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

Riveting and In Depth Tour Coverage! Live from Bells Beach, Australia (and go Conner)

I’ve already spoken on the poor town of Torquay. And how sleepy it must be as the world’s best are in bed by 8 each night in anticipation of classic Bells Beach. And boy are they getting classic Bells Beach lulls. But I am not here to gripe. I am here to sing.

Sing praise of Conner Coffin who was once let into a bar in Huntington Beach with me by a bouncer who said, “This is the worst fake ID I’ve ever seen…have a good time, kid.”

Classic. And now, all grown up he’s laying down classic Bells carves, smoking Mick, Jordy and Parko like he’s in an NSSA heat with Spencer Regan, Tonino Benson and Kai Barger (all former Conner competition). And it makes sense that Conner do well here. Conner goes to Hawaii (has a house at Pipe) and is not afraid to surf big Off the Wall alone. This has always been a key difference to me in dudes who surf without the same anxieties as many others. It’s a fucking terrifying thing to do and the likes of Mick Fanning, Kieren Perrow, Alex Gray and Michel Bourez are the type of surf pigs you see doing this. Conner too. And it carries over into heat surfing and big right-handers narrated by Pottz and Turpel and Raspberry. Nerves are calm and lines drawn are extra long. No fidgeting. No airs necessary (Conner doesn’t really do airs, nor does he need to). But I must say it’s nice to see Conner do well despite his insistence on playing in strange Hootie and the Blowfish cover bands all over Santa Barbara. Hopefully this surfing thing will keep his mind off that…

Other than that, it’s been a nightmare watching this contest for someone with little time and a pretty girl across from him at dinner because lulls and on and off calls keep one consistently confused and anxious. I’ve yet to watch a full and complete wave live due to inactivity and my new minute-long Instagram videos. But I’d be lying if I wasn’t sitting here on Friday staring at a fridge full of beer and a week of magazine-making in the can hoping I get to watch Conner carve a bell out of these mushy faces today.—Travis

Noa Deane for cluster what youth

Dear Youth We back at it, again

After a pretty good sleep on the ferry (thanks NyQuil!), we drove through streets filled with cows and goats and made it to our destination. We were greeted with light winds and fun ramps on the end section. Noa Deane arrived a day late, but did not waste anytime catching up to the other guys….

Jack Freestone Mitch Coleborn Noa Deane Surfing Indonesia Dear Youth What Youth

Dear Youth Part 1: Thanks for the Cheeseburgers (Day 3 of a 10 day trip)

Back in Indo filming. It’s too productive not to come back and fry yourself. The team is Coleborn, Noa Deane, Jack Freestone with myself, Blake, Nate and Hamish on the tools. The basic Indo camp is empty which is unreal. Our own bar, pool table and dartboard. There is another camp with 10 dudes from…

Dayne Reynolds Marine Layer Surfing Dear Youth What Youth

Dear Youth Dane Reynolds gets nostalgic on Marine Layer

Dane Reynolds posted a little trip down memory lane on his website Marine Layer Productions today. He details our first trip to Japan for Dear Suburbia with Yadin Nicol, Kolohe Andino, Conner Coffin, Kai Neville and Courtney (AKA Napkin Apocalypse). And he even mentions “The Claim.” The trip didn’t make the final cut for the film, but has always…

Mitch Coleborn surfing cluster what youth

Dear Youth Nate Lawrence on photo breathing exercises at Macaronis

This is Mitch Coleborn photographed in the afternoon at Macaronis. This was as good as a trip gets (you can tell by the full feature and two days worth of galleries we’ve given it). Waves for 12 days straight. One of the best lefts in the world. And Mitch, Noa, Jack and Chippa would let…

Chippa Wilson what youth bali travel surfing

Dear Youth Nate Lawrence and the subtleties of a life on the move

Editor’s note: We spend a lot of time in transit. Kuala Lumpur. Taipei. Singapore. Jakarta. Padang. We go through some odd, waveless middle earth’s on your way to ride waves. And it’s not always beers in the Sky Miles lounge (although sometimes you luck out and it is). Mostly it’s a bed between a chicken…

Mega Semadhi what youth

Dear Youth Mega Semadhi, Bali

Nate Lawrence: “After a few months in California [Nate is originally from Santa Cruz and still spends about 5 months a year there], it’s so good to be back in Bali. The crowds aren’t too bad and there are waves all over the island. But it’s hot. Really hot. It’s the kind of heat you…

Reading dear youth what youth surfing

Dear Youth Buy books

I just got a new magazine in the mail yesterday. Forgot I even ordered it actually. That’s the best. Search the Internet for rad shit, put 16 numbers on a dotted line and forget all about it. Two weeks later, a book shows up at your doorstep. The joy that comes with tearing into a…

Mikala Jones nate lawrence what youth

Dear Youth Mikala Jones in sunglasses

No offense to Mikala Jones, but this is the worst photo I’ve ever taken in my life. Mikala is a great guy. And I probably should have listened to his the subtle complaints he made and shot this differently. First I had his sunglasses off, but the gold reflector was shining his eyes so bad…

Volcom Surfing what youth dear youth

Dear Youth Not a sponsored message

Since tending to the neoprene department at the local surf shop I worked at as a kid, a Volcom party has been the pinnacle of after hours culture and folklore around here. Rumors of Pennywise playing…or Bad Religion…or the fact that that hot girl in the other department was attending and this was your shot….

Illustration scuba woman scott chenoweth dear youth what youth

Dear Youth If a woman does not love the sea, then she is no woman for me

I have nothing to report. I sit behind a computer all day and get drinks with girls at night. Occasionally, I draw                         missing the water.

Nate Lawrence photography surf waves what youth

Dear Youth Nate Lawrence on photography

Editor’s Note: There just aren’t enough things in life like Nate Lawrence. Which is unfortunate, because he fucking rules..at everything. Especially photography. It’s a big reason he was our first choice when deciding who we were bringing into this mess of indie creation. He knew what was in store. And we needed his enthusiasm. There…

Kai Neville Dear Youth What Youth Surfing Traveling

Dear Youth A night in London with Kai Neville

Camden Town. Following our recent film trip to the Canary Islands, I stopped off in London for a night. For whatever reason I’ve always been drawn to London. I am a descendent from the U.K. I like the culture. I like drinking pints in foggy London Town. I like cities. I need to be in…

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