Lunasurf Wetsuits / TVSC

UK SURF BRANDS PROFILE: LUNASURF

TVSC: Please give an overview on when, how, where and why Lunasurf began?

Ian Battrick: The company was incorporated in 2010 purely as retail site. It was an idea I had to start an online surfshop as it was hard to source hardware, fins and accessories locally and Anthony had run an online shop before. However, it didn't take long for us to realise there was an opportunity to start our own brand of wetsuits and surf hardware

 

TVSC: Who is on the management team, and what are their backgrounds?

Ian Battrick: The company consists of three partners. Ryan Lewis, a local and well travelled surfer with an entrepreneurial and business background in Jersey. Anthony Dorgan, a local surfer with experience before running an online shop, product design, web building. I was previously professionally free surfing. Before that doing all sorts of jobs for stints at a time and then quitting, to fund travel. From working at the airport, postman, bank, labourer, driver, etc or whatever was going on wherever I was.

 

TVSC: What is the company ethos?

Ian Battrick: Lunasurf is all about real people, real surfing and remembering to not lose track of why we all started – to have fun! We pride ourselves on being independently owned and operated at Lunasurf. Our staff are legit and love to surf. Who along with the result of decades of knowledge from our team riders, work closely with us testing, refining and validating our wetsuits, surfboard traction, leashes and other products in the harshest conditions and some of the most remote locations on the planet - from subzero and snow to the sweltering tropics.

 

TVSC: What sets you apart from your competitors?

Ian Battrick: We believe we are one of the freshest, truly independently owned and operated core surf brands in Europe. Personally designing and testing all our own products all over the globe from Iceland to Indonesia. From humble beginnings, founded by a group of friends on the island of Jersey, Channel Islands, we've grown organically to where we are today. We want to bring back the fun to the surfing market and use the experience of our core, free thinking team to develop the best product in terms of quality, performance and price

 

 

Lunasurf founder Ian Battrick, product testing.

 

TVSC: Could you tell us about in your environmental credentials?

Ian: All our clothing is printed with a new, low-waste technology on a 100% organic cotton garment that was made in an ethically accredited, wind-powered factory. The origins of this product, how it was made and who made it, are fully traceable from seed to shop. All our orders are delivered to you via the Queen's very own courier service, Royal Mail. Now that's VIP service. Certified 100% Organic Cotton / Made in a Fair Wear Foundation Audited factory / Low Carbon / GM Free / Hand finished in the UK

 

TVSC: What do you most enjoy about surfing in the UK?

Ian: I like surfing through the four different seasons we are lucky to have here in the UK. Also that there are still quiet spots to enjoy if you put the effort in.

 

Surfing & Van Life in Scotland with Lunasurf on Vimeo.

 

TVSC: How do you support UK athletes and the wider surf community?

Ian: We support a number of UK athletes from multiple Scottish Champion Chris Noble, Scottish Ladies runner up Phoebe Strachan to Cornish groms like Liam Murray Strout. Chris and Liam have won numerous contests riding Lunasurf. Throughout the surf community worldwide we support a huge range of interesting indivduals for wetsuits, clothing, leashes, traction, full deck grip.

 

TVSC: Which athletes do you currently have on your pro team?

Ian: We have a team of excellent global ambassadors, from which we receive a great deal of coverage and publicity as they just go about their normal surfing lives using our products, whether that is travelling to far flung locations and surfing their local break. Surfers such as Surfing Hall of Famer - Timmy Turner, Ryan Turner, Hugues Oyarzabal, Ryan Carlson, Thomas, Joncour, Pascal Chalard, Joss Ash, Reubyn Ash, Fergal Smith, Eric Ramsey, Phil Goodrich, Amy Kotch, Cain Kilcullen, Matt Capel, Liam Murray Strout, Chris Noble and more. Not to forget alien human hybrid Sfath.

 

TVSC: Ha ha, inter-terrestrial endorsements! That's one hell of a team! What do you see for the future of your company?

Ian: To continue what we are doing, and keep developing our product range. Also, to look at distribution chains by partnering with like minded retailers.

 

 

TVSC top pick: Hybrid 2mm - £215

 

TVSC: What do you see for the future of the industry in the UK?

Ian: I think the industry is at a bit of a cross roads, with the recent high publicity struggles of the big brands, as their brand integrity has been diluted over the last ten years as it became high street fashion. We feel there will be opportunities for smaller brands to gain market share by concentrating on the surfer and not mass retail.

 

TVSC: Where can we check out your videos and stuff?

LUNASURF in

Iceland https://vimeo.com/126588070
Scotland https://vimeo.com/89910223
Indonesia https://vimeo.com/98475963
Pole Camera airs with Hugues Oyarzabal https://vimeo.com/121719104


@lunasurfwetsuits.com

@ianbattrick

 

TVSC: Thanks Ian!

 Check out the range of Lunasurf wetsuits here.

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