The trip to Morocco with the van was absolutely worth it! We scored around two weeks of solid conditions, and I had the chance to take part in the Moulay Wave Classic – a regional three-star event. Although the competition didn’t count towards my World Cup ranking, my main goal was to gain valuable contest experience.

Typically, Moulay serves up anything from moderate to strong starboard tack winds with a touch of side-onshore – and the week leading up to the event was nothing short of epic. After spending so much time in Australia jumping on port tack, it took me a few sessions to get back into the rhythm of jumping with wind from the right. But once I settled in, things started to click: I managed to push myself further than ever, landing my very first stalled forward loops and taking my wave riding to a whole new level. I felt ready to send it!
Then came contest day – and with it, some seriously wild conditions. Mast-high waves breaking on the reef with no clear channel, and full power wind – my 3.5m sail was lit! I gave it my all, aiming to ride the biggest waves as radically as I could. It paid off with a few solid hits, though it also meant a couple of hefty swims. I managed to land a front loop and won my heat, heading straight into the final – with the highest score recorded in the entire women’s competition.

The women’s final was short and sharp – just twelve minutes, with two jumps and two wave rides counting. Knowing that wipeouts could eat up precious time, I opted to go for my jumps on the inside first, before chasing down set waves. Unfortunately, after a forward loop, I got stuck in a wind hole for a good five minutes. With the current dragging me downwind, my only chance was to switch to a bigger board – which cost even more time. In the end, I was missing one solid wave and an extra jump to make up my score.
So, despite landing that front loop and one good wave in the end, I had to settle for fourth place – and yes, it was frustrating! I’d been sailing so well in the lead-up and wasn’t able to show it when it really counted. Throw in a dash of bad luck, and voilà – the contest experience I’d been looking for with a frustrated me!

But stepping back from the result, I’m genuinely proud of what I learned – that was my goal from the very beginning. I now have a much clearer idea of how to improve my training, both in jumps and wave riding, so I can perform under pressure next time. I’m glad I got to learn these lessons in a regional comp – and now I feel ready for more. Fingers crossed!