TAMRAGHT

- bs -

Tamraght is a small village in the south of Marocco, it's far only 13 kilomiters from the most famous city of Agadir. The village is located in front of the Atlantic Ocean and it's a perfect location for surfing.

It is possible to fly from Rome to Agadir by Royal Air Maroc or by Ryanair to Marrakech and then driving around 4 hours to Agadir. 

IMPORTANT By Royal Air Maroc, if you want carry your surfboard the cost depends of the lenght of your surfbag. Until 155 cm it costs 55,00 euro each way and until 250 cm it costs 100,00 euro each way!!

- chill out bs & Enrico -

I come back to Italy one day ago from Tamraght where I travelled with Enrico, the guy who join with me the last surf trip to Lanzarote.

The weather in Marocco was great, around 20/25°C during the day, and in the early morning and night around 15°C; I was surfing with a winter wetsuit 4/5 because the ocean was a bit cold, but I saw some crazy guys that was surfing only with shorts! 

I booked the same surf house where I stayed in May. The Dynamic Surf House is located on the top of a small hill in front of the ocean, and it's one of the best in the area. There are good food (thanks to Fatima), the best surf guide and surf teacher ever (The Boss Noureddine), and one guy that smiling and made me so happy with his humor (The Master Tea Man Hafed).

In the house there were some other guys from Stoccolm, a couple from Germany, one guy from England and the last day arrived four guys from Italy. The atmosphere was incredible, good vibes, a lot of beers in the evening and good local chocolate :)

- The Boss & bs -

- Dynamic's Family -

- Doctors at work -

- Hafed -

One of the best part of this surf trip was to find good green waves! The first two days was very windy (...black cat!) but I surfed also with not perfect conditions. I had some great session, because the surf guide knews exactly all the best uncrowded places! 

Not far from Tamraght there are some world class surf spots as Killer, Anchor Point, Boilers...but unfortunatly the swell wasn't very consistent, even though I discovered some new locations where I was never been before.

- bs -

- bs -

- bs -

- bs -

I love Marocco so much, I would like wake up tomorrow morning , open my eyes and drink a coffea in front of Devil's Rock, but it's just a dream....

I met some local guys on the beach, some of them are in my heart. There is a guy in particular that I want talk about. His name is Zeffir, he lives on the beach of Devil's Rock in a small roulotte, and he sells some habdicraft made by himself. Noureddin introduced him after a sunset surf session and we share a great moment toghether, where he showed me some his picture when he was young and the relationship that he has with the life make me thinking a lot. I respect this kind of person, he is just pure. If you are going to Tamraght keep to watch on the beach, he is tall and slim, with short blondy rasta, he is just The Consoler. Let's go play with him, talk with him, he has a lot to teach to everybody, belive me guys!

See you in the ocean guys, somewhere, somedays, just keep surfing and travel, the life it's too short to regret it, keep calm, and don't work too much! 

LANZAROTE

Hey guys, I just come back from Lanzarote Island where I was surfing in some of the magic surf spots along the cost. I want to introduce the guy that travelled with me to one of the Canary Islands.

He is Enrico from Rome, a simple guy who loves and respects the ocean and likes share some beers with friends. We have in common the same passion for longboarding and this is our first surf trip together.

- National Park TimanFaya -

We flew from Bologna to Arrecife by Ryanair, it's a low cost airline company with direct flight from Italy to Canary Islands. We booked a car by http://www.rentalcars.com/ where we payed only 60 euro/4 days. The price looks unbelievable but it's real!!!!

 - From Arrecide to Caleta the Famara -

From the airport that is located on South of the capital called Arrecife, we followed the main road (LZ20) and we passed through the center of Lanzarote where the scenary it looks unreal. There are many vulcanoes of different sizes, and all around is desertic. It's almost impossible find a tree or any other kind of plants for many miles. We passed the small town of San Bartolomè and we drove to Caleta de Famara.

- Caleta de Famara - 

- Famara apartment and Surf School - 

Famara is a famous beach on the North shore, where we had the appointment with some Italian friends that work for the best surf school of the village. (http://www.lanzarotekite.com/) 

In this surf school is possible to rent surfboards made by tuflite or other kind of surfboards of different brands. The staff is professional and friendly, there are great surf, sup and kite teachers as Daniele Guidi and Luis Bohorquez Blanquer. The official photographer of the staff is Marco. 

I surfed with a red longboard Donald Takayama 9.0 very aggressive and Enrico got a calssic Joel Tudor 9.2 reggae style!! 

- only longboard - 

We settled in an apartment close from the surf shop and Famara's beach, where we went for the first surf session. The conditions were windy and waves not very big, but after 4 hours on the airplane I was excited to be in the ocean again!
This beach offers different beach breaks and point breaks, you have just to pick up one that you like or where is not too crowed and paddle out. In the middle of the bay you can see a wreck merchant where is possible also swimming and snorkeling.

- Famara beach - Bs

- Famara beach - Bs

- Famara beach - Bs

- Famara beach - Bs

The second day we decided to change the surf spot. In the morning around 9am with Enrico and Marco (photographer) we check one of the best spot of the Island that it calls La Santa. It's a point break not far from Famara, it takes only 10 minutes by car, but the quality of the waves were scarce. We pass through Ghost Town where waves were not very big. After a briefing with the other surfers we decided to drive to the North where the cost offers some othere surf spots.
Along the road it seems to be in the African's desert and colours of the vulcanoes changed with the sunlight. We took a break in the National Park of TimanFaya where was possible get some great pictures of the landscape.

- TimanFaya -

- Rasta TimanFaya -

- Bs -

- Green Lake -

Finally we arrived in the small village of Orzola that is all sorrounded of white houses that are typical costructions of the island. The way to access to the beach is not very easy to find, but we were lucky that Marco knew some secrects of Lanzarote.
Waves were around 3-4ft and the bay was protected from the wind. After a few minutes that we arrived, I was the first to get in to the ocean and I paddled out to the line up! It was a great moment when I catched the first wave because it was fast, deep and very long...it was just perfetct! We was surfing for almost four hours and at the end of the long surf session we drove back to the opposite side of the island. The atmosphere in the car with my friends was very joyous and we tuned the radio on the local 104.00 Cuarenta where the song was nana nananannn na na nanna naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa that made us laughing and singing!

- Orzola left - Bs

- Orzola left - Bs

- Bs -

- walking back - Bs

- Orzola left - Enrico

Enrico

- Playa Orzola -

The last two days of this unforgettable surf trip we just chilled out with friends and surfing as much as we could even though the waves were not glassy as our expectations. The food was delicious, expecially behind the corner of the apartment were we stayed in Caleta de Famara, there is a small restaurant that it calls Hamburgeseria where we had fresh seafood. I suggest to order 'churro de pescado' served with fried chips, salad, tomatoes with special souce!!! and beers of course!

- La Santa - 

- La Santa -

 - Enrico  Bs  Marco -

 - only locals - 

 - Goodbye Lanzarote - 

Thank you guys because I spent 4 unforgettable days in Lazarote!!!!!!!!!!!

Aloha

SUP BATTLE OF THE FRIENDS

I came back from Hawaii four weeks ago, and I still didn't surf at the home spot in Rome. The wave forecast this summer in Italy are so bad, the ocean it's completly flat and there aren't any good news for the next week. I' m doing some other sports, just to be ready for the next big swell! 

Keep calm and relax is the Italian rule of the summer 2013

- 1st palce Red Team - 

Last weekend  at Jimmy Lewis Rome Test Center I did the First Stand Up Battle of The Friends.

The organization of the contest was supported from Gabriele and Silvia that provide JL Sup boards, and from all friends that had partecipated at the sup battle. 

At 10 am I had the briefing contest where they showed the format of the race.

There were two teams, Red and Blue, with 30 Sup riders that were ready to paddling in a crazy battle.

I was in the Red team with three girls Silvia The Shark Lady, Betty The Long Distance's Paddler and with some other guys.

The format was a relay race, the track was simple with only two turns, and the distance was just perfect for everybody. 

The vibes that I could feel were so good, I was so proud of my friends that organized this event, and I had a lot of fun!

I did the first race versus Fabio, (my personal masseur) where I arrived behind him just for a second. At the second race I was paddling straight to drop Fabio, when I crashed his sup board and he fall off..ah ah ah...after that he tried to bring the tail of my sup board  but he was swiimming too slow and he couldn't finish his tricky job ah ha ah!!!

I was stood up on  the Sup with a big smile and I watched him that was swimming back to get his sup and paddle. I'm sure he drunk some salty water!! Of course I waited him just to be friendly and we paddling back to the beach. It was a great race.....thanks again Fabio!!

The Red team won the First Battle of  The Friends 2013!! 

I'm waiting for some good pictures from you guys to upload on my blog and to remeber this beautiful Sup battle!

- Stay tuned for the 2nd Battle of the friends - 

SK8 IN ROME

- 

- Mars -

        When I was living in Brescia nine years ago I loved skateboarding during the freetime. I still remember when I learned how to do the ollie. I think I spent one month just down the street not far from my parents house to try to jump on the sidewalk. I practised hardly and finally I did some great ollies, it was very fun and I was proud that I was moving to do something bigger.

            After the first trick that every skaters learn when they're training, I had the opportunity to go to some great bowls and skateparks in the city where I was born. Around one years ago I went back to Brescia where there is an  amazing bowl. I was with the long skate that I bought when I visited  Venice beach, California. It was strange to go back to the palces where I grow up, I just went down from the coping and I still remeberd the same lines that I was riding ten years ago.  It was a great experice!

Yestarday after work I was ready again for a great sk8 session. 

         I got off at Anagnina metro stop (Rome) after almost an hour, and I followed the direction that I recived from a friend by fb. Thanks so much Lea!

         I walked 15 min and behind some condos there is an amazing free skatepark. It is just in the area that it calls Cinetittà. I arrived there around 6.30 pm, just the time to find Lea that she introduced me some her friends, and to find a place for the bag...and I was skatebording again.

         Initially I felt not very ready to go back in a skatepark after a long time, but I just thought:

  'the life is one and everyday is special'.

I putted the tail of the skateboard on the coping, I watched down and I dropped in. I was so happy and I felt free!!!! I was skateboarding for an hour and I  tried to close some triks, like the show-it and some ollies on the flat zone. Thanks Mars! For the first day it was enough, but I had the idea to print in my mind this beautiful evening, so I got the camera and I took some shoots of the skaters that I met there.

 

 Thanks so much for a great time toghether, see you soon!

OAHU, HAWAII

Oahu - south shore

                 Hello everybody!!! Today I'm writing about the last surf trip to one of the most famous place for surfing in the world. I was in the place that someone calls the paradise. Anyway if you are just curious, or you would like to visit Oahu or you are almost ready to book the next surf trip, you can read this incredible adventure.

I bought the ticket from San Diego, Ca to Honolulu, Hi by Hawaiian Airlines. I couldn't find any chepest price because I think it was the high season for Hawaii, and it costs 600$. After 3 days that I spent in San Diego, CA I flew to one of the magic islands of Hawaii.

I stayed at Waikiki Backpackers Hostel that it's located on the south shore of Oahu. 

At the hostel I met people from different countries, like New Zeland, Aussie, Japan, French, Brazil, USA. The atmosphere was really good and all the guys that I met were friendly. I went out with some of them and I still have great memories.  

hiking to Diammond Head

 .....enjoy the life every single minute, because the life it's only one and it's too short to regret something!

.

From Honolulu airport to Waikiki beach

The cheapest way to go from the airport to Waikiki area is by bus and  it costs only 2,5$. If you travel with the luggage it's possible that the bus driver tell you to get off....you can wait the next bus and hope to find a driver with the aloha spirit that accept to carry you and your heavy bag!

I was lucky because I got the first bus without any problems and after 1 hour and 20 minutes I arrived at the bus stop located on the south side of Waikiki beach, not too far from the hostel.

At the first sight Waikiki it wasn't the place that I was dreaming when I was thinking to Hawaii. I was expect an island without traffic and pollution, with some villages, and untouchables nature.

I was surprise when I was on the bus and I passed through the city of Honolulu because I could see only skyscrapers on my right and left and the streets were very crowded.

Waikiki looks like an explosion of services for turism. There are big hotels, every kind of shops, pubs, night clubs, fast foods and restaurants on the beach.

Just the time to settle my stuff in the room and refesh my face, I walked to the beach that was a few blocks from the hostel where I could see  for the first time the ocean. The color of the ocean was gorgeous, the the air was fresh and salty, the temperature was around 30° celsius and just in front of me was coming a big set of 4 waves. I was very excited to be in the place where the surf was born. I asked to a guy on the beach the price to rent a longboard, it was 15$ per hour. I walked away, because I felt that I had need to relax and I chilled on the grass along the beach under a huge palm tree. I studied a couple of hours the condition of the surf spot, and I was watching a gruop of local surfer that did airs and big cut backs.

I was surfing at sunset for the first time in Hawaii at Waikiki beach. I paddled out for 15 min to the line up, and I could see some good waves 4-5ft higher. I catched my first wave out there, it was powerful, I was riding a longboard 9ft, the wave was fast and deep, when I was ready I push back on the tail a second, when I was close to the lip I keep walking till the nose. It was one of the longest riding of my life!

The swell was coming bigger a few days later, around 7ft and it was changeless for 3 days. Usually I was surfing early in the morning and at the sunset, because during the day it was over crowded. 

I will tell you some interesting points of Oahu that I discoverd with some friends when I didn't surf....I was in paradise!!!

  

Diamond Head, Hawaii State Park

One day I hiked with James to Diamond Head. We walked from the hostel and then along the beach, until the light house when this crazy guy asked me: 'Diego do you want go up from here?'...not to mention there wasn't any kind of path. We walked 10 min and the side of the hill was deep, after a few meters we were climbing without ropes when from an old military post came out a guy that was looking us with a big gun holded in his arms. I was scary and I climbed as fast as I can straight to the top. The view from the top of the hill was amazing, I set there and I felt that I was on the top of the world. I just appreciated the wind that blowed my face and I was watching the ocean in front of me, behind me there were a big green mountain with some heavy clouds on the top. It was one of the best hiking I ever had, thanks again James!   

hiking with James

no path!

from the road to the top!

Waikiki

Perfect waves on Waikiki 

North Shore

The third day in Hawaii I was courios to visit the north shore of Oahu, because there are some of the world calss surf spots like Waimea Bay and Pipeline! I was very excited, I woke up around 6,30am and I was surfing for a  couple of hours at Waikiki beach. After breakfast I got the bus to Ala Moana Center and I waited the bus connection almost one hour. By the bus number 55 it's possible doing a tour around the island for only 2,5$. After a few hours along the coast I saw a signal of Waimea Valley. I got off and I went directly to the beach where there was a big rock on the left, almost 10ft high, with some guys that was diving.

Waimea Valley

Waimea beach

I walked back to the bus stop and after a long wait for the bus I arrived at Pipeline beach. I wasn't very lucky because one of the famoust point for surfing was completely flat!!! SAD! I jump in the ocean and I chilled on the beach.

The next stop was the little Hale'iwa Town. I really like this small village, there are some shops along the street, the atmosphere was friendly and people were smiling. I was watching an amazing sunset on the beach,  the sky change the colors very quickly, I can't explain what I felt in that moment. The nature surprised me  again and I could feel the aloha spirit that was coming in my mind!
I went back to the hostel in the evening, I catched the last bus from north shore that it takes almost 3 hours to go back to Ala Moana Center where I waited the bus connection for 40 min. Finally I spent almost 6 hours by bus, it was very long....but I was very satisfied for the tour.

  I       

East Coast

The day after I rented a car with Karen and James, and we drove along the east coast. It's another piece of paradise with some great beaches. There are some botanical gardens where I saw for the first time some magic flowers and big trees. They reminds me that the nature is beautiful and we have to respect it to give the possibility to our children to enjoy this beauty in the future.

Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay is my favourite beach for snorkeling. It is a preserve park where there is an amazing  coral reef, the ocean it's blue and turquoise, and I could see different kind of fishes and turtles. Before to go to the beach you have to pay 7$ and watching a short movie that it shows some rules that you have to respect to preserve the coral and animals. On the beach it's possible to rent stuff for snorkeling for 15$ per day.

Aloha!