Dramatic black and white close-up of pro surfer Lucy Campbell’s eyes peeking out from a hooded Dryrobe® changing robe

Blog - Northbound: Lucy Campbell on Scotland, Burnout, and the Courage to Step Away

Northbound: Lucy Campbell on Scotland, Burnout, and the Courage to Step Away

3 minute read

“Scotland to me is pure beauty. It isn’t an easy surf trip; you don't just show up and score empty waves. You get out what you put in.”

In the rugged, windswept corners of Northern Scotland, where the mizzle is freezing and the golden hours are a hard-earned reward, the current English Women’s Surf Champ Lucy Campbell found something she hadn't realised she was missing: clarity.

After a decade of relentless competition on the WSL Qualifying Series, the pressure of competing and the gruelling travel schedule began to take their toll. In our latest film, Northbound, Lucy opens up about her battle with chronic fatigue and burnout, and the brave decision to step away from the heat of competition to rediscover her love for the sport.

Lucy Campbell standing in a grassy field with her quiver of four surfboards leaning against a farm gate under a blue sky.

“I decided at the end of last year, after battling with chronic fatigue and burnout, that it was time for me to step away from competing.

Last year, I think I didn't find the right balance of juggling training for competition, the travel, the freelance work, the trying to have like a little bit of normality in my life, and I got extremely burnt out and ended up getting chronic fatigue, potentially even RED-S.

I would have a day of competing, and then the next day I was completely wiped out in bed, and I couldn't get out of bed to go and train and do what I wanted to do.

I think that for me was a point where I was like: Ok, I'm ready to move on. I'm ready to push myself in different ways.”

Looking to the Future

Northbound isn’t a retirement film; it’s a manifesto for a new chapter. For Lucy, the future is about challenging herself in new ways. It’s about adventure, sustainability, and ensuring the next generation of women know they belong in any lineup they choose.

"If I can leave a message to the next generation, it’s that they deserve to be in any lineup they want to be in, that there are no boundaries, then I will be very happy."

Pro surfer Lucy Campbell waxing her yellow surfboard on a rugged beach, wearing a black camouflage Dryrobe® Advance for warmth.

Part of the Dryrobe® Journey

Lucy’s journey has been closely intertwined with ours since the very beginning. Growing up just a few miles from Dryrobe® HQ in North Devon, we have proudly worked with her for over a decade, supporting her from her junior days and throughout her career as an 8x national title-winning surfer.

While her time in the competitive jersey may be coming to an end, Lucy’s passion for the sport she loves isn't. We’re stoked to see what comes next for Lucy, whether she’s chasing slabs in the Scottish Highlands or advocating for a more sustainable surfing industry.