The Marchica E-Foil Trophy brought together national and international e-foil elite riders in Nadorfor a first edition driven by sport, innovation, and territorial influence.
Nador, May 10, 2026 – Nador hosted, on May 9 and 10, the first edition of the Marchica E-Foil Trophy – SFT Surf Foil World Tour E-Foil World Cup 2026, marking the organization of the very first E-Foil World Cup ever held on the African continent. Hosted at the Marchica Lagoon Resort, the international event brought together national and international riders, institutional stakeholders, partners, and media representatives around a rapidly growing discipline at the crossroads of technology and board sports.
As part of the official Surf Foil World Tour 2026 calendar, the Moroccan stage confirmed the Kingdom’s positioning among emerging destinations capable of hosting next-generation international sporting competitions, while also highlighting the natural and tourism potential of the Nador region.
Beyond the competition itself, this first edition served as a true showcase for Nador and the Marchica Lagoon, demonstrating the destination’s capacity to host international events with strong sporting and tourism value.
« This first edition fully reflects the ambition carried by the strategic development project of the Marchica Lagoon site. Beyond the sporting competition, this event embodies a vision focused on territorial influence, international openness, and the sustainable promotion of our Mediterranean coastline, »said Mrs. Loubna Boutaleb, CEO of Marchica Agency and Marchica Med.
For his part, Fayçal Guennouni, CEO of E-Foil Maroc, described the event as « an important milestone for the development of e-foil in Morocco and across Africa,” adding that “this competition demonstrates Morocco’s ability to join major international circuits dedicated to innovative water sports. »
The same enthusiasm was shared by Marchica Lagoon Resort.« This first edition successfully combined sporting excellence, premium hospitality, and tourism promotion within an exceptional setting. Marchica Lagoon Resort further confirms its positioning as a destination capable of hosting international events that meet the highest standards, » emphasized Tarik Kerdoudi, Commercial & Marketing Director of MarchicaLagoon Resort.
Over the course of two days, the Marchica E-Foil Trophy delivered an experience blending premium hospitality, sporting passion, cultural immersion, and territorial promotion. The competition also stood out for its particularly high level, bringing together riders from several countries across multiple categories.
At the end of the various competitions held throughout the weekend, the top-performing riders of this first edition were honored during the official awards ceremony, organized in an atmosphere celebrating sporting excellence and the international dimension of the event.
In the Men’s category, Spain’s Manel Arpa Zuriguel claimed first place ahead of American rider Justin Chait and Austria’s Clemens Kresser. In the Women’s category, Sweden’s Agnes Wicander secured victory ahead of Spain’s Julia Castro and Dutch rider Laura Jil Kurmann. The Best Moroccan Ridertrophy was awarded to Jamal Elkabyr, followed by Amin Balha and Youness Rhallam, while the Masters category was won by Clemens Kresser, ahead of Dutch rider Piet Varkevisser and Finland’s Antti Koskinen, confirming the high competitive standard of this first African edition of the global e-foil circuit.
Alongside the sporting competitions, participants and guests also enjoyed an immersive experience through several festive highlights organized within the Marchica Lagoon Resort. The gala evening, held under the theme “Spanish Tradition & Treasures of the Lagoon,” stood out as one of the major moments of the weekend, featuring a tapas dinner, a giant paella, and a flamenco performance by the Jesús Cortés troupe from Barcelona.
Designed as a space for exchange and conviviality, the event successfully highlighted the Mediterranean identity of the destination in an atmosphere combining sport, culture, and lifestyle.
With this inaugural edition, the Marchica E-Foil Trophy opens a new chapter in the development of water sports in Morocco and across Africa. Through this event, Nador confirms its ambition to become a new hub for major international competitions linked to sporting innovation and experiential tourism.
The organizers have already announced their intention to establish the Moroccan stage as a permanent fixture on the international Surf Foil World Tour calendar.
