The Brit-born, France-based founders behind Wasted Talent, Ben Snowden-Boyd and Alexei Obolensky are redefining surf culture and coastal cool.

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Wasted Talent

Boutique & cafe
202 Av. des Menuisiers, 40150 Soorts-Hossegor, France
Wasted Talent

"A selection of great clothes, good coffee, good vibes. You have to stop through whenever you’re in town. I might sound biased but it is one of my favorite places!"

Ben SNOWDEN-BOYD

Surfin Estate

Surf shop
169 Av. des Tisserands, 40150 Soorts-Hossegor, France
Surfin Estate

"A small shop up on the main road quite close to where we are at Wasted Talent. Vincent there shapes amazing boards, it’s always a really good vibe in there. They’re always trying to do something unique and different. It’s just honest, there’s no airs and graces in that place. You can talk to the guy that shapes your board. He does an amazing job but he’d happily take his time to talk you through anything."

Ben SNOWDEN-BOYD

La Rhune

Mountain peak
Col de Saint-Ignace, 64310 Sare, France
La Rhune

"People come to Hossegor and think it’s all about the beach but we’re half an hour from some really good hiking in the Pyrenees. There’s a little spot called Le Petit Train which is an old cog railway which runs up a small mountain called La Rune. That’s a great spot, some lovely hikes. You can take the easy route getting the train up and walking down. There’s some good spots for lunch around there."

Ben SNOWDEN-BOYD

Le Mango Tree

Juice shop
Pl. du Commandant Lauwick, 40150 Soorts-Hossegor, France
Le Mango Tree

"It’s a small cabin on the lake in Hossegor, it does incredible, fresh food. It’s all vegan, vegetarian stuff, smoothies. But just for the location alone, that’s a great place to go."

Ben SNOWDEN-BOYD

Mexiko

Mexican restaurant
156 Av. des Couteliers, 40150 Soorts-Hossegor, France
Mexiko

"There’s a little Mexican restaurant quite close to us, does really good tacos, something I’ve missed. Finding good, authentic versions of foreign cuisine has been quite difficult, but slowly more and more this place is changing and spots like that are popping up."

Ben SNOWDEN-BOYD

Villa Seren

Hotel
1111 Av. du Touring Club, 40150 Soorts-Hossegor, France
Villa Seren

"My finishing spot, which not many people know about, is a little hotel called Villa Seren on the edge of the lake. It’s a great spot to have a gin and tonic and watch the sun go down, and it’s always quiet."

Ben SNOWDEN-BOYD

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