Biarritz by Night
Music that will take you down the Boulevard de la Mer on a mild summer night in a French convertible. Did you know: a few miles down the road on...
About Postcards from the Search
Dear friends of Youth Lagoon,
for some, a simple image of a wave printed in a magazine can spark a lifelong passion. Yet, all too often, our inner doubts hold us back from diving into the cold water and pursuing what we truly love.
But here’s the thing — you’re just one step away from beginning the most exciting adventure of your life. We hope that one of our postcards will inspire you to chase your dreams.
Sending greetings from a beach afar,
Max & Mai
What is 'Postcards from the Search'?
“Postcards from the Search” is a collection of stories about people in surf and surfskate culture who discovered a free-spirited life by embracing who they truly are.
In this series, you’ll find interviews, guest posts, reviews, event updates, subscriber contributions and of course, the occasional funny meme. Our hope is that one of our articles inspires you to follow your heart — whether it leads you to the ocean or somewhere else — no matter how far from the sea you live, how old or experienced you are, what culture or religion you grew up in. Even if your dreams feel far away, remember that fulfillment may already come from finding yourself in a good place on the road to where you want to be one day. So, let’s go…
Why subscribe?
First off, “Postcards from the Search” are free of charge and provide a spam- and ad-free reading experience. We aim to bring you exciting new content once a week, delivered straight to your inbox. Our community of over 5,000 like-minded people shares your interests, and everyone is warmly invited to join the conversation in the comments section.
Who are Max & Mai?
We are a German graphic designer and a Vietnamese garment engineer living the landlocked grind in the creative and textile industries. In April 2020, while on a journey around the world, the pandemic forced us to change plans and return home overnight from Indonesia. Still full of energy and locked away in our apartment, we decided it was about time to promote living a life in board shorts — free of social constraints, full of encouragement and finally with optimism for the future. And what better way to do this than by founding a skateboard label?
Like many other skateboard businesses, our brand ‘Youth Lagoon’ is a true labor of love and could not exist if we didn’t put our whole heart into it. When we’re not wrapping up boards to keep someone’s feet in the air and eyes off their phone, you’ll most likely find us daydreaming about past and future surf trips, doing some laps at the local skate park, practicing cross-steps on one of our longboards or enjoying a delicious bowl of Phở made from cherished family recipes.
What is Youth Lagoon?
Rooted in surf culture Youth Lagoon is a skateboard and fair fashion business from the city of Hamburg. We proudly create sustainable surfskate decks and fair fashion from eco-friendly materials but also distribute quality products from a curated selection of other skate and surf brands.
Our company was founded with the belief that life becomes richest once we start to follow our heart instead of tribes, trends or norms. When we start to value time over belongings. When we stop trying to impress someone. When we live in close touch with nature and care for its wellbeing. When we listen. When we are open to the unfamiliar. To foreign cultures. To the arts. It becomes richest when we stop judging others for following their own dream and appreciate how all of us are different.
Can I pitch an article to you?
Absolutely! That’s exactly what we’re here for. We’d love to hear your personal stories or anything interesting you’ve come across that you think is worth sharing. Just drop us a line at aloha@youthlagoon.com, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
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Postcards from the Search
Barbarian Days
William Finnegan’s book "Barbarian Days" is the most vivid and beautiful depiction of the entire surfing experience that is out there. Wether you are an old timer or have never...
Bali’s 70s
Imagine "Uluwatu" without the bars, tourists and plastic waste. Just you, an untouched cliff and one of the most beautiful waves ever seen – all possible if you had visited...
Sebastien Zanella
If you want to touch someone’s elses heart your work has to come from your own — and we love the work of Sebastien. His passion lies in showing us...
Chasing Waves
There should be music, no matter where you are. And when it can’t get any better, play it again and again. Here are some tunes which have accompanied us on...
The Mellow Hostel
Ever dreamt of staying in a cozy surf shack right in front of Sri Lanka’s best south coast wave? At Mellow hostel you can literally spot check "The Rock" from...
Movement: 21 Years of Carver
Frustrated by the conventional skateboard experience and how unlike surfing it was, two lads from Venice, California developed the first surfskate truck back in the 90s. "Movement: 21 Years of...
Surfskate Love Wheels
We get recently asked a lot about surfskate wheels. Our friends want to know what are the best wheels for surfskating in the market, what are the differences precisely and...
Corey Colapinto
Pro surfing fans are likely familiar with the brothers Griffin and Cosby Colapinto, who are quickly gaining recognition within the World Surf League. Outside of the competition, there seems to...
The Church of the Open Sky
"The Church of the Open Sky" is a surf film by award-winning Australian director Nathan Oldfield. Not only does the film showcase the beauty of nature, it also explores the connection...