Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Young grew up in the small coastal suburb of Collaroy.
In 1964, he was runner-up in the Australian junior championship at Manly, and two years later was named world surfing champion in 1966.
[2][circular reference] Young featured in a number of important surf films of 1960s and 1970s including the classic 1973 surf movie Crystal Voyager and he also had a featured role as surfer Nick Naylor in the 1979 Australian drama film Palm Beach.
In 2000, Young was a victim of 'surf rage' when he was severely bashed on his home break of Angourie after a long-running feud and heated altercation with another local surfer.
During his recovery he wrote a book titled Surf Rage, calling for greater tolerance and mutual respect in the surfing community, although Young admitted he had acted aggressively during his career (where he had earned the nickname "The Animal"),[4] and had acted provocatively towards his attacker, whom he met and forgave several months after the incident.