Zoé, 25

I was born in Bordeaux but I was raised, in a way, by the ocean. My parents have a small house in Lacanau, an hour from the city, and every summer of my childhood was spent there: bare feet, salt in my hair, learning to read the waves before I could properly read books. My father taught me to surf when I was eight, on a foam board that was way too big for me, and I fell off approximately a thousand times that first summer. By the time I was fourteen I was competing in local junior contests, and by eighteen I knew this was not just a hobby — it was the thing I wanted to build my life around.

I am 25 now and I work as a surf instructor at Lacanau beach from spring to autumn. My job is to stand in the Atlantic in a wetsuit and teach people — total beginners, nervous teenagers, retirees who always wanted to try — how to catch their first wave. There is no better feeling than watching someone stand up for the first time and scream with joy. In winter, when the water gets cold and the tourists leave, I work in a surf shop in Bordeaux and train for myself: dawn sessions when the swell is good, gym, yoga, endless video analysis of my own technique. The ocean decides my schedule. If there is a good swell at 7am, I am in the water at 7am — everything else waits.

Bordeaux itself is a beautiful base. I live in a shared apartment in the Chartrons district, in an old stone building with huge windows, and my bike is my main transport. Bordeaux is a city of golden limestone, wide quays along the Garonne river, and — of course — wine. Living in a wine region shapes daily life in ways people do not expect. Friday evenings often mean an apéritif with friends at a wine bar in Saint-Pierre, tasting a new Bordeaux or a natural wine from a small producer. In September, friends who work in the vineyards invite me to help with the harvest — the vendanges — a day of picking grapes, a long lunch under the trees, and arms that ache in the best way. The markets here are wonderful too: the Marché des Capucins on Sunday mornings, oysters from Arcachon, canelés still warm from the oven. A canelé — that little caramelized custard cake — is the taste of Bordeaux, and I eat far too many.

My weekends are split between two worlds. If the surf is good, I am at Lacanau at dawn, coffee in a thermos, watching the sunrise over the dunes before paddling out. If it is flat, I am in Bordeaux: brunch with friends, a ride along the river, a picnic at the Miroir d’eau, or a night out in the bars of Saint-Michel. I love the contrast — the wild Atlantic and the elegant city, both within an hour of each other. In the evenings I am usually the one organizing the apéro: rosé, tapenade, saucisson, good bread, friends on my little balcony as the light turns gold on the stone facades.

Personality-wise, I am easygoing, energetic, and a little bit stubborn — the ocean teaches you patience, but also that you have to commit. I am up for almost anything: a road trip, a new recipe, a sunrise hike. I laugh easily and I am not afraid of cold water or hard work. What I am looking for is a partner with a sense of adventure. You do not need to surf — I will teach you, that is literally my job — but I want someone who says yes to experiences: a weekend trip to the dunes of Pilat, a wine tasting in Saint-Émilion, a spontaneous swim in October. Someone warm, honest, and fun, who loves good food and does not take themselves too seriously. If you can handle my 6am surf alarms and my endless stories about waves, we will be great.

A little more about me: I am also a certified lifeguard, which comes with the territory, and I have done first-aid training more times than I can count. In the off-season I travel when I can — Portugal, Morocco, the Basque country — chasing waves and collecting stories. I keep a journal of every surf trip: the breaks, the people, the meals, the sunrises. And I have a soft side people do not expect: I love to cook, especially big one-pot meals for friends after a long surf day — a proper chili, a tajine, a giant salad with everything from the market. My dream is to one day open a little surf lodge by the ocean, with good coffee, good boards, and a long table where everyone eats together. Until then, I am happiest with salt in my hair, sand in my car, and someone beside me who laughs easily and says yes to one more wave.