Aquaholics Surf Shop

New Year's Eve Taghazoute

Posted on 01/31/2009 at 07:09 pm | Viewed 1,342 times | 0 comments

December 31, We went on surf safari at Tamri in the morning. It looked a little bumpy from shore, but turned out to be very fun. I caught some great, steep lefts here. Tamri has so many sandbars that you have to duck dive about 30 times to get to the outside (kind of like Malpais, Costa Rica).  The wind picked up and blew it out shortly after we paddled out.
Tamri Beach

Tamri Beach

One guy, Chris, is here from London but he’s originally from South Africa (Jeffreys Bay). He's a very experienced surfer and decided to go back to boilers. Boilers is a firing wave that breaks along near an old shipwrecked ships boiler out in the break.
Boilers is pretty sketchy getting in and out, the rocks are very sharp and there is no beach. You're supposed to time it so you paddle out between sets, but that's a little hard since you cant see the incoming sets when you get in position between the large rock outcroppings, but it’s not as bad as Draculas, sharp AND pointy, like teeth. I think surf camps are strongly discouraged from dropping off a half dozen at a time anyway.

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Big Wednesday at the Portsmouth Music Hall

Posted on 01/31/2009 at 03:35 pm | Viewed 1,158 times | 0 comments

Scene @ Five: Big Wednesday with Todo Bien Big Wednesday: Portsmouth Music Hall is celebrating the Seacoast Surf Scene with two back to back events. Starting at 5pm in the lobby, we’ll be featuring vintage footage of the 1960s and ’70s Seabrook surf scene and “comfortable grooves” laid down by live band (and local surfers) Todo Bien.  Watch for that signature surf cocktail! Then at 7pm, we’ll all move upstairs for what is widely consider to be one of the best surf movies of all time, Big Wednesday as our February WildCard Movie. Surf’s up!

Wednesday, February 18, 5:00 PM 

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Aquaholics Surf Trip Morocco; December 30

Posted on 01/15/2009 at 08:27 pm | Viewed 1,140 times | 0 comments

December 30th We all went on a  road trip to Immsouane (seems like there are several ways to spell and say many villages and beaches). Check the Moroccan site: http://www.morocco.com/blog/visit-imouzzer-ida-outanane
We had two cars full of people. We stopped for a Berber Breakfast at Tamri Valley. The Tamri Valley was beautiful and the restaurant dining room overlooked the valley. The restaurant also has a small naturopathic remedies store where I bought Argan Oil, Argan Soap, Rock Alum (as a deodorant) and Cactus Honey.



Tamri Valley, that's Immsouane breaking in the distance

Breakfast consisted of large freshly baked loaves of bread, and dipping bowls of local honey, freshly ground Amalou (a smooth thick blend of crushed almonds, honey and olive oil), almond oil, and olive oil.
Oh, and mint tea. Mint tea is a big part of every event. The custom is to pour the tea into a glass and return it to the teapot at least three times or until the desired color (indicating strength or steep). A truly skilled tea-pourer can pour from about a foot or more away from the glass. I spilled it every time. They use a LOT of sugar.

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Aquaholics Surf Trip Morocco; December 29

Posted on 01/15/2009 at 07:22 pm | Viewed 821 times | 0 comments

December 29th, today we did actually go out to Anchor Point WITH PETE (in the dark). Pete jumped off the rock before it was even light out. Marc then waded out from the beach at the North side of the rocks and drifted into the peak area. I watched to be sure he wasn't maimed, then did the same. I saw a few rock boils nearby, and the sets were big enough to be intimidating, but I was patient and my timing was good. It was fun, super fun. But I’m so glad I didn’t do it in the dark without a guide. The wave there is amazing. The peak is steep and a bit hollow. I was a little apprehensive about dropping in on a rented board that I’d never ridden before, but it was fine. (Of course I was so surprised to make the drop I promptly fell after I got my bearings and cleared the dangerous-looking rock outcropping directly in front of the peak). The next wave was better. As I was paddling back out I watched Marc take a major beating, he came up gurgling, but he lived to take a few more waves. We caught a few fun ones before it got crowded. Once the crowd started to show up, we worked our way down the beach, surfing the inside sections down the line. It’s hard to come in at most places. It’s very rocky and sharp. You just have to work your way down to a beach (hopefully).  See the Anchor Point Videos at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV5KxU-5iDk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QULiIH0ecg4&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2GpP25NlQY&feature=related

Later, it got pretty windy, so we decided to stick around and surf Panoramas and look around town.  Panoramas has a lot of beginners, especially on a small day, so it's easy to pick off some set waves. After you're up, it's like an obstacle course. It's all good unless someone lets their board go. Did I mention hold on to your board? We surfed it a couple of times since it's such an accessible spot (hence the crowd). In the evening, we surfed Hash Point with Pete. It breaks really close to the rocks, but it's a makeable section,. as long as you don't get too close. The bigger sets usually hold up. We DID see a surfer get tossed up onto the rocks, board and all. It was a Surftech and seemed to come through ding free. Gotta love an Epoxy board! Pete was out with him and had warned him about getting close. Some people just can't take a hint. There's a beach break in the little bay where the fishermen go out, and it is a smashing closeout. It's a form of entertainment to watch beginners go out and try to surf it. it's great for riding whitewater though. We saw loads of beatings.


Taghazoute Main Beach, Fish Auction, Beach Break. Check the Camel!

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Aquaholics Surf Trip Morocco; December 28

Posted on 01/15/2009 at 08:35 am | Viewed 792 times | 0 comments

December 28th, We planned on a dawn session with Pete at Anchor Point, as it’s a zoo after sunrise. We woke to Chrystal knocking on the door to wake us, but Marc wasn't quite awake and told her we’d meet her and  Pete there. Ummm, in the dark? Walking along a dark road along a dark path to a place I’d never been?  Jumping off a rock? Did I mention in the dark? I had my wetsuit on before I realized we didn’t know how to get there and would not have a "guide".

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Aquaholics Surf Trip Morocco; December 27

Posted on 01/15/2009 at 08:08 am | Viewed 817 times | 0 comments

We arrived December 27th. That afternoon we went out to Banana Point, a fun, easy wave but the wind was making a mess of things. We paddled out, but surfed like kooks (be quiet, Billy) in the choppy mess. Every place is a long right point here. Every spot. I don't think there are any "lefts" except for the beach breaks, which are few and far apart. We had a big delicious dinner on the rooftop, had a nightcap and went "home" to bed.

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Aquaholics Surf Trip Morocco

Posted on 01/12/2009 at 02:50 am | Viewed 1,435 times | 0 comments

Nanci, Abdullah and Scooby-Doo at Devils Rock Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THC4jd5FQHU

Hi everybody,
Sorry it’s taken so long to get this out. It was little difficult to get on the computer at the surf camp. I pieced together this blog as a document and edited it at home . Marc and I went to visit our friend Peter Hansen (AKA Kiwi Pete) and his girlfriend Chrystal-Rose Thomas. While we were there, Neils Van Wijk arrived. All are old friends and Maine regulars at Manitou Wakeboarding Camp in Oakland during the summer season, and can be seen in the water at Kennebunk on "Weekly Wednesday Afternoon Invasions" (well, Chrystal will be a newbie).

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The Maine Show Surfing Part 2

Posted on 01/10/2009 at 09:35 pm | Viewed 812 times | 0 comments

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The Maine Show Surfing Part 1

Posted on 01/10/2009 at 09:31 pm | Viewed 822 times | 0 comments

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Prelude

Posted on 12/04/2008 at 11:47 pm | Viewed 988 times | 0 comments

Thank you, all you early bird shoppers. What an amazing turnout! Well, never underestimate the power of a bargain. We did almost all of our sales for “Black Friday” before 8:00 A.M.  Starting with Nick Bath at about 6:02 tight on to 8:00. It was still dark out for crying out loud!

Well, Prelude is upon us. Billy’s annual Prelude party signals the beginning of the end of any feelings of control over our weight. The revelers will take over Dock Square like The Munchkins at the castle of Oz, only taller and much more strangely dressed. Check out the photos of past seasons Preludes at www.christmasprelude.com

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