Moroccan Surfer Ramzi Boukhiam Wins Brazil’s Hang Loose Pro, Surges to World No. 2

By winning this stage, Boukhiam became the fifth foreign surfer to win on the Pernambuco archipelago in 15 years, thanks to a total of 14.40 points. He was also able to eliminate the defending champion, Brazilian Jadson André, who had to share third place with his compatriot Wiggolly Dantas, world number 1.

Thanks to this victory, worth $15,000, the champion, who will defend Morocco’s colors at the next Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has moved from 163rd to 2nd place in the world rankings. Behind him is the young Brazilian, Weslley Danta, who finished 3rd with 11.23 points.

In a statement to the World Surf League website, Ramzi Boukhiam expressed his joy at this victory. "I missed an event at home and I just wanted to come to Brazil and surf well. Jadson (André) and Weslley (Dantas) are very good and I was afraid of that, but I did what I could and I’m very happy with the result," he stressed.

At 26 years old, this native of Agadir is thus making history by becoming the first Moroccan and Arab athlete to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled for July 26 to August 9. He had already proven himself by winning the European Cadet Champion title in 2012 and the World Vice-Champion title in the same category in 2013.

His last victory on the World Surf League world circuit was in 2018, at the QS 1500 in Lacanau, France. He could have won the title at the QS 3000 in Santa Cruz, Portugal, but lost the final to Portuguese champion Frederico Morais.