Discover the Moroccan gem where “family” and “surf adventure” are mutually inclusive

The O Surf Lodge in Imsouane puts a smile on the grouchiest of faces.

In the middle of June, the family traveled to Morocco for what has been described a “surf adventure.” Of course, the astute know that Morocco typically doesn’t receive swell in the summer but I did not care for my mission was greater. Namely, to unlock a new portal wherein previously incongruous units of “family” and “surf adventure” could become one.

The problem, as everyone not last named Colapinto knows, is that “family” and “surfing” are enemies. Someone wants a right. Someone wants a left. Someone wants a barrelling reef pass. Someone wants a knee-high runner over sand. Someone wants nothing and is mad about being on a surf adventure to begin with. In short, only one person in the family is ever happy, meaning no one is.

“But what if,” I thought, “the destination was primary and the surfing an afterthought. Might then universal satisfaction reign?”

We landed on Morocco because the family wanted to go somewhere new, interesting, Europe-adjacent and Arabic-speaking. The last, my demand. We considered Egypt but then the idea of “surf adventure” took root and why not Morocco?

I shared the idea with Brendan, who accompanied me to be torture by Laird Hamilton, and he told me about the O Surf Experience in Imsouane. “They are the nicest people on earth,” he said, “and the wave out front is the longest in Africa.”

And so it was set. We, the wife, older daughter, younger daughter, older daughter’s boyfriend and wife’s sister, flew from points varied to Paris and then Marrakech where we enjoyed the new, interesting, Arabic-speaking Orientalism, incuding a visit to Yves St. Laurent’s home, for three days before pointing south to Imsouane.

Now, getting around in the greater Middle East can be a challenge but not getting to the O. Hamid, the founder and proprietor, had a van that picked us up without hassle and whisked us the three-plus hours south with a quick stop in to the most fabulous gas station on earth. It had a zoo.

When we hit the coast, the family grew happy, Morocco’s shore is as stunning as any. When we arrived at the O, the family was overjoyed. It is perched above “The Bay” which houses the aforementioned longest wave in Africa and perfectly appointed. As if Tyler Brule and Ari Aster came together to physically realize the ideal surf lodge. The chef also just so happen to cook the finest food south of Seville.

Across the spit is Cathedrals, which also holds joy.

There were, as expected, small waves but waves that ran and water that felt deliciously cool after the heat of Marrakech. There were smiles on all family faces as we paddled, bigger smiles as we glided the ocean blue. Older daughter on a longboard, her happy place, younger daughter on a 5’10 Chili, somehow catching the wave of the day, wife and I on gliders cruising past the children, soaking in the smiles. Not one bad, or even remotely unpleasant, vibe to be found.

A miracle.

I had to know how Hamid came to it all, this slice of folk paradise, so asked.

How did you come to surfing?

I grew up in Dar Bouazza, our house is first line  in front of the ocean, and grew up watching waves, fishing and watching sunsets in front of one of the nice rights in the area (Balnear station of Casablanca). This was one of the places  that lived the early age of surfing in Morocco after it started in Kenitra with the American military base. I grew up surrounded by the second generation of surfers that actually discovered and surfed most of the waves in Taghazout and particularly Safi too. I started at 6 bodyboarding and skimboarding and at 16 started surfing I am 42 now.

How did you come to Imsouane?

As the oldest generation was always exploring the south (imsouane/Taghazout area), I was looking at them putting boards on the roofs of their old cars and telling me “we’re going to the south” since I was super young. Since then , Iwas waiting for the time where I can have authorization from my parents to leave home and “go to the south.”

At 16 years old was my first time to step into imsouane, a really super remote village that no one knew, where no one lived except fishermen, a few Moroccan surfers and lot of Australian and British surfers. There was a village with no electricity and no running water, just the finest nature. It was back to real basics of life and that’s exactly where I felt that it will be my second home, my heart home my south base. Since this 2001 I’ve easily spent half of my life in this place. 

How has surfing changed Imsouane?

Surfing actually made Imsouane a town, a place where people can come. That simple. Before surfing , it was only a place where fishermen’s were coming down from the villages in the mountains up there and spending weeks to fish to get back with the money for their families. Those were the only way people were living there. It became a proper tourist place that feeds hundreds of families in the region.

What is the best wave you ever ridden at “The Bay?”

The best wave I’ve ever had at the bay  was on a Gato Heroi mid-length custom-made Robin. It was a day of east swell, caught a 150 meter wave , drop first section, got to full speed barrel in the first section, out of it, a proper long low old school  carve, got into the second barrel section, all of it, popped out, couples of really sweet carves until the rocks at the very end of the end.

The best ride you’ve ever seen? 

Mikala jones was one of the surfers that understood this wave faster than anyone. On a big day the middle section was closing out (for us ). Mikala after the third wave  got it and passed the entire section with three huge long floaters back to back to back. I still have it in my eyes.

Want to have the best family surf adventure? Or would you rather leave them in Marrakech whilst you barrel alone?

Win-win, I suppose, but winning-er with family.

Book here.