Les Estagnots Photo: Timo

6’0” x 18 3/4” x 2 3/8” Medina model By Johnny Cabianca at Pukas

“That was my first surf on this one… I had to test my new boards before Brazil and I hadn’t been able to because of a perforated ear drum (four weeks out of the water). I’ve always loved johnny’s boards, I’ve been surfing them for quite a while now. The thing is I’ve changed a lot physically lately… so my dimensions have also changed during that time and it hasn’t made the shaper’s job any easier. I am struggling to find the right dimensions at the moment…that board is too thin for me on the rails, I need more volume now, so johnny made me some thicker ones for Brazil and I hope they gonna suit me. I need fuller rails now for power turns coz I am bigger and badder hahah.

Sometimes a board works great backside but doesn’t on your forehand… that one worked perfect in the air but I couldn’t lay power turns with it so well. I am not a shape technician, I feel a board when I’ve got it under my arm… I feel the rails, and I kinda of know if she is gonna do it or not for me…

It’s my first year on the WQS and obviously one board cannot fit all the waves that we’ll be surfing during the season, I’ve never been to most of those WQS venues… so I’m gonna have to be open minded about boards and try to learn as much as possible from this year. I often surf the Medina model, but I hope one day to get my own, Inch Allah.”

(Ramzi Boukhiam is 1m 85 and 83kg of Moroccan/Dutch goofyfoot radness)