Yoriyas: The Energy of Everyday Life
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A few weeks after the third edition of the Royal Nautique Pro, the Moroccan leg of the Waterski Pro Tour, held in Rabat-Salé from 5th to 7th June, Kamil Belmrah, reigning African waterski champion, looks back on competing on home waters and reflects on his relationship with the water, with speed and with a maritime Morocco that remains largely unexplored.
At full speed, the world becomes simple. There is only you, the rope, the boat guiding you and the course ahead. It is this feeling of absolute freedom that makes the sport so addictive, with the promise, every run, of a few seconds during which everything else disappears.
The public sees the speed, the precision of each movement and, sometimes, the fall. What they see less is the invisible work behind it: hours of physical training, mobility work, core strengthening, recovery and repetition. In slalom, everything can be decided in a matter of seconds, and a momentary lapse of concentration can change everything.
Morocco has the unique advantage of offering a remarkable variety of waters ideally suited to the sport. The Bouregreg in Rabat is exceptional. It is framed by the Kasbah of the Oudayas on one side and the city of Salé on the other, with remarkably calm water on summer mornings.
In the Rabat region, I also enjoy Dayat Erroumi, a lake sheltered from the wind and equipped with technical facilities that meet international standards. Then there are Agadir, Dakhla and Marrakech, with nearby Essaouira and Lake Lalla Takerkoust, all major destinations for board and water sports.
From one stretch of water to another, Morocco reveals a different side of itself. The journey is no longer defined solely by its cities, its roads or its landscapes, but also by its winds, its reflections and its ever-changing light.
The mental side of the sport is undoubtedly even more demanding than the physical one. You have to learn to breathe, to visualise and to block out the noise around you. Fear is always there, of course, but the goal is not to eliminate it. You have to learn to live with it. It becomes a source of heightened awareness.
At high speed, you become acutely aware of the force of the water beneath you and, with experience, you learn to anticipate the wind, the current and the reactions of your own body. For me, mastering risk means recognising that it exists and approaching it with rigour and humility.
Wearing the colours of Morocco is an immense responsibility. Every time I take to the water, I think of my family, my coaches and everyone who has supported me along the way. I also think of those discovering that a Moroccan can compete with the very best in this sport.
Waterskiing remains a niche sport in Morocco, and establishing a national federation was far from straightforward. That is why winning the 2026 African Open Championship, together with being named African Waterskier of the Year and setting a new African record, carries such special significance for me. It shows that Morocco belongs among the continent’s leading nations in the sport.
A perfect day would begin early, at six in the morning, when the water is still as smooth as a mirror. A morning session, followed by breakfast on a terrace, then a moment of rest during the hottest part of the day. Later in the afternoon, I would head back onto the water for another session, before ending the day watching the sunset and enjoying dinner with my family. It is simple, but that is exactly what makes a perfect summer. All you need is water, sunshine and a touch of daring. Morocco has all three in abundance.
I find the new generation truly impressive because they move naturally between wakeboarding, surfing, foiling and kitesurfing, and they know exactly what they want. My role, I believe, is to show them that it is possible, that they can represent their country at the highest level and that there is no limit to what they can achieve when hard work, the right support and determination come together.
Kamil Belmrah in Brief
At just 21 years of age, Kamil Belmrah has established himself as the face of Moroccan waterskiing. Trained in Rabat, the champion has enjoyed a succession of international performances: European and African Under 17 Champion in 2021, medallist at the Callaway Gardens Junior Masters, bronze medallist at the European and African Under 21 Championships in 2023, before being crowned the 2026 African Open Champion and named African Waterskier of the Year. A remarkable trajectory that has made him one of Morocco’s leading ambassadors for watersports.
Publication Date July 2026
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