Harassment in Surf Culture
Written by: Surfrider Foundation and All Wavy Baby
It is no secret that harassment, and sometimes even violence, can be a part of surfing on the South Island. This is NOT a part of the culture we are willing to accept. We believe that beaches and waves should be accessible for all to enjoy without harassment. While we work on being a part of the change that eradicates it, we also want to provide our community with tools and strategies to stay safe and look out for one another.
First and foremost, Jordan River / diitiida is a village site of the Pacheedaht First Nation. Historically (as shared by Elder Bill Jones) the area was often used as a meeting area for many Nations to trade and otherwise connect. We all need to treat the spirit of the place, the water and each other with respect.
What to do if someone begins harassing you:
The best thing you can do for your safety is not engage. If you can, paddle towards a group of people, or get out of the water. If the person follows you, shout to anyone on the beach and ask them to start recording the incident. Make the people around you aware of the situation. Assailants are less likely to continue their attack when they know they are being recorded.
If you see someone being harassed try to deescalate the situation with the five D’s:
Distract - Cause a distraction, yell out that the police have been called or even “whale!” — anything you can think of in the moment.
Delegate - Ask for help from the other people around you in the water to diffuse the situation.
Document - If you are onshore or have a device with you in the water, start recording the situation. Or, if you’re close enough to shore to yell to someone on the beach, ask them to start recording.
Debrief - Ask the victim if they are okay, if they were physically assaulted, get them the first aid they need and assist them out of the water. If they were verbally attacked, ask if they’d like you to accompany them out of the water.
Direct - If you feel safe to do so, speak directly to the attacker and tell them to stop. The goal is to deescalate the situation, not to engage verbally in an argument. You can say something like “STOP, I am getting this person help now.”
(You do not have to do all of these actions, do whichever ones are available to you in the situation.)
Thank you to Right to Be for making bystander intervention tips readily available online. You can find more information, as well as training opportunities at @righttobeorg.
How to report an assault:
If you are assaulted or if you are witnessing an assault call 911. You can also call the non-emergency line if the incident has already ended, everyone is safe and there is no need for medical attention. The non-emergency line for BC is 604-717-3321.
It can be helpful to write down the details of the incident and the description of the attacker right away because in high-stress situations it is easy to forget the details as time passes.
If it happens at the Jordan River Regional Park you can also report it to the CRD using their online form: www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/crd-regional-parks/report-an-issue
If you are uncomfortable with the RCMP or need further support please reach out to us and we will help you find the resources you need.
Something to keep in mind,
Many women also experience harassment within the surf community out of the water, be it in the parking lot, on the beach or in DMs. You might not see it happening but that doesn’t mean it’s not.
Believe women. Don’t participate in casual objectification or sexualization of women in surf (or at all!) Take a training, (un)learn more. Hold your male friends accountable.
