ABU DHABI: Last summer at the Paris Olympics, Moroccan surfer Ramzi Boukhiam attacked one monster wave after another at Tahiti’s iconic Teahupo’o, going toe-to-toe with Brazilian Joao Chianca in one of the most memorable heats of the Games.
The duo traded perfect 8-to-10-foot barrels throughout the heat, with Boukhiam scoring a stunning 9.70 on one of his waves. But the Moroccan’s total, which combines the highest-scoring two waves per surfer, ended up being just 0.3 points short of Chianca’s tally and he missed out on a spot in the quarter-finals and a chance to fight for an Olympic medal.
“It was pretty much the conditions that I love, that I dream of. Perfect heats, at perfect Teahupo’o, big waves, barrels. And I was against Joao Chianca. He’s one of the best barrel riders in the world. And he’s a good friend. And I knew he charged a lot,” Boukhiam told Arab News on the sidelines of the ongoing Surf Abu Dhabi Pro at Hudayriyat Island in the UAE capital.
“We knew that both of us were going to go for it and bring the best out of each other. And we did. It was an amazing, amazing, amazing heat. And I was really bummed.
“I think it’s the toughest loss of my career. Even though I put on a show and it was amazing, but I still didn’t come home with a medal. So, at the end of the day, I was really sad. But I’m proud of my performance.”
It may have felt like he left Tahiti empty-handed, but Boukhiam walked away from his second appearance at the Olympics with scores of new fans, from the Middle East, North Africa and beyond.
The Paris Games gave surfing a wider platform compared to when the sport made its Olympics debut in Tokyo three years earlier.
Opting to stage the competition in Tahiti, the Paris Olympics showcased surfing at its best, with massive barrels and elite-level ripping on full display.
“When you see those big, perfect barrels, even if you don’t understand nothing about surfing, you’re going to be like, wow! You know? It gets you. It captivates you,” Boukhiam said.
“So, I really feel like these Olympics were way bigger for surfing than the other one. And we really showed what surfing is all about. I wish I had the medal. But it is what it is. It was a nice one.”
Last year was a big one for Boukhiam, not just because of his second appearance at the Olympics. The Agadir native spent 10 years battling on the Qualifying Series before he finally clinched a spot for the 2023 Championship Tour, or CT, of the World Surf League, or WSL, only to get injured and break his ankle in training just before the start of the new season.
He got his chance a year later when he was handed the replacement slot for 2024 and a couple of withdrawals made way for the first Arab surfer to compete on the WSL’s CT, the highest-level of competition in the world of professional surfing.
Boukhiam finished his rookie campaign ranked 12th in the world and he has loftier targets for his sophomore season, which began at Pipeline in Hawaii a couple of weeks ago before landing on Abu Dhabi shores this weekend for the first CT event to be staged in the Middle East.
“My first year, I had a lot of fun,” Boukhiam said. “And I was super proud of a few moments in the year where my back was against the wall and I managed to step it up and turn the situation around and come out with big results and just boost of confidence, coming back from my injury and everything.
“So, I was pretty happy and proud of myself after a nice year.”
An interference call in the round of 32 saw Boukhiam finish 17th at Pipeline last week and he admits it was a tough pill to swallow given he had high hopes for the opening event of the 2025 season.
“It really felt like I let an opportunity go by to have a really, really good result. So it hurt a lot,” he said.
Boukhiam quickly put the disappointment behind him on landing in the UAE for a historic inaugural Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, and is excited to compete in front of Moroccan and Arab fans.
“Honestly, it’s super cool. And I’m sure I’m going to see some Moroccan flags the day of my heat. I know a lot of friends and a lot of Moroccans that live here in Dubai and in Abu Dhabi as well. So, I hope they’ll come around and check it out and support,” he said.
“Hopefully it’s going to motivate the kids from here in the Middle East. Maybe a champion is going to come from here soon. And you guys have good waves close by. You know, Sri Lanka and everything. So, yeah, it’s a perfect start for the region. Having the best surfers on the planet in your home. I’m super happy.”
Winning his first CT event is high up on Boukhiam’s bucket list for 2025, and he’s also hoping to finish the year in the top five.
“I know I can do it. It’s really hard, but I know I can do it. So, I’m going to go for it,” said Boukhiam, whose best CT finish so far was clinching third at the Tahiti Pro last year after defeating surfing great Kelly Slater in the quarter-finals.
At 31, Boukhiam believes his best days are still ahead of him. He feels he’s finally coming into his own competing against the world’s best and isn’t putting any limits on his ambitions.
Could a third Olympics appearance be in the cards for him at LA 2028?
“If my body lets me, for sure, I’m thinking about it,” he said.
“I feel fresh, honestly. I feel the strongest I’ve ever been. My surfing is there. I feel like I’m almost still improving a little bit, which is not usual. At 31, normally you start going down. But I feel like I’m getting better and stronger. So, Alhamdulillah, yeah. Why not? Why not?
“I’m going year by year and event by event. I just want to do good in the CT. And if I’m ready for the Olympics, I’ll be ready, inshallah.”
Boukhiam was born in Agadir to a Moroccan father and Dutch mother. He lost his father at the age of 11 and later moved with his mother and brother to Biarritz, France — the epicenter of European surfing.
After a strong junior career and a decade toiling on the Qualifying Series, Boukhiam, who is back based in Agadir, is finally where he belongs, competing against the best surfers on the planet.
Asked what his advice would be for Arab surfers looking to follow in his footsteps, Boukhiam said: “I know it’s cliche, but keep going, because that’s exactly what I did. I had a good junior career, and then I had ups and downs for more than eight, nine, 10 years on the Challengers and all that stuff, and then finally qualified at 29,” he said.
“So I kept pushing with a lot of injuries, a lot of stuff. I know it’s cliche, but keep pushing, believe, and keep improving.
“Forget about what everyone is doing. Do you, and do the best of you, and try to be the best of you every day, and keep going, and try to do the maximum so you have no regrets. I think that’s the mindset you need to have.”
