Taipei Surf, Street, and the Entrepreneurial Spirit

In this episode, Steve meets Mick Yu Tsang Chou — founder, shopkeeper, and unlikely surf evangelist — whose boutique surf shop quietly anchors a growing community on the fringes of Taipei’s fast-paced urban life.

o From Taipei’s dense streets to the open water: how Mick discovered surfing at 20 and cultivated a deep connection with nature.

o A formative stint in California’s Orange County, where surf culture is as ubiquitous as coffee, shaping his sensibility for lifestyle and retail.

o The delicate art of boutique retail in Taiwan: on curation, sustainability, and navigating the shifting tides of streetwear and surf fashion.

o How COVID-19 reshaped Taiwan’s nascent surf scene — a surge of new participants, and the sobering aftermath.

o Looking ahead: Mick’s plans for a multifunctional space that blends commerce, dining, and a sense of place for the city’s growing surf culture.

o It’s a conversation that weaves together surf, style, and quiet ambition — a portrait of modern entrepreneurship in Asia’s urban periphery.

Special thanks: Mick Yu Tsang Chou, Taipei’s surf community, and the friends and collaborators who continue to shape this evolving scene.