“No Evidence, Just Hate”: Ian Battrick addresses online backlash after cancellation of surf contest

Ian Battrick slams "alarming" lies and deletions of supportive voices in the wake of Thurso's GP Surf Finals fallout.

The last couple of days of news in the surf space, a tiny lil corner of the big ol world, has been filled with the so-called “toxic, territorial behaviour” of a group of surf locals who it was claimed gave hell to teen girls at a contest in Scotland which resulted in the GP Cup Finals being postponed. 

From JP Currie’s report yesterday, 

The (alleged) incident took place during the semi-finals of the competition. It has been reported that the young women were subjected to verbal and physical abuse whilst trying to compete, deliberately intimidated and told to “fuck off”.

One young competitor was reported to be run over and pushed under the water.

Britain’s Carve magazine wrote, 

“One of the surfers named as Ian Battrick, a Jersey resident who visits the area, also ran over a 15-year-old girl mid heat, landing on top of her and pinning her to the reef. The young surfer was unable to reach the surface and was highly traumatised.”

My own impression of Ian Battrick, formed many years ago when I lived in Hossegor, was of a nice, if isolated, sorta guy, who ripped in the sort of cold water your ol pal DR would shriek when entering and butcher every damn takeoff at La Piste and La Grave etc.

If he was the sorta loon described above, pretty sure I would’ve noticed. There ain’t no shortage of kooks in south-west France. 

Anyway, earlier today, Ian Battrick gave his side of the story and presented a video proving, he says, his version of events.

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Surfing has been my whole life — not just a sport or a job, but something that’s shaped who I am. The ocean has always been my place of peace, my community, and my compass. I’ve spent years working within the surf world, building a life around tides, wind, and the quiet joy of being in the water. I’m an introvert at heart — happiest when things are calm, when I can quietly do what I love.

During the recent surf competition, I made a mistake. The event was still running, and I chose to paddle out when I shouldn’t have. It was selfish and thoughtless. I didn’t think about how that might affect the competitors or those who had worked hard to make the event happen. I take full responsibility for that choice. It was wrong, and I’m deeply sorry to anyone who felt disrespected or upset because of it. I can’t take it back, but I want to make clear that it came from poor judgment, not bad intention. 

As it had been agreed several days in advance with the North Shore Surf Club we could free surf after 3pm. Even though the commentator was also clearly explaining free surfing here at the time –  listen to VIDEO 1. And such things also happen at surf breaks during competitions worldwide.

What’s happened since has been heartbreaking. In the days after, rumours began spreading online — stories that I had assaulted people or verbally abused others in the water. 

None of this is true. There were live streams running and people all around, yet these stories kept growing, changing shape with every post. Watching your name and your character twisted into something you don’t recognize is a kind of pain that’s hard to describe.

I can accept being called out for any mistake I have personally made. I deserve that. But what’s followed — the hate, the name-calling, the lies — has gone far beyond accountability. I’ve had hundreds of messages and comments from people I’ve never met, many of them cruel and deeply personal. People have felt afraid to speak the truth because their words are deleted or shouted down. It’s been overwhelming.

I’ve spoken with the police because the harassment has become serious, but more than anything, was physically shoved and threatened with a fist raised by someone from Jersey. The Police were present and observed all these events as they unfolded. I have provided a statement and am cooperating fully with them. 

This situation affects not only my personal reputation, but also a business I am involved in. I have documented and preserved all screenshots and videos of the abuse across all channels, messages, articles and defamatory posts I have received, and I have passed these to the appropriate authorities and my lawyer.

I am fully aware of the perception most people have of me, I have heard many stories in the past of myself that are untrue and I can just laugh and shrug it off. But this I can not, and need to say my side of the story. 

For something that I haven’t done, and no evidence of, I find it alarming the amount of hate and hate crimes that have gone viral online. Of which most of this has come from my home island. Sadly. Also anyone writing positively for me, the posts are continually being deleted or themselves being attacked hatefully.

I am most certainly not against competitions, because I sponsor them. Over the last decade I have sponsored Scottish surfing events, the Scottish Surfing Federation, along with many men, women, children and also the North Shore Surf Club. 

I am committed to resolving this constructively and respectfully. I ask the community to refrain from harassment and allow the proper processes to run their course. I respect the athletes—especially the younger competitors—and I regret any upset caused.