Anchor Point:
Ever since its discovery back in the day, Anchor Point has been Morocco’s most legendary wave. It’s a long, long right point that runs along a rock shelf, with hollow sections and lots of room for high-performance surfing. It’s easy location in the town of Taghazoute and its consistency in the winter months make it the center of surfing in the region.
Much of the town has built up around it and caters to the traveling surfer. Rooms are for rent from cheap to decent, for long and short term stays; internet cafes are popping up, along with eating establishments that cater to Westerners; and surf schools are attracting ever more beginners – often from Europe’s inland countries such as Germany and Switzerland. Unfortunately for this world-class break, it’s also crowded and the changes from sleepy Moroccan village to surf travel crossroads of the world have taken the adventure and experience of exotic Morocco out of the place. It might be the Moroccan version of Rosarito, B.C., Mexico, without the booze and strip clubs.
On the other hand, there are at least four world-class breaks within driving distance, so the crowd spreads out and epic sessions abound. And Anchor Point can hold any size swell up to triple overhead and beyond, making it the go to spot when the swell is macking.
The wave itself peaks on the outside in front of a rock-shelf point with a small takeoff zone for the experienced surfer. As it rolls down the line it offers several sections that pitch and barrel at different tides, where the crowd strings out and shoulder hops. The paddle out can be daunting, necessitating a timed jump off slippery rocks, and the inexperienced hesitate and can be doomed. But the paddle in is worse when a big swell is running, as the whitewash batters the same rocks and makes luck and timing essential.
As with most spots in Morocco, low tide is a must. Even a solid swell can go inconsistent and mushy at high tide, so you’ll see the area littered with sunburned Euros hanging out with an eye on it through the afternoon, waiting for the tide to drop. Dawn can be good, and evening glass offs. The lower tide the better and more hollow.
As for equipment, take your fast shortboard for the head high days, and a bigger, narrower board for when it gets big. If you’re there in prime season, you’ll use it.
Killers:
Visible from the lineup at Anchor Point or from the dirt lot above Mysteries, Killers is the distant break at the top of the headland. It’s said that it is named for the occasional sightings of Killer Whales in the area, but the wave itself is worthy of the name. It is a long, powerful right point that can handle the biggest swells, and can be more challenging than Anchor Points more groomed lines. You can check it from the road up on the hill, or watch it in the distance from the Mysteries lot.
A long paddle from the sharp, rocky beach to the lineup keeps the crowds down, and on big swells it can be a chore to get out there. Better surfers and more serious ones will make the paddle to avoid the crowds at Anchor’s and to challenge themselves in the bomb sets. On a good day barrels can be had in the big, shifty line up, with long walls and rippable sections.
If it’s pumping, drink a lot of water before you paddle out, as you’ll be out there all day and won’t want to come in. It’s a great wave that’ll challenge the best of surfers.
Mysteries:
Mysteries is the wave on the northern back beach of Anchor Point. A dirt area atop the cliffs offers camping and in peak winter holiday season can filled with more than fifty campervans with license plates from Poland to Portugal. Anchor Point is walking distance to the south, Killers is walking distance and visible to the north.
The wave itself is one of the few waves in the area that work on higher tides. A rock shelf reef that is exposed at the lowest tides, it offers a rippable fun right similar to Lower Trestles, and a left that can be decent and a nice change from all the right points you’ve been surfing. Keep an eye on it in the afternoons, as the crowd can ebb and flow and the tide changes can have it working at unexpected times, so be ready for the quick run out there.
To reach it, head down the trails on the cliffs and time a jump off from the rocks, then paddle across the lineup and around the shoulder. The beginners like to surf it, but the more experienced can pick off the gems by marking your lineup and reading the shifts.
A fun wave and it has its epic days with the right wind/swell combos. The dirt campground is full of trash and broken bottles, and new construction along the hilltop might soon replace camping with condos. Mingling with the traveling Euros on the cliff tops can be fun, as you’re sure to see them in the water the next day.