Ramzi Boukhiam Will Get A Run In 2024

In October 2023, the Woz announced Ramzi Boukhiam would be given the men’s WSL replacement slot for 2024. Ergo, if anyone gets hurt in the opening five events before the cut, Ramzi gets a rashie.

Historically speaking, hurt is a guarantee. Over the last decade, every year has seen at least one male surfer on the Championship Tour (CT) sidelined due to injury during the opening five events.

Alhamdulillah! 

With Joao Chianca currently recovering from a head injury sustained at Backdoor, there’s a chance Ramzi gets a run from the Lexus Pipe Pro. The lead up to Banzai often sees guys get bruised before the event runs, as was the case in 2022 when Yago Dora, Ryan Callinan, LOB, Medina withdrew from the opening event citing various ailments. 

But back to Moroccan buff Ramzi.

If you can recall, Ramz finished 7th on the Challenger Series in 2022 becoming the first surfer from Morocco to qualify for the big leagues. Local spirits were already fizzing after eliminating footballing giants Portugal and Spain in the Qatar World Cup, and I had the serendipitous fortune of watching him qualify from a rooftop in Taghazout, where he belted wonky Saquarema to a pulp on route to the final against Gabriel Medina. 

It is there he made the magical ~17,000 points to squeeze into the top 10 of the CS.

You know Ahmed and I burned one in celebration. 

However, it promptly went nips up when Ramz destroyed his hoof packing a pit at Backdoor, getting ATV’d up the beach and withdrawing for the remainder of the year.

The 2023 injury wildcard was awarded to Carlos Munoz and Ramzi’s last appearance in a Championship Tour (CT) heat remained stuck in 2013, where he was defeated by Mick Fanning in round 3 of the Quik Pro France as a wildcard.

In an ideal world, Kelly Slater (who has the 2024 season wildcard) dodges the opening five events, becomes a shaman and moves to a mud hut in Cusco, thereby handing his spot to Ramzi so the Moroccan can have a guaranteed crack at all five events pre mid-year cut. Gosh, you would love to see his powerful diff in action at Sunset and Bells.

Failing that, pray for hurt!