PHOTO BY KASSIA MEADOR

SURF CITY

Been to Maui? Boarded through Sydney? Next stop: Morocco.

Pop culture's been (kind of) kind to Morocco, sending Penny Lane to detox there in Almost Famous and Kate Winslet to find herself (and lots of purple saris) in Hideous Kinky.

And while images of almonds, coffee, and Bedoin jewels might cloud your mind when someone mentions Marrakesh, you probably don't imagine surfboards as part of the scene.

That's mostly true, but slowly changing. Over half of the country's borders are beaches, sanding into the Atlantic ocean. And while surfing is slightly secret in the Muslim country (and banned for women altogether), it's definitely happening.

This winter, five Roxy surfers went to check out the terrain, sneaking onto hidden beaches to catch new waves. When men spotted the bikini-clad pros, they immediately ran from the water, and transporting boards from shore to shore was so tough, they'd strap them to the camels led by their guides.

One surfer, Kassia Meador, brought her camera along, documenting their entire adventure. Check out some of the amazing images below, and if you're an advanced surfer with a been-there-done-that complex, Facebook the Roxy girls for more info on how you can plan your own trip to surf Northern Africa.
--FARAN KRENTCIL

See also:
Roxy's Fall '09 clothes
Roxy's giant surf competition
And you can also surf in Brazil!

This story was published on March 23, 2009.

CONTENT RATING:

( 8 )

Danira Von K

03/23/2009

That's pretty wicked! Honestly im fed up with muslim crap, im actually Muslim (Bosnian) which is European Muslim and I can't understand how these women let men run them like that!!! I love surfing, if someone too the bikini + beach away from me, Id be furious!! POWER TO YOU GIRLS, YOU'RE PRETTY BAD ASS<33

Kaya

03/23/2009

i agree Danira, the Muslim excuse is ridiculous. I'm actually from Morocco originally, and trust me when i go to the beach there I'm definitely in nothing more then a bikini. people there are a lot more open minded then the media makes them out to be. and there are loads of European tourists so Morocco is being modernised, there are always gonna be the super traditional few but its changing. anyway, sounds like a fun trip!

Ilezay

03/23/2009

always wanted a surf lodge there! BIKINIS ATTACK MORROCCO... yessssss

julz

03/24/2009

i live in dubai, very close to Morocco, and i miss surfing like i miss my sister, california,in-n-out and the short flight to hawaii, i am going to have to stop by just to try it out, where else can you surf in the middle east? P.S. i finally found nylon here, thanks guys!

Ali Ben Surfin

03/31/2009

SURFIN �U.A.E.� Hey, I travel and work in Muslim countries. Some of them very hostel! Like......Oh.....IRAQ! Have you surfed the Tigris during flood season? Ok, but to Miss Julz....Morocco is not even close to Dubai! Go back to geography class lady and get some learn'en! Just pull up a "Google Earth" map and check it out. I've seen Muslim and non alike on the Jumeirah beaches of Dubai surfing in burkas and burnooses�. Why I�ve even seen guys surfing during prayer time with prayer rugs stretched out on their boards. Just kidding! But as long as you are respectful in a Muslim country then just do it!

Ali Ben Surfin

03/31/2009

elena

04/01/2009

http://elenaeucalyptus.blogspot.com/

Kawtar

04/28/2009

I'm from Morocco too, and I agree. The media does make it seem like everyone there is really conservative and old fashioned...There are many people who are like this just like there are everywhere, but Morocco isn't just made up of that. Can't wait to try and surf there this summer!