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

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

what youth dear youth outerknown kelly slater fashion surfing

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 — so…yeah. We’re lucky to have him outside the commentary booth at this stage. I also respect that he’ll say what he’s thinking and at its core I think he appreciates everything in surfing from Ozzy Wright to Noa Deane to the whole shit storm that is surfing culture. He had phases in his youth of being a beautiful, fashionable playboy (literally). And yes, he’s our Kelly Slater and goddamn it he’s still around ripping…so, yes, love him.

But I must say, the backlash on the price point for his new label Outerknown, (which features $89-$96 t-shirts) is, umm, weird?

I haven’t looked to Kelly for cutting edge style since he rode a banana-shaped Channel Islands with a black Quiksilver logo on it. And that was in 1992.

I enjoy watching him surf, but ever since those all white boards it’s been strange Pods and fin set-ups only he can ride and board construction using eco-waste foam and epoxy of all flavors. Those damn spring suits and cargo shorts and Fidel Castro-style hats. Chihuahuas and chunky shades. Casual and comfortable, yes. Forward thinking fashion and vibe? Nah. Piss me off? Nah. The most recent piece of clothing Kelly Slater influenced the sale of was purchased in Michigan 11 years ago.

And did no one see he defines his new label as “Menswear?” This shit is not for us, and I don’t think Kelly is saying it necessarily is. So, if you’re angry about the price, get over it. If you’re not, then buy some. It’s Kelly Slater and he’s speaking to you and your board on the wall and your triathlon trophies. Buy lots of surf stuff! Buy it all!

But those who are angry, please, quit thinking Kelly Slater is the guy here to save surf culture with new fashion or that this is something for us. Move along everyone. Nothing to see here. Kelly has his eye on Manhattan (not Brooklyn). Silicon Valley (not OB). Paris (not Hossegor). And while we love those cities as well and dwell there often, we’re just not hanging in the same neighborhoods he would. Can’t afford to — and if we could, still wouldn’t.

But if you do need clothes, Quiksilver is now promoting “High Performance” through the symbol of a weed leaf with sick dudes like Mikey Wright (Owen’s extremely left of the right and radical younger brother) and we’re all for that. Because why not? Rusty’s slinging sick gear Noa wears, Craig Anderson rides for Quik and has been digging their new line, Brixton, Vissla, Billabong, Volcom, Kr3w…all with good stuff.

But in regards to Kelly: things have changed. He started a “Menswear” brand that’s ecologically-conscious. Don’t be mad. Don’t be anything about Kelly and Outerknown. —Travis 

Why would anyone wanna leave Paris? Donald Trump is making it harder to be a youth on the run

The great Gloria Steinem put it best: In response to Trump’s attempt at pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement: “Too late, we’re already pregnant.” Yesterday Donald Trump announced that the United States was leaving the Paris Climate Agreement. Now, I suggest you do a little homework (always a good idea), but the short of it:…

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What’d you do this weekend? We threw ourselves into the pit with The Murder City Devils

“A lot of our songs early on were about romanticizing places we weren’t. Other places, other towns, things we couldn’t get to” said Spencer Moody, lead singer for The Murder City Devils before a secret show they were playing Saturday night. And yes, this was a place you definitely wish you woulda been. And it…

what youth dear suburbia absurdity

This is Absurd An old note comes back to haunt and hype us

Editor’s note: This was originally published in What Youth Issue 1 (which is now sold out) as an intro to Kai’s film Dear Suburbia,. It recently struck another modern chord with us as we thought of all the impending doom out there. And this kind of reminded us that’s it still, in the face of insanity,…

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How we met Yago Dora Yago’s success at the Rio Pro is validating something we’ve known for a long time. Let’s recall.

Long before the WSL started with the weird warrior techno hype video things, we were watching Yago Dora. His surfing caught our eye, but it was his vibe, his personality, his approach that really stuck with us. In What Youth Issue 13 we recall his ability to jump in our big white van and road trip…

dear youth wsl

did you see that new WSL commercial? Is Dion right? Is it time we say no to the WSL?

I’m quite depressed right now. There are the sharks. Crowds. Hospitals. Stress. Bills. Work. Marketing. Branded Content. And WSL. And it’s the WSL that’s really getting to me right now. This morning the first thing I read on Instagram was Dion Agius (on Aussie time) calling out the WSL for turning their new promo video…

what youth sharks surfing stressed out

Cull Your Fear A spike in shark sightings and an attack in Southern California raise the debate…again

Editor’s Note: Taylor Paul is a surfer. A really good, big wave surfer in fact. Mavericks, Dungeons…all the scary ones, that come with lots of sharks. He has researched this, spoken with experts on shark populations, flown in helicopters to look for them (and found them) and lived in Santa Cruz, Southern California and San Francisco….

what youth dane reynolds fairly normal coming soon

What’s Dane Been Up to? We spent the weekend with the Reynolds family filming for a new Fairly Normal

Dane was home this weekend. A classic California pre-summer day: lots of blue, couple fun waves and lots of traffic. We met up with Dane at Rincon, where he surfed glassy and “1-foot but perfect” Rincon for an hour on a Channel Island twin fin (with a small trailer). He had earlier told me his…

Dane Reynolds, Former, Surfing

Let’s talk about trunks (briefly) We built this industry on them, so why are so few pairs worthy of your thighs?

Today marks the release of Former’s “Control” boardshort. So yes, full disclosure, we back them, and what they’re doing, so there’s the commercial above. It’s really cool. And those trunks look sick on Dane. But I do still retain the right as an editor and one of a few who started this whole blessed mess…

the surfer/hooper index

The Surfer/Hooper Index Craig Anderson is Steph Curry and other ridiculous comparisons to kick off the NBA playoffs

The NBA is probably the most commercialized athletic event in the world. This makes it the most unlike surfing (kinda). But at its core, basketball is like surfing. I’ve been around both types enough to see the personalities, egos, artistry, techniques and grandiosity of both sports. They are completely unrelated — maybe like distant second…

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Does WSL = Christian Youth Group? Conservative and “cool” with really bad music

When I was in high school there were always people trying to get us to join them at their church youth groups. They would meet on Tuesday night and camouflage the underlying church message beneath the prospect of a healthy amount of cute girls and “rock music” on a school night. I would sometimes go (there really…

Tanner And Norwegian Black Metal Bright guy, dark music

We had a sunny surf and followed it with Coronas in a dark bar full of magicians.  There were lots of smiles and laughs throughout our hour long afternoon sit down with Tanner Gudauskas, as you’d expect, but there was also critical analysis of what the hell it is surfers do for a living and existential life…

airport beers, dear youth, what youth, travel

My Fondest Memory: Airport Beers After a week in paradise, it’s the anticipation in those pre-flight bubbles I remember

I just got home from five days in absolute “paradise.” Clear water, boat rides, adventure, diving, nurse shark sightings, couple fun waves, good friends, dark rum and cold mini beers whenever I needed. A quick jaunt to recharge. I read some books, rode some waves, danced in the Third World discotheque, ordered foreign foods in foreign…

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