During the most recent European Longboard competition in Morocco, British surf legend Sam Bleakley and his lovely family stayed with us at La Crique Surf House—our surf camp between Rabat and Bouznika. It was here, just steps from the iconic Bouznika point break, that I sat down with Sam for a deep and personal conversation about surfing, legacy, and the rise of a new generation.

Sam’s return to Bouznika was far more than just a nostalgic visit. The last time he surfed this wave in competition was back in 2009, during the European Longboard Tour. That year, he placed third after an intense semi-final against Antoine Delpero in overhead surf. Now, in 2025, he wasn’t here to compete—but to cheer on his 17-year-old daughter, Lola, who’s quickly emerging as a top European longboarder.

Bouznika, with its long, peeling right-handers, remains one of Morocco’s most ideal longboard waves. It offers the kind of space that allows true longboard style to shine—graceful footwork, flowing rail turns, and long nose rides. For Sam, who’s surfed Morocco since the ’90s and explored everywhere from Taghazout to Dakhla, Bouznika holds a special place: “It has power, yes—but it also has rhythm. It’s a place where you can dance with the wave.”

Sam and his family stayed at La Crique Surf House, a surf camp we built between Rabat and Bouznika to host traveling surfers, artists, and ocean lovers from all over the world. Over shared meals, early surf checks, and sunset tea on the terrace, Sam shared his reflections on how surfing—and his role in it—has evolved.

“I used to come here to compete,” he told me. “Now I’m here to support my daughter. I’ve done the world tours, I’ve written books, made films, earned my PhD… but honestly, my biggest achievement is being a dad. Watching Lola express herself on the board, in this wave—it’s everything.”

Sam spoke passionately about the importance of ocean literacy—teaching his children not just how to ride waves, but how to understand them. For the Bleakleys, this is a family ritual: arriving at a new surf spot, observing local surfers, studying the currents, asking questions, and learning from the environment before ever paddling out. “Wherever we are—Cornwall, Portugal, or here in Bouznika—this is how we connect with place and people.”

Lola, calm and focused, was excited for the competition but not overwhelmed. “It’s a righthander, so it’s my backhand,” she said with a smile. “That makes it more challenging, but also a good opportunity to push my nose riding and improve wave selection.” Before her heat, the family would paddle out together—her dad, mom, little brother, all sharing waves. “It’s so special to surf as a family before competing. That support in the water means everything.”

For Sam, the return to surfing in Bouznika also carried a deeper meaning—one rooted in cultural change. “There are so many great male Moroccan longboarders coming up now,” he noted, “but there are still very few female surfers in longboarding. My hope is that Lola can inspire even just one young Moroccan girl to pick up a longboard. That’s legacy.”

Watching father and daughter share waves and stories here at La Crique Surf House was a moving reminder of what surfing is really about. It’s not just performance—it’s presence, connection, and continuity. The torch is being passed. And it’s happening right here on the clean walls of Bouznika.

Whether you’re a competitive surfer, a beginner, or simply someone seeking ocean connection, surfing in Morocco—and especially surfing in Bouznika—offers more than just waves. It offers community, culture, and the chance to be part of something bigger.

And if you’re ever looking for a place to stay between sessions, we’d be honored to welcome you to La Crique Surf House, the surf camp between Rabat and Bouznika where stories like this one come to life.