If you follow us on Instagram (if you don't, seriously, click here) you may well have noticed we made a little trip to Morocco over the weekend to try our hand at some surfing with UGG. What have UGG got to do with surfing?! We hear you ask. Well actually, quite a lot. The infamous boots that have helped build UGG into the second most imitated brand in the world (!) have long been worn by surfers post-surf to keep warm. But UGG have a lot more to offer the world of footwear than just the classic boots, dontcha know? This summer, the venerable brand have released a line of gorgeous sandals, espradilles and trainers in a number of designs, all lined with that familiar sheepskin comfort.
To celebrate, our Alya Mooro joined UGG and Surf Maroc on the Agadir coast to get as close to the heart of the surf as possible. We round up highlights of the trip below...
The Weather
Can we start by mentioning how insane the weather was in Morocco? Honestly, we'd be lying if we didn't put it at the very top of our list of highlights. Okay, so the sun may be starting to hold its own against the UK's seemingly ever-present clouds, but nothing beats lying under the scorching sun. And UGG very kindly gave us plenty of time to do just that! From Millie Mackintosh's new SS15 collection (check out our interview with her here) to some lacy wonders and, of course, our trusty wetsuits, our summer closets got a lovely airing in the meanwhile.
The Surfing
Let's just start by saying, it's seriously not as easy as it looks. While bronzed and glistening surfers may flick their hair and zigzag up, down and over some ginormous waves, all the while making it look so effortless, we tried, and fell, and tried and fell and tried and fell some more. On our last day on the surf we managed to make some progress and surf a wave or two (granted, it was on our knees as opposed to on our feet but you can't win them all!). The attempts were almost as fun as the succeeding, though! And an immense workout and a slighly sunburnt face later, we retired to the pool for some consolidating and consoling cocktails.
The Final Supper
From poolside sushi to freshly caught grilled fish and the Sofitel's *insane *'I dare you to try eat your way through this' breakfast buffets, pretty much every meal was write home about (aka for our generation - Instagram about) worthy. But the UGG team certainly pulled out all the stops for our final supper in Morocco. Descending upon the beach just in time for sunset, we were greeted by a beautifully laid table complete with stunning floral arrangements standing pride of place on the private beach. With our own bar (yes, really!) and chefs standing by to grill and cook and pretty much stuff us to completion with a four course meal, we dined on oysters, lobsters, grilled fish and desert (!) well into the night.
The City
With everyone - including the Beckham's - making their way to the sunny climes, Morocco's become a veritable hotspot. But while everyone tends to make their way to Marrakech, we experienced the less touristy, more laid back vibes of Agadir. With a gorgeous marina and frankly even more beautiful hotels (the Sofitel, where we stayed, was seriously out of this world!), Agadir is definitely a 'bump it to the top of your to-go list pronto!' kinda place. May as well try some surfing while you're at it, too.
Check out UGG's summer collection here.