Surfing Anchor Point

I mentioned before that I was to surf Anchor again, so here is the wonderful story of letting go and literally jumping into the beautiful waves one more time, 38 years after the last time. It's not necessarily hard to get out, in fact it can be all to easy ! Getting in is a different story all together. More of that later. What's the big deal you may well ask. Well, for me, it's having enough muscle power to cope with the large amount of water that moves with the rather large waves. Getting caught by a big set and dealing with double decker waves breaking on one's head. Catching and riding the express trains that break here. Am I up for the challenge? It's a beautiful day. The winter solstice no less. The sets are pumping and it's really glassy. Yep, I'm up for it ! Mark is delighted and Krysia very encouraging. She will be staff photographer today !

 To set the scene, here are two locals making it look very easy !

It's not.


The take off zone is very crowded and all are excellent surfers.

The likes of myself and many others are left only what has not been taken or occasionally, one that has been missed. We are sitting on the edge waiting patiently for the scraps. The Moroccan locals are also very possessive of their wave. Dropping in is not tolerated.



Now let's get back to Me !! Old fool in a dream of yesteryear. At 20 years of age, I had all it took to be in the zone out at Anchor. How would I fair today ?

 I run with committed enthusiasm ahead of Mark.


I'm going out at Anchor Point.


Nothing can stop me now.

I take the dive first and luckily make it across and outside without getting caught by a set.


Mark watches more thoughtfully and waits his time.

That's me just making it over that empty wave !

I reflect now and think I should have caught it.

A rare wave left unridden.

But I'm out and that's a good start.

Go Mark.











That's how it's done. Jump off the point, paddle away from the waves and hope to get past the impact zone and safely to an easy paddle.

 We chat happily about our joy at being here.

Now we must get some waves. Mark is so encouraging and I've got one. Not a big one but a nice one all the same.


Even manage a half decent bottom turn !

 Mark next.

A bigger one too.



Cool bottom turn on a fair sized wave

Here's some photos of locals ripping their wave




It looks so easy in the hands of pro's

This paddle boarder caught many great waves.

And this cool dude rode long board with style and a smile.

This guy waited for the biggest waves and took them on his long board old style, he also has a life jacket under his wetsuit. He took some big wipeouts but made some too.

It was so exciting just to be in the water alongside such good surfing.

Tube riding and maneuvers defying gravity.


I was happy just to watch

Not that I had a lot of choice !

Good surfers give very little away.

Here I am inventing a new maneuver.

I call it tailing !

I had dropped in on someone and was making a quick escape.

I did have some more waves too. But most of all I was over the moon at being here. How many rides I had paled into insignificance. Getting out of the water was difficult. Sort of take your chances and get washed up on the long shelf of rock that leads from the point all the way to Taghazoute. I took my chance and have a beauty of a bruise to show for it. What do I care.  I surfed Anchor Point one more time. ! Amazing.

Let's finish this surf story with some lovely shots of Mark riding a great wave. Without him, I would not have been here.

Thank you Mark. You inspired me to surf Anchor Point.