PORTE 13, AIN DIAB, Casablanca - Morocco (Wednesday, April 24, 2024) - The Morocco Mall Junior Pro Casablanca, Stop No.1 on the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) European Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) will return from May 22-26, 2024 at Ain Diab beach, in Casablanca, Morocco.
It will be the third time the best European and Moroccan surfers under 20 get to kick off their season in the fun peaks and clement temperatures of Ain Diab. Following two successful past editions, everyone is looking forward to coming back to Morocco and reigniting the rivalries that make the junior tour so entertaining. More than just fun in the sun, this highly competitive event is a golden opportunity for local surfers to hone their skills and test themselves against the best competitors in Europe.
The defending women's event winner Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) went on to claim her first European junior title last season and will be back in Casablanca, chasing a fourth event win and trying to keep the regional title in the family for a fifth year in a row.
But the young Basque will face plenty of challengers, including local talents trying to follow in the footsteps of Moroccan star Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) who just made the mid-season Cut on the Championship Tour (CT) and is guaranteed to stay on tour next season. With Morocco's top female competitor Lilias Tebbai (MAR) now graduated to the Qualifying Series (QS), Ranya Squalli (MAR) will lead the local charge, competing for the third year in Casablanca.
The men's field will be more open and guaranteed to crown a new winner as the past two victors have now graduated to the Qualifying Series. Germany's Tim Elter who lifted the trophy in 2023 didn't particularly capitalize on the momentum from an early win in Casablanca but recently achieved one of the biggest results of his young career, qualifying for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics that will be held in Tahiti for surfing. Mohammed Reda Madouar (MAR) and Ayman Gougali (MAR) will carry the local hopes alongside about a dozen Moroccans challenging Europe's best on home turf.
Francisco Ordonhas (POR) - WSL
The World Surf League has a tradition of hosting professional surfing events in Morocco that benefit both the African and European regional athletes. With previous stops on the Qualifying Series (QS) and Junior QS, surfers from both regions can compete, earn points and prize money towards trying to qualify for the Challenger Series (CS) or the World Junior Championships (WJC). Past editions in Casablanca and Taghazout have welcomed competitors from all over the world and a majority from Africa and Europe. Moroccan surfers have also been encouraged to travel and compete both on the Old Continent and in African events like Redouane Regragui (MAR) and Aboubakar Bouaouda (MAR) most recently at the Cape Town Surf Pro and SA Open of Surfing.
The 2024 Morocco Mall Junior Pro Casablanca is scheduled from May 22-26, 2024, at Ain Diab beach, in Casablanca, Morocco. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to worldsurfleague.com.