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

When Mitch and Yago stop by “Don’t you wanna fly above the water like a pelican?”

what youth happy hour mitch coleborn us open of surfing summer
Photos: Travis Ferré

Hi there. Yep, back. Nothing like a nice couple of “Happy Hours” with Mitch Coleborn and Yago Dora to ignite the spirit. Yesterday, both popped in for the afternoon to kick off the completely unofficial and totally unregulated or sponsored “What Youth Happy Hours.” If you don’t know, we have a little store front at our HQ now, so you can come shop, say hello, tell us about the wave you got this morning and you can generally assume we’ll have a coffee or a beer to offer you. Maybe. The other perk of this situation is the dudes who roll through. Yesterday we got Yago and Mitch. Yago popped in for a hug and hello. Love that kid. He gushed about how fun the waves in Huntington have been, and we learned that he’s currently ranked 3rd on the WQS. That is great news to us. But he also discussed how excited he is to continue free surfing, and how if he does qualify, that it will just lead to more trip opportunities. Good chance he’s going to join us in Portugal this fall. Can’t wait.

Then there’s “Spawn.” Coleborn. We spent much of our time skimming through old SURFING Mags and laughing about how funny it was that the first article on him was called: “Who The Fuck is Mitch Coleborn?” It consisted of a variety of surfers — ranging from Pottz and Tom Carroll, to Dane, Dion and other peers talking about what they knew of him — There were even a few contest legends like Al Hunt who said if he can’t win a contest he’ll never amount to much. He was surrounded by Bintangs in the photo, and we’re pretty sure he’s still one of our favorites and that he’s entertained us plenty the past few years.

Between skate sessions and Coors full-strengths we got on to the topic of surf gimmicks and how they’ve become the new normal. We’re all supposed to trade in our quivers for foam boards with no fins and hydro-foils or cleavage to get clicks and engagement. Mitch did have a funny story about the discussion he had with Ryan Burch and Noa Deane during a recent photo shoot for Volcom about hydro foils though. After way too many chuckles from Noa and Mitch about Laird and Kai Lenny’s enthusiasm for the damn things, Burch chimed in: “You guys suck…don’t you wanna fly like a pelican above the water!?” To which, we simply decided: no…not really. But that’s OK. Here we are, now entertain us. Please don’t chop someone in half to do it though. —Travis 

Chicago by night Art, dive bars and the perfectly executed 3 beer buzz

It’s perfect in all ways. The three beer buzz. You’re enthusiastic, powerful and alive. With zip and zest. Lit but sharp. It’s the magic number (but the trick is maintaining it for an extended period of time). And we’re in Chicago to perfect it. After a 4 am wake up and some public transport and domestic…

what youth dear youth mexico city

Back on the run in Mexico City We took Ozzie’s advice and starting saying, “yes” too.

We’re off to Mexico City tomorrow. Not quite sure how or why or what we’re in for, but we said yes. I think most people have a list of places around the world they must travel to. Waves they have to surf. Sites one must see. A lot of us also have a list of places…

what youth headquarters after school special

After School Special at WY HQ Our new favorite band is still in middle school

Yesterday we rolled up the back doors of our HQ to have After School Special (A.S.S.) play. The middle school-aged three piece jammed through a tight 40-minute set that ended on an Iggy Pop birthday tribute cover of “I Wanna Be Your Dog” and featured Tanner Rozunko on vocals. In the background, the mini ramp…

Jim Jarmusch

Found Footage: Stranger than Paradise YouTube Gold from the man who gave us Coffee and Cigarettes

A few good things fell into place and I fell onto my couch and subsequently fell back in love with Jim Jarmusch. Jarmusch has earned his place as a legendary cult film director by making movies such as Dead Man, Down By Law and Coffee and Cigarettes.  The three films mentioned above inspire me every…

what youth sott chenowth

7 Reasons why being a parent is the best From the world’s greatest father

Some men and women hate children or find them a tremendous bother. On the surface, it stands to reason. Children require constant attention, get sick, cost money, take away most daylight hours, take away most nighttime hours as well, suck energy, put jam on everything, stomp dry-docked surfboards, get slivers, cry because they don’t want…

dear youth coachella crowd

Sell your Coachella Tickets It’s time we move on…and go to Barbados

Coachella was once magic. A warm and dry de-thawing station in the desert where all of California (and a shit-ton of Australians) could go put pigment and beer and drugs in their cold, winter-white bodies and listen to good music and lay in so much grass. It started as the perennial hipster gathering, with reunion and…

what youth jared sherbert photography kevin bradley skateboarding

Meet Jared Sherbert’s photography Full interview coming in What Youth Issue 14

Jared Sherbert is a skate photographer from Santa Clarita who is featured in our currently-in-production Issue 14.

what youth dear youth books reading

Advice from a Failed English Major Put your money where the words are

I know absolutely nothing about anything financial. 401K. Four hundred and one thousand dollars of savings that goes into your bank account every year? Maybe. That’s my guess. I know that money helps. I know enough to spew off a few generic statements about how money helps your life but doesn’t provide ultimate happiness yadda…

what youth dear youth cluster sneak in

Reminiscing on Cluster How I snuck into the premiere and took what was mine

I scrolled through the doldrums of Instagram, and I saw that What Youth was offering free tickets to the premiere of their long anticipated film, Cluster. I entered their contest. I wrote them an email. I had to go. The premiere was in Downtown Los Angeles. I live 10 minutes away in Echo Park. How…

what youth conner coffin surfing bells beach WSL

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…

Nate Zoller, Surfing, Dear Youth, Social Media

Dear Youth: Pursue Anonymity On the eve of social media armageddon

The pursuit of anonymity is lost in my generation. I feel like Miki Dora when all the “working slobs” started to surf Malibu. Replace the slobs with digital opportunists forcing empty information down your throat via “push” notifications and here we are in 2016. I hate it. I used to be into it back in…

what youth surfing wsl

Hells Bells No More Once a wild way to spend Easter weekend, The Rip Curl Pro Bells is now a big yawn

I love Bells. I love Winkipop. I love Jan Juc. I love the Great Ocean Road. I love Melbourne. I love the girls. The people. The climate. I love love love that area. I love wetsuits. And I love that the Rip Curl office is the city center. I love it so much I once…

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