The European Longboard Tour landed on Morocco’s Bouznika Plage for its second stop, delivering three days of thrilling longboard action. With rising European talent, strong local competitors, and stunning right-hand point break waves, the event showcased technical mastery, strategic heats, and unforgettable performances. The finals crowned rising stars Douwe Robrouch and Thilde Sophie Rasmussen, highlighting the next generation of European longboarding.
After the power of the Portuguese Atlantic, the European Longboard Tour lands on the African coast, surrounded by the relaxed rhythms and spicy scents of Morocco.
Bouznika Plage, with its long, peeling right-hand point break, hosted the second stop of the ELT.
Three days of exiting longboard waves challenged the surfers’ technique and creativity, delivering exciting heats and a great show.
We’re back on the ELT scene: 27 men and 10 women competed, with a strong European presence and a fierce Moroccan team.
The French school led the charge once again with Martin Coret, Justine Dupont, and Louis Marchiset, alongside a solid Portuguese team featuring Raka Bento, Antonio Dantas, and Frederico Carrilho.
But it was the Nordic countries that delivered the biggest surprise.
The final crowned two rising stars: Dutchman Douwe Robrouch and Danish surfer Thilde Sophie Rasmussen, who captivated the Moroccan crowd with their style and determination.
Day 1 – Bouznika Magic
Competition starts late morning with rising tide. The swell isn’t the biggest, but Bouznika Right still offers some perfect lines for longboarders. The European athletes show notable patience and technical maturity.
European athletes are showing remarkable patience and technical maturity. In the men’s main round, we’ll see 9 Europeans and 6 local Moroccan surfers advancing. The highest single-wave score of the day goes, once again, to Martin Coret with 7.75 points. Frenchman Louis Marchiset, on the other hand, earns the highest total heat score with 14.10. Once again, the French school leads the way, followed by the Portuguese Frederico Carrilho and Antonio Dantas.
Main Round 1 Women
Next up are the women’s heats. Despite high tide, Bouznika Right continues to offer long, clean waves, though sets are increasingly spaced out. With softer wave faces, the more technical surfers stand out.
Semifinalists include:
- First place: Justine Dupont, Beth Leighfield, and Emily Currie.
- Second place: Thilde Sophie Rasmussen, Raka Bento, and Lucy Small.
Day 2 – Changing Conditions and Goosebumps
After the magic of day one, the athletes wake under a gray sky with a light northwest breeze. The previous swell has weakened and waves are choppier, with long waits between sets. It’s a day that again demands patience and sharp ocean reading to find the right waves that yield high scores.
The Men’s Main Round features four high-level heats. Wave frequency varies heat by heat. Portuguese and French riders continue to dominate. Antonio Dantas scores the highest so far: a 9.5 on a long, perfectly surfed wave closed with a spectacular Ten.
Among those advancing to quarters is young Dane Noa from the rising Danish team, also confirmed by the women’s results. Thilde Sophie Rasmussen dominates her heat with a 12 total heat score and an 8.5 single score, thanks to excellent wave choice and strategy, keeping the English Beth Leighfield and Australian Lucy Small at bay. Justine Dupont wins her heat next, demonstrating great experience and ocean reading skills.
While mint tea is poured onshore to refresh minds, emotions heat up in the water. The quarterfinals, 1-on-1 duels, begin. First up: Louis Marchisette vs. Imad Agourram, followed by the Portuguese derby Frederico Carrilho vs. Antonio Dantas. Dantas immediately scores with a long hang ten/hang five combo, earning around an 8 and putting pressure on teammate Frederico.
Rising tide challenges later heats, but good waves finally come for Martin Coret, who wins his heat against young Dane Noa Stender Mikkelsen.
The final quarterfinal duel is between Douwe Robrouch and local matador Reouano Regragui. Supported passionately by the crowd, the Moroccan picks some of the best waves, but the young Dutchman prevails with excellent technical level, controlled, elegant, and varied surfing.
Finals Day a Bouznika Plage: Small waves, giant emotions.
Finals day arrives. The crowd onshore is pumped, and although the waves are small, they’re clean and well-formed—perfect for longboarding. And the water show doesn’t disappoint.
Men’s semifinals start: Antonio Dantas vs. Louis Marchiset. The Frenchman is consistent, but Dantas finds the better waves, posting solid 8 and 7 scores. He advances.
Next, a thrilling heat: Martin Coret (winner of the first stop) vs. young Douwe Robrouch. The Frenchman starts strong, but Douwe stays calm, waits for the right wave… and fires a stunning 9.75—the highest score of the event. The young Dutchman earns his place in the final against Dantas.
The women start strong as well. Justine Dupont dominates her semifinal against Lucy Small with her usual blend of style and control.
Then it’s Thilde Rasmussen vs. Emily Currie. Initially under pressure, the Dane patiently waits… then finds the perfect wave: technical noserides and great elegance score a 9.5, sending her to the final. It will be Rasmussen vs. Dupont.
The men’s final is another lesson in calm and strategy. Dantas continues with high-level longboarding, but Douwe waits, picks well, and scores the winning 9.5. Two excellent scores in two decisive heats. A day to remember for the Dutchman.
The women’s final is thrilling too. Dupont starts strong, setting the pace and building solid 6 and 7 scores to put pressure on Thilde. But Thilde stays focused. When the right set comes, she scores a 9.3, changing the heat’s fate. Smiling on the paddle back, she takes control of priority and completes the comeback. She lifts the gold trophy.
The chapter closes on another exciting stop at Bouznika Plage, where technique and strategy met perfect waves and a warm crowd. Morocco welcomed us with all its magic. The European Longboard Tour continues: next stop, Salinas, Spain. We’re fired up and ready to keep celebrating European longboarding.
Stay tuned!
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