Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. Apparently, there’s a new dating app called Surf that’s all about finding someone who shares your fitness habits. Rob Perez, a 33-year-old content creator, is one of its users, and he’s only interested in dating someone who is a gym rat like him. He tells CNN, “It doesn’t have to be the same sport, but… I think lifestyle-wise, (she has) to understand: I work out, you work out, we do our thing.” I mean, bless their hearts, who needs romance when you can have a workout buddy, right?
So, Surf is one of several dating apps that are trying to move away from endless swiping and towards actual in-person meetups. The app allows users to filter matches based on their fitness habits, and it even partners with indoor fitness events like Hyrox, where users can compete in running and other workouts. Perez says he was exhausted by repetitive dating profiles and wanted more information on potential matches. He’s now in a committed relationship with someone he met through Surf’s Hyrox blind date, and he wishes there were more apps that directly arrange first dates.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – this all sounds very niche. But apparently, Surf is growing quickly, despite having only around 28,800 downloads worldwide in 2026. And it’s not just Surf – other dating apps like Breeze are also trying to move away from swiping and towards in-person meetups. Breeze doesn’t even allow users to chat – instead, it gives them a time and a place to meet in one of its partner bars. The app’s co-founder, Marco van der Woude, says, “The hardest part of dating isn’t meeting people, it’s the pressure we’ve attached to it. A table of eight is a night out first and a date second. Worst case you have a fun evening, and best case you meet the love of your life.”
Even legacy dating apps like Feeld and Bumble are transforming to include more in-person meetups. Feeld’s Director of Brand Marketing, Abigail Gaskin, says, “There’s only so much you can do online. Dating apps are there for the initial connection, and then everything else should be about being in person, a meeting.” She points to a “quiet disillusionment” with repetitive and transactional chat features, and says people are craving low-pressure physical spaces where they can meet people and explore common interests.
It seems like the days of endless swiping are behind us, and dating apps are finally realizing that there’s no substitute for human interaction. As Gaskin says, “Nowadays people are much more discerning about how they spend their time and how they connect. And it’s not just about swiping on a picture and liking it.” So, if you’re tired of swiping and want to meet someone in person, there are now more options than ever. And who knows, you might just find love – or at least a workout buddy. 🏋️♀️💕
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
