Surfing, Skateboarding, Music, Photography, Travel, Culture and general antics of the youth on the run.

A rookie’s year on the run Dear Youth with Quinn Matthews

quinn matthews what youth surfing photography

Editor’s note: Quinn Matthews came on the scene last year and instead of treating him like a grom, we tossed in straight into the madness. He spent a full year on the road and ticked just about every box a young photographer can in a very condensed amount of time: from surfers to locations, he was there — and he kinda nailed it. Here’s a look at a year on the road for a rookie, documented like a pro. —Travis 

Words and photos by Quinn.

2014 is gone now. And a lot of things happened. For me here’s what happened in 12 grocery list sentences and 35 photos.

January: Waves in California were fun, Noa came over for a while. February: I spent nearly every swell up in Santa Barbara shooting with Yadin Nicol, and the other couple days of waves I shot with Kolohe Andino in San Clemente as he prepared to leave for the Gold Cost. March: I went over to West Oz with Yadin and the other Nicols, before the whole tour came through town, hanging out with Dino Adrian and Jay Davies. April: More Margret River WA: Kolohe’s project, Cluster Project, going to the tavern nearly nightly with the local boiz, pickups, women. May: A bit more swell chasing in WA, then Cabo San Lucas, and Salina Cruz (twice!) June: Left for a two week trip to Indo on my birthday (perfect waves), and visited my family in Hong Kong, World Cup. July: Joining protest in Hong Kong, losing photo contest, Bahamas, and officially jumping on board with What Youth. August: More Bahamas (total lobster count 39), on the edge of my seat watching Tahiti event, Hurricane Marie brought the best waves ever to California. September: Hurley Pro, and first week or so in France. October: More France (waves, rain, le bakoua), Portugal (waves, rain, Lisbon, Swag On). November: Time with Family, Thanksgiving, first few days in Hawaii. December: more Hawaii, “Go Julian”, Crispy Grindz, Happy Holidays. 

what youth dear youth outerknown kelly slater fashion surfing

Kelly Slater Announces Outerknown And everyone (except us) freaks out because it’s expensive

I love Kelly Slater. Always have. For all the infinite reasons there are to love him: he’s a great rep for surfing, great surfer, great looking, great, great great. He’s a little conservative (maybe) at times — but not really. He’s open-minded, and that’s all I ask. And let’s keep in mind the dude’s 43 —…

what youth spain dear youth

Live from a little bit of everywhere Spain, Oregon, Bali, SF, Vancouver and maybe more. We’re coming.

I still haven’t found a way to ask for “more red wine” on an airplane without sounding like a mumbling, lunatic alcoholic. The sounds, the letters, the tight quarters and awkward seating arrangements on board. Just can’t get it. But somehow, they decipher my gibberish and continue to fill my glass. We’re currently a little all…

what youth dear youth jack london

Jack London Calling Surfing, Books and Drinking for your long weekend in the sun

Jack London is a writer — rather famous one too. He wrote The Call of the Wild, The Sea-Wolf, Iron Heel, White Fang and tons of other famous novels in the early 1900’s that you may have been told to read and probably didn’t. Turns out London wrote about surfing too. In 1907 he was…

dear youth what youth mitch coleborn

Misguided Men with a Journal The defining “SurfCore” article came out. And it sucks.

Before we get too deep, let’s remember anyone using Men’s Journal as a resource for fashion advice, or anything outside of Creatine dosage, probably doesn’t skate our ramp. But, they spoke about surfing. And style. And fashion. So we must acknowledge. (And talk shit.) So let’s begin. Here’s a sentence in the article, next to a…

Dear Youth Craig Anderson what youth surfing

Craig Anderson at Desert Point Full Gallery Photographed by Nate Lawrence

Editor’s Note: When Nate Lawrence calls and says he’s going to Desert Point with Craig Anderson, I mostly assume that Nate means he will be surfing alongside Craig, because Nate fucking loves surfing Desert Point and he more or less hates shooting Desert Point. But on this trip, he did a bit of both. And…

dane reynolds surfing what youth

Dane Reynolds is World Champ Why Sampler is so much more than a heat win

Why Sampler is so much more than a heat win

“It’s a weird feeling” Brendon Gibbens on being in Cluster

I was en-route back to South Africa from WA when Kai invited me to Europe for the Cluster tour. Without hesitation, I accepted the invitation, spent 10 hours in SA and then flew directly to Spain to meet up with Kai, minus the board bag. It’s a weird feeling to be in a Kai film….

dear youth what youth

Humming ((Sounder)) C.S. Louis and the economics of a hangover purchase

Last night I was JD Rockefeller but the Latino version. Endowing the arts, buying kalimotxos, schmoozing Argentine musicians, spinning women and hailing cabs on a winterlike eve. Today I have $9.99. And perhaps more pertinently limited bandwidth, limited patience, fits of anxiety and tremoring hands. I tried to shred it off in two foot onshore slop but…

Friendly advice from a tax man Is this the end of experience?

Information overload

“It’s still not on!” The WSL learning surfing is still a shit show

While I’m quite certain Samsung Galaxy’s products are not for anyone, the WSL and Samsung may be learning the hard way that surfing is definitely not for everyone. A 9th 10th straight lay day has forced the WSL to extend the waiting period for the Quiksilver Pro until Friday the 13th, in turn costing them a…

Noa Deane fuck the wsl what youth surfing

On “Fucking the WSL” We never intended to get them so laid

I’ve got a bone to pick. And it aint with the ASP, WSL, PGA, NFL or any other softball leagues. At least not today. It’s with anyone who’s so sensitive that when Noa Deane (or anyone) “popped the inevitable zit” and publicly de-flowered the WSL that it was deemed so offensive to “surf culture” that he had…

meatbodies what youth

We saw Meatbodies at Thalia’s Wax Ball A sick monthly rock show in Laguna Beach

Keeping Laguna Weird with Thalia Surf Shop

Sign up for letters from What Youth


By enabling this page, you are acknowledging and accepting our privacy terms and conditions.