conditions and spots in the area. He will help you to find the best waves and conditions.

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Surf Road Trip:
Explore and experience the Moroccan coasts covering a distance of 300 km from North to South. This minimum of 5 nights road trip will allow you to discover some exclusive places and experience the mythical waves of Morocco.

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All packages include transportation to the surf spots, accommodation and full board! Plus the option to add yoga classes on to any surf package.

All equipment is available for rent or included in your package. From foam boards to a variety of shortboards, plus 3'2 Rip Curl wetsuits in all sizes.

The Yoga
Surfing and yoga are a key partnership at The Yogi Surfer to help balance body and mind.

Optional and available to all, daily yoga classes inspired by Yoga Vinyasa, Hatha Flow, and Restorative yoga are offered at the outstanding rooftop Shala overlooking the ocean.

Each class is tailored and designed according to the seasons, the level, and the expectations of the guests and is specifically tailored for surfers. For those who wish to do yoga more intensively, group workshops, and private sessions are also available.

Accommodation:
The Yogi Surfer offers a cozy, intimate and authentic Moroccan atmosphere revolving around surfing and yoga. The boutique hotel has 8 spacious rooms all with private bathrooms and 6 of them overlook the Atlantic ocean.

Ocean View, Double Room.

Delux Room.

Shared Room.

To book and for more information on this slice of Moroccan heaven, head to:

WEBSITE

INSTAGRAM

The Aquatic Commute Part 1 & 2

Connor O’Leary, Jackson Baker, Laura Enever, and Billy Kemper start off their trip of a lifetime with a surf. Local star Matahi Drollet takes them out to Teahupo’o and a few waves around the island and the crew gets a taste of Tahiti’s preferred mode of transport: boat.

Alaïa Bay Champs Crowned

Open men's Finalists. Lukas Skinner also won the the Junior mens Photos: © Maxime Schmid

Alaïa Bay, Sion - It was an action-packed final day at Alaïa Bay for the second edition of the Alaïa Open Winter Cup. Despite the frigid 10-degree water, the surfing was red-hot and a testament to the amazing wave quality that Alaïa Bay produces.
The Open Men’s Final was an incredibly close affair, with the lead changing a few times. Yago Dominguez from Basque Country has been the on-form Open Men’s surfer throughout the event. Still, in this final display, the powerful Brazilian goofy-footer Michel Roque put on an amazing show of aerial surfing and lightning-fast lip hits to snatch victory.

Roque opened up with a full air rotation and a series of powerful whips off the top for an opening ride of 8.73. he backed this up with an incredible left-hand, where he performed a series of fast and powerful turns of the top with speed, power, flow and variety for a 9-point ride and victory with a 17.73 tally. Dominguez was the runner-up with 16.50 points to his name.
Surfing in his second final, 14 year old Lukas Skinner came in a respectable third place and German surfer Dylan Groen in fourth place.

The Open Women’s Final was one of the closest heats of the entire event, with the lead changing hands throughout the final.
The Basque Country surfers, Janire and Annette Gonzalez Extbarri were going toe-to-toe throughout the final, both surfing with skill and precision. However, Anat Lelior from Israel was fighting hard and was also in the game for a possible win. It all went down to the final exchange. At the end of the final, it was Janire Gonzalez Etxbarri with the win, with Anat Lelior in second. The scores were incredibly close, and Janire took victory by a mere .07 of a point against the Israeli surfer. Annette Gonzalez Extbarri was third, and Noah Klapp was fourth.

Janire Gonzalez Etxbarri

The Junior Girls' final was an exciting affair. Maria Salgado from Portugal was on fire and was the clear winner with 15.33 points in her tally. She had all the other surfers in the final in a combo situation, with all three needing two waves to get in the game. At the final siren, it was Salgado in first with Lila Skinner (UK) in second place. Fabiana Klein (SUI) and Vera Oliveira from Portugal finished third and fourth, respectively.

Junior Girls Finalists

One of the most competitive divisions in the entire event was the Junior Boys division. The final was action-packed, with the juniors going all out to win the contest.

In the end, Lukas Skinner (UK) emerged victorious with an excellent display of high-performance surfing for a heat total of 18.33. His rides consisted of an incredible 10-point ride with a clean rotation followed by two powerful hits for the perfect score. Combined with a follow-up 8.33 ride and he had the decisive win. Runner-up was Rivan Rock Rosskopf, with Killian Rosskopf and Antione Habashi in third and fourth positions. All three of these surfers are from Switzerland.

Lukas Skinner.

“It was super cool to come to Alaïa Bay in Switzerland to compete, and it was such a great atmosphere here in Alaïa Bay,“ said Skinner after the results were announced. “It was also great to see the progression of the Swiss surfers. It was good to surf against surfers like Michel and Yago, and I think I was getting such high scores because I was getting pushed by them.”

In the Swiss Wave Pool ratings, it was Rivan Rosskopf who was crowned the Junior Swiss Wavepool Champion. Olman Morales was awarded the Men’s Swiss Wavepool Champion, and Rachel Bonhote-Mead Swiss was declared the Women’s Swiss Wavepool Champion.

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Griffin Colapinto Signs To Quik

Quiksilver, the original boardshort company, is proud to introduce Griffin Colapinto to its global surf team. The San Clemente, California–based professional surfer is currently ranked No. 7 in the world and is the leading American on the World Surf League (WSL) Men’s Championship Tour. Quiksilver has entered into a multi-year contract with Colapinto, with the ultimate goal of supporting him on his quest to become a world champion.

Colapinto has been commanding the lineup from an early age, competing in numerous surf competitions and championships, winning notable titles and consistently progressing his career. Following his successful Hail Mary aerial reverse in the 2016 Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa, Colapinto finished the 2017 season as the WSL Men’s Qualifying Series champion and has since won numerous additional titles. Colapinto also became the first Californian to win the prestigious Triple Crown in 2017. Today, Colapinto has positioned himself as a potential candidate to compete for Team USA at the Paris 2024 Olympic games.

“Griffin Colapinto’s incredible determination, character and talent is inspiring,” states Quiksilver Global General Manager Brad Blankinship. “He’s an essential part of the team that will help lead Quiksilver into the future.” Drawn to his ambition in and out of the water, Quiksilver is honored to support Colapinto’s endeavors and is excited to partner with him on notable content projects and signature products. In addition to his incredible talent on the board, creativity comes naturally to Colapinto; he and his brother, Crosby Colapinto, have a production company, Cola Bros., where they document their sibling bond behind the scenes of competitive surfing.

“When you evolve your personality, you evolve your reality and Quiksilver is now a part of my personality,” says Griffin Colapinto.

Colapinto’s consistent forward momentum is a welcome addition to the Quiksilver team and aligns with the brand’s commitment to support determined and genuine athletes. “Since 1969, Quiksilver has been supporting the most talented surfers in the world. However, talent doesn’t measure itself solely in the water, but also through action off the board,” says Quiksilver VP of Global Marketing Bobby Gascon. “Griffin’s unique and honest personality provides a truly relatable approach that we trust will inspire fans for many years to come. We are truly honored to have him join our brand, and we look forward to our partnership.”

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Wild Days

Wednesday the 2nd of November a new swell hits Hossegor... as most of our best surfers were in Brazil. Competing in the Saquarema Pro the rest were scoring huge caves at home.

Not an easy task to find the right spot, a clean swell but not quite doing its thing until the end of the morning when the stars aligned. Witness a full on tube fest right till dark plus La Nord in its element.

The Alaïa Open Winter Cup

The Alaïa Open Winter Cup, the final stage of the Edelweiss Surf Tour, will take place on November 5 and 6. For this 2nd edition of the competition, more than 80 surfers will compete in the only wave pool in continental Europe. The athletes will compete for CHF 4000 in prize money and the title of Swiss Wavepool Champion. The weekend promises a quality show in the water and out, with 2 massive parties lighting up Alaïa Bay.
More information about the event here.

The 2nd edition of the Alaïa Open Winter Cup will take place on the weekend of November 5th and 6th.
For the first time, the competition will also accommodate the final stage of the Edelweiss Surf Tour, a national surfing tour in collaboration with Swiss Surfing. After proving their talent on standing waves in Lucerne (Oana) and Zurich (Urbnsurf), as well as river waves on the river Aare in Thun, it is now time for the Swiss surfers to prove their talent in the Alaïa Bay wavepool.

The new Swiss wavepool champions will be announced at the end of the competition, and the Edelweiss Surf Tour champions will be crowned for the first time. For this final competition, announced as the coldest of the tour, 80 Swiss and international participants will be competing in four categories: Open Women and Men and Junior Girls and Junior Boys. Registration is now closed.

This year, the field of athletes consists of skilled and talented surfers. Among the competitors are the Swiss Durbi Castillo and Alena Gubler. After three contests, they are in first place in the Men and Women's categories and have a good chance of winning the tour.

In the Junior Girls and Boys category, the young Swiss Fabiana Klein and Rivan Rock Rosskopf have a good chance of winning the tour. Among the locals, Rachel Mead-Bonhôte, resident of Verbier (VS) and winner of the Swiss Surfing Championships in Spain, will be competing. Another top-rated surfer is Carlos Gerber, a resident of Ovronnaz who swapped his snowboard for a surfboard. However, the competition will be tough with the presence of many international athletes.

There is also a delegation of Basque surfers with Bitor Garitaonandia and Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri, both recent Junior European Champions in the Azores, and Yago Dominguez Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri.

The Germans Noah Klapp and Dylan Groen, the Israeli Anat Lelior, the Italian Francesco Lazzarini, the young Portuguese Maria Salgado, and the British powerhouse Lukas Skinner will also be competing for the win.

Top Class Surfing and other festivities at Alaïa Bay.

The Alaïa Open Winter Cup will begin on Saturday, November 5, with the qualification rounds. It will continue on Sunday, November 6, with the finals, and the winners will be crowned at the end of the weekend. Spectators are welcome to watch the show up close, and cheer on the athletes from the terrace of the Twin Fin restaurant.

There will also be plenty of entertainment outside the pool! The official AOWC party will take place on Saturday night at the Twin Fin restaurant with a DJ and a live band. Throughout the weekend, Twin Fin will also serve delicious food from around the world. Those who want to get in the water can book a surf session between rounds of competition. Despite the cool temperatures, the weekend promises to be hot, with spectacular surfing performances from national and international athletes.

More information here.