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

I’ll never surf the wave pool Even if Kelly Slater invites me, no strings attached, I will very politely decline. Here’s why:

I have the worst taste in music because of surfing. And yeah, I suppose music is entirely subjective, but I spent my formative years listening to a melodic and generic emo version of punk rock that is now married to my obsession with surfing. And I don’t blame Taylor Steele. I thank him. It has been my life’s pleasure turning all the enthusiasm it created into my own wonderful surfin’ life.

Good friend and (definitely not a surf journalist) Chas Smith just penned a bit of the magic I’m talking about on his website Beach Grit today. And I wanted to reiterate his point a bit, and celebrate the part where he references the “surfing life” William Finnegan created in Barbarian Days and stand shoulder to shoulder with him on it, and explain what I feel everyone seems to be missing from this wave pool stuff (aside from the country club vibes, which are very real too). It’s the fact that we’re assuming the act of surfing is all we’re after. Standing on a wave, alone, riding it. When really, the real chase, the way we create our unique surf life is all in the foreplay. As a surfer, we spend our lives rolling the ball up the hill with Sisyphus stoked as hell that it will fall back down and we get to do it all again because between the bottom and the top is where all the surf magic is created. Otherwise, you’re just standing at the top. Riding a wave. And that’s fine and what we’re after, but that will lead to a misunderstanding of the art of the surf life. That’s what makes us the weirdos we are. Weirdos who knew what MCD, SMP and ASP stood for (RIP). Who earnestly debate whether to use grip or not on the front of a new board. Or understand the technicality and beauty of Justin Poston’s backhand turn. Insane, ridiculous psychotic details that make an otherwise mundane surf check magical. Otherwise, we’re just there, on a wave, riding, the same one everyone is on.

I’ve seen all of you saying that this wave pool is just the same as a skate park and that street skating still exists so I should chill and stop complaining. And I have my beanie off and waving in salute to the technology that goes into this wave and into my phone and into the airplanes I sit on, but I have to tell you I can still find a beautiful existence without them. My life will not improve riding a man-made wave.

A wave pool is probably really “fun.” And what they’ve created is oh so impressive, but you’re still just bottling up what shouldn’t and cannot be bottled. We have a good thing. Surfin’. A thing that uses the planet, for fun, and for making a surfing life. And we’re just trying to fuck it to death. We’re skipping dinner. Flirting. Nervous texting. Hugs. Drinks. Everything that makes living life an art.

So, I sit here today, shoulder to shoulder with Chas, planning a surf trip with him to Who Cares Where to celebrate all the ridiculous things that bring us joy along the way. Including going to the airport. Lugging a board bag. Paying a high sum of money to transport it. And to probably get skunked as all hell. But there will be surfing! And there will also be a lot of good living. Surf living! And I’ll promise you right now that I have no desire to surf the wave and will politely decline should that offer ever come down the pipe. I love Kelly Slater and I think he’s done more for surfing than could ever be asked of him. But I love what you did to “Superman” by Unwritten Law in Good Times more than anything you can or will create with a wave pool.

And right now, since it’s small where I am, and I already surfed, I’ll blast this ridiculous song that I know all the words to and I will think of Shane Dorian surfing small waves in France and wherever else from his part in Good Times. And you can call me nostalgic, but also call me happy. As a clam. —Travis 

what youth parties

Wanna Go Out with Us? We’ve got a lot of parties coming up including sneak peeks of a new vid, Miami cocktails, World Premiere’s and Amsterdam shows

Ok, we’re full on into summer now. We’ve made the calls and now it’s time to really get lathered up and into it. Starting this week, hell starting today, we’re going out. So we hope you’ll join us. Below is just the warm up to get you into early August and having a hell time…

what youth andy irons kut u up

Under the Kut U Up Influence Remember the Andy Irons part in Campaign to their song?

Tonight at the Belly Up Tavern in San Diego may be the final time Kut U Up play together. I remember the first time I saw them I was pretty young and pretty drunk and so were they. It was at an Elks Lodge somewhere in San Diego and featured old bartenders pouring the deepest whiskey…

what youth south swell

Sitting through a south swell California summer is off to a pretty good start

This is the first time I’ve had to sit out a swell because of an injury. And as hard as I’ve tried to be at ease with it, this fucking sucks. So far, the first south of the summer months has brought out the good parts of summer: glassy conditions under gloomy skies, warm water and…

what youth darren ankenman photography paris

The first sunny day in Paris in a month Darren Ankenman photography from Paris

Los Angeles based photographer Darren Ankenman is one of our favorite photographers. His ability to capture both the mundane and the insane and the eclectic faces of a city captivate us more and more with every submission. After the Artist Series we shot with him last year we’ll get random email updates of his travels…

International Surfing Day, Now What? How I feel when we get our own day

So a little background: I’ve been on both sides of this “International Surfing Day” thing. Participant and now personal protester. While working at Surfing Magazine long ago, we were more or less the inventors of it, so I was very involved at one time. It was presented as an ocean awareness, beach cleanup, Surfrider Foundation…

kim and the created tour

On the Road With Kim and The Created Through a week of sold-out shows opening for The Kills

Kim and The Created, LA’s own rock explosion fronted by the Iggy-inspired, space-age jumpsuit wearing Kim House, are pretty seasoned when it comes to playing shows. But opening for The Kills this past April through Nashville, Louisville, Philadelphia and two nights in Brooklyn to sold-out shows might’ve been their biggest splash on the scene yet….

Mitch Coleborn in Bali

Linking up with Mitch Coleborn in Bali Not as easy as this looks

When there is purple all over your screens, sometimes you have to quell the anxiety and let it just come to you. Opt for the path of least stress and avoid the over-hype. We said “fuck it” this day and let’s just stay close to home, sip lattes and kick it with friends. Maybe surf maybe…

Traveling through Norway and Sweden with Chippa Wilson, Keegan Valaika, Jake Blauvelt and Louif Paradis

Scandinavian Wanderlust Getting closer to the Gods with Chippa Wilson, Keegan Valaika, Jake Blauvelt and Louif Paradis in Norway and Sweden

Drinking gets you closer to the Gods in Norway. Or so they say. And we just got up close and personal with them. Because we continue to be like Ozzie and just say yes. And our most recent “yes” led us to Norway and Sweden with Adidas. To surf and skate and even ride snow….

Cosmic Creek, The Allah-Lahs

The Allah-Las at Cosmic Creek Salt Creek turned Cosmic on Saturday and Sunday

Prom was not the coolest thing that happened this Saturday. Every year at Salt Creek Beach, which is nestled in my sleepy hometown of Dana Point, we get blessed with a touch of coolness in the form of rock ‘n’ roll. The 15thth Annual Cosmic Creek surf festival made its way into town with a…

We’re in Norway With Chippa Wilson Adidas brought us to Stockholm and Riksgränsen to hang with Keegan Valaika, Louif Paradis and Jake Blauvelt

We said yes again. And now we’re in Scandinavia. Adidas invited us to join them on a trip to Norway and Sweden with Keegan Valaika, Louif Paradis, Jake Blauvelt and let us bring our friend Chippa Wilson. Cole Barash is shooting photos. We spent a few days in Stockholm skating with Adidas Europe team. The light was…

what youth dear youth travis ferre

Bored to Death by Surfing The Olympics, wave pools, Reef calendar’s and the WSL. Is that all we got? I hope not.

Maybe it’s the antibiotics. A bug bite gone wrong (the venom aimed at my heart and made a bee-line for it via my circulatory system) has forced me to stay on the sand and off the drink this week, which, as you may know, is what I usually use to ignite and direct most my thoughts onto…

Brixton Broadcast, Chicago

Us and the Brixton Broadcast Chicago Blown away in the windy city with Natural Child, The Half Rats — and a city guide of sorts

You’ll remember we achieved the perfect three beer buzz upon arrival in Chicago. But we thought we’d make sure you knew where we took it from there. We marched it down the cold and breezy streets of Chicago and into the front row of The Empty Bottle to see Natural Child, The Half Rats, The…

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