July 9 2022.

My favourite skatepark in the world? Probably Taghazout skatepark, not because of the park itself, but because of where it's located. It's Paradise with an upgrade.

In 2022 Taghazout is a popular surf destination in Morocco, but it hasn't always been like that. Back in 1997 I ended up in Morocco after talking to a friend who had discovered this little town, with supposedly insane surf. The "Internet" was still in it's baby shoes, Booking and Trip advisors were inexistent, no information about this spot, and traveling was a lot more difficult back in those days. But, I had a map, drawn on a piece of paper, of a cabin on the beach. Here my friend had stayed with a guy called Abdellah El Ghazal. A couple of weeks later I was in Banana village, took the first left, a dirt road that leads up to the beach and there was the cabin with, behind it, a perfect right going off. Abdellah made me feel at home straightaway and since these holidays Morocco turned into my second home.

Since I discovered Taghazout I have gone back 23 times. One thing is for sure, the town has changed dramatically over the years and exclusive resorts are slowly taking over, but it's still a paradise on earth and epic surf just keeps on rolling in every year. And, just when you think things can't get better, in December 2017 paradise was upgraded when the community put all hands on deck to build the skatepark in Taghazout.

In contrast to many more recent development projects in Morocco (and the world), Taghazout skatepark was created with and for the community and that makes this spot so special. It's an amazing place that brings together people from literally all around the globe. Taghazout skatepark creates friendships and nationality, class, religion or cultural background makes no difference here. The only thing that matters is that we all skate and have fun.

Make Life Skate Life and around hundred volunteers built this one of a kind skatepark in just 3 weeks, in 2017 with the help of Levi's skateboarding and the support of the local government. In a matter of months kids that never skated before were shredding like the park had been there for years.

The location couldn't be better. It's located just above the village of Taghazout and is easy accessible by foot or car. You have a non profit association on spot, Taghazout Skate, who provide skateboards and protection for children who can't afford their own. The plan for the future is to extend the park in order to be able to accommodate more youth from low-income families, disadvantaged women and girls and the amount of skaters that are visiting the skatepark from around the world.

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