Co-Founder Roos: Her journey from city girl to Surf Retreat Host in Taghazout
- Roos Michels
- Nov 2
- 4 min read
My journey to living the life I once only dreamed of!
As a little girl, I vaguely remember searching Google for pictures of cool girls traveling the world in campervans, with surfboards and skateboards strapped to the roof. I was fascinated by that lifestyle, the freedom, the ocean, the adventure. But even though I went to a free-spirited school, I never felt confident enough to explore that side of myself. I was afraid people would think it didn’t suit me. I was just an ordinary blond city girl, what was I supposed to do with such a “boyish” sport?
Looking back, it’s a shame that fear held me back for so long. Because even though surfing has often been seen as a male-dominated world, I can’t think of anything more powerful, or feminine, than a strong woman shining on a wave, whether she’s gliding on a longboard or ripping on a shortboard. It’s simply badass.
How I Fell in Love with Surfing!
Like so many stories these days… mine started during COVID. I had just finished high school and was about to set off on a big trip with my best friend, Bali, Thailand, maybe even Australia. My dream. Something I had been looking forward to for years. I remember waving goodbye to two friends who were flying out five days before us, saying, “See you in five days!” Well… things didn’t exactly go as planned.
Backpacks packed, flights booked, and the afternoon before departure, our trip was canceled. Lockdown. I’ve never been someone who can sit still, so I decided to join a friend who had just picked up surfing. He bought me a board from Decathlon, a 7ft foamie with 55L (a bit of a beast!) and I found a secondhand wetsuit for €25. That was all I needed. No clue what I was doing, and honestly, neither did he. So as you can imagine, I was terrible. And to be honest? I found it pretty scary. The Dutch sea can be rough and cold, and I had no idea what I was doing.
Finding My Wave!
I spent a few more weeks trying to bring out my inner “surfer girl” in the Netherlands, but the North Sea just wasn’t the right place for it. The real spark happened later, during my first big trip abroad. And no, it wasn’t Bali. It was Costa Rica. When I arrived, I saw how people lived for surfing and from surfing. I remember spotting two girls walking down the street with shortboards under their arms and feeling this deep jealousy, I wanted to be that girl. So I made myself a promise: I was going to make this happen.
After a few reality checks (surfing looks cool, but it’s also scary and humbling), I finally took my first proper surfcamp during my last week in Nicaragua. That’s when it clicked. The spark hit, and I knew: this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
From Study Life to Surf Life
But first… my studies were calling. And I’ve always been someone who finishes what she starts. So I spent another year living the city life, little surf, a lot of study, while trying to connect with the small surf community in the Netherlands. It helped, but the waves just weren’t what I needed to grow.
So, after finally finishing my bachelor’s degree, I decided to spend a few months in Portugal. And that’s where everything changed. I surfed every single day. Hours and hours in the water. Slowly, I started to feel progress. By the end of those three months, I could paddle out on my own, read the waves, and finally feel that magical connection surfers talk about. Every surfer knows that long, frustrating road of learning, but that moment of breakthrough makes it all worth it.
Morocco & Building On The Wayve
That winter, I had already met Mehdi, and that’s where my story in Morocco really began.
After Portugal, I flew straight back to Morocco and spent three amazing weeks there. I knew immediately: I had to come back, for Mehdi and for the surf. So I did everything I could to make it happen. I worked hard through a dark Dutch winter, finished my university work, and eventually wrote my thesis in Morocco. And for the first time in my life, I felt it so clearly: this is it.
I was becoming the surfer girl I had always dreamed of being. I wasn’t where I wanted to be skill-wise yet, but I was living the life I wanted. Together with Mehdi, I started building On The Wayve, and step by step, our dreams started to take shape. After returning to the Netherlands for a few more months to finish my psychology masters degree, I finally made the move I had dreamed about for years. I became that version of myself, the one I always knew would make me truly happy.
Living the Dream For Real
Of course, I miss my family and friends deeply. I wish I could have them all here with me every day. And yes, we don’t have a permanent home yet, and the financial side of this lifestyle and building a business can be uncertain. But still, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Every day, I get to watch the sea, surf the waves, and spend my time with people who love the ocean as much as I do. I’m endlessly grateful for that.
The Journey Continues 🌸
Now, together with the love of my life, I host Surf & Yoga Retreats here in Morocco, creating a space for others to fall in love with this lifestyle just like I did. I can’t wait to welcome many of you here and hopefully inspire you to follow your own dreams, wherever they may lead you.
xx Roos 💙
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