The perfect foiling wave
When high tides hit the bay and the swell rolls in without ever breaking, it’s time for everyone’s favourite new toy: the foil. There’s only one foil between the three brothers, so they’ve got to to take turns. One of the first days on this year’s trip, Ben took the traditional Morroccan ‘djellaba’ – a hooded robe worn by desert dwellers all across North Africa – for a little cruise on the foil. As if a surfboard flying above water wasn’t enough, the loose-fitting djellaba flowed out behind Ben like a ghost – making sure everyone surfer in town either saw it or heard about it. Even without the ghost costume, the foil turns head – go out for a paddle with someone else on the foil, and you’ll have to laugh when you see everyone else in the water watching the foil rider like a dog watches a piece of moving meat. “Riding the foil is just incredible,” says Ben. “It’s really like you’re flying. Ever since I got it, it’s all I want to do – and this is the perfect place to do it.” Although he’s had only a handful of days on the flying fin, Benoit already looks calm, relaxed, and in control – until he isn’t. The wipe-outs seem to offer up an additional few buckets of spray as the high-speed board comes to an abrupt stop. But the wave is so well engineered for foiling, crashes have been few. “You don’t need to work too hard to take off,” says Pierre, the gear expert of the trio, “and once you’re on the wave, the ride is so smooth and you’re moving so fast.” By the time the last foil session rolls around – in the near dark, at the bottom of the bay during the highest of tides, Benoit manages to pull off the double – riding one wave, pumping out the back, and hopping on to the next wave, all without a single paddle stroke. The sun has set on another day and another trip in Imsouane. But it’s not to worry for the three brothers – tomorrow, they head to the Canaries for – you guessed it – more surf. SUP
