Lena Erdil – “The first Women only Wave Worldcup event in Moulay we got XXL conditions!! Unfortunately the waves were soo big that the white water mountains on the inside of the bay made it impossible to get out the back to the line up. There is no channel in Moulay! a few guys managed to get out after persistent attempts but it was impossible to compete again. Essouaira the next big city and the surrounding wave surfing spots are great! I loved this trip to Morocco, life is still very simple people are friendly, the food is delicious and there are waves on every beach ! Definitely worth a visit, if you plan to go to Moulay make sure to contact BOUJX Sports centre for equipment rental or also two find some local accommodation! Hope you enjoy this Vlog! I now just arrived back in Bodrum to re start slalom training, so stay tuned for high speed updates soon ;)”
INTERVIEW WITH POINT-7
P7 – What was in the Moulay area to visit and do apart from windsurfing?
LE – Moulay is a tiny village consisting of pretty much only 1 street in front of the spot. But Essouaira is just a 30 minute drive away and is a beautiful old town with all the oriental charm you want. The Medina (city centre) is protected by a city wall and ll the streets are super narrow, so there is no car or motorcycle access. Busy beautiful streets with plenty of shops selling spices, leather goods carpets and other oriental specialities. Some great art galleries are also worth a visit!
P7 – What did you enjoy most about the cuisine?
LE – Ha ha, we ate tajine and couscous almost everyday ! It’s great, and you can have it with different meats and vegetables.
P7 – Where would you advise to stay?
LE – My advice would be to contact the local windsurfing centre Bouj X Sports, there are many locals in Moulay who rent out rooms in their houses. It’s nice to stay directly on the spot in Moulay and live the simple life, if you want more comfort you can also stay in Essouaira, it’s only 30 minutes away and is a beautiful city.
P7 – How are the conditions throughout the year, and which conditions did you find?
LE – In the winter there is big waves and the wind is maybe a bit more irregular, in the summer it is always windy (I think at least 5 days a week), but the waves are smaller.
P7 – The water is brown. Does that bother you?
LE – It’s a little bit strange that the water is soo brown you can’t even see 1 m deep, but in the end for us the importance is the waves and the wind so the colour doesn’t really matter at all!
P7 – How easy is it to get to the spot? Do you think renting a car\camel is the right way?
LE – Yes I would recommend to rent a car from the airport as it is really nice to go from Moulay to Essouaira, Marrakesh or to some of the surf spots in the surrounding areas. Without a car it’s hard to get anywhere, taxis are only common within the cities and I haven’t seen any form of public transport…
P7 – How did the event go for you? Happy of your result?
LE – No I am really disappointed with my results. We only did the single elimination and after 1 good ride I chose to follow a not so good wave too far into the bay where the wind was too light and I ended up getting stuck, so unable to score again. It was a tactical mistake I should have avoided. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to competing in waves. Taking the right decisions and choosing the right waves within the limited time you have is crucial. So yeah I have learned a new lesson so lets see how this will help me in the coming events.