Teenage champion surfer sets sights on 2028 Olympics - where he hopes to compete alongside his dad
- 4 months ago
A teenage champion surfer has set his sights on the 2028 Olympics - where he hopes to compete alongside his dad.
Lukas Skinner, 15, is already making waves in the watersport.
He came second in the junior world championships last month - after winning a major international competition earlier this year.
Lukas, from Perranporth, Cornwall, comes from a surfing family.
His dad Ben Skinner is a multiple longboarding champion and his two younger siblings are both talented surfers too.
Speaking today (Mon) from the Wave, an inland surf destination, Lukas said the Los Angeles games in five years is his goal.
And he hopes longboard is featured as an event - so Ben can compete too.
Lukas said: "Longboarding looks like it's maybe going to be in the Olympics and my dad's a longboarder so he's looking to go for that.
"If we can both get in the 2028 Olympics that's the big goal."
Lukas beat competitors from around the world to win the World Grom Search Finals in Australia in April.
He said at the being the first British surfer to hold the title was "special" and a "surreal" experience.
And the teen came away from the ISA World Junior Championships with a silver earlier this month - after breaking his foot just months before.
He won every heat on his way to the under 16s final at Macumba Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
And Lukas was less than half a point away from the winner, Spaniard Hans Odriozola, also 15.
Lukas said he tries to balance his international success with the normal life of a schoolboy.
He said: "It's super hard but my school have been amazing - they've been really supportive and made it work.
"Trying to make it work is hard but I'm doing my best."
Lukas says his first memories of being "in the water" start aged two.
He said: "From five I remember surfing with friends - I still surf there now.
"It's always been a big thing, especially watching my dad.
"It's a really good time to be at this age in surfing - it's been amazing."
Now Lukas' younger sister, aged 13, and younger brother, aged eight, surf too - with sister Lila on the Team England Junior squad.
And there are hopes there could be the whole family at future Olympics.
Lukas said: "The fire [my dad] gets from competition has followed on to me and I just love competing.
"When the surf's good we're always comparing who got the best wave that day.
"My sister is progressing so much. It's really cool to see.
"And my brother did his first contest the other day and won it.
"[Young surfers] just keep believing, it's going to be hard but keep training, keep surfing and stay positive."
Lukas was speaking at the Wave, near Bristol, where he trains.
His dad Ben is a 12-time European longboarding champion and is currently third on the World Surf League's longboard world rankings.
Lukas Skinner, 15, is already making waves in the watersport.
He came second in the junior world championships last month - after winning a major international competition earlier this year.
Lukas, from Perranporth, Cornwall, comes from a surfing family.
His dad Ben Skinner is a multiple longboarding champion and his two younger siblings are both talented surfers too.
Speaking today (Mon) from the Wave, an inland surf destination, Lukas said the Los Angeles games in five years is his goal.
And he hopes longboard is featured as an event - so Ben can compete too.
Lukas said: "Longboarding looks like it's maybe going to be in the Olympics and my dad's a longboarder so he's looking to go for that.
"If we can both get in the 2028 Olympics that's the big goal."
Lukas beat competitors from around the world to win the World Grom Search Finals in Australia in April.
He said at the being the first British surfer to hold the title was "special" and a "surreal" experience.
And the teen came away from the ISA World Junior Championships with a silver earlier this month - after breaking his foot just months before.
He won every heat on his way to the under 16s final at Macumba Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
And Lukas was less than half a point away from the winner, Spaniard Hans Odriozola, also 15.
Lukas said he tries to balance his international success with the normal life of a schoolboy.
He said: "It's super hard but my school have been amazing - they've been really supportive and made it work.
"Trying to make it work is hard but I'm doing my best."
Lukas says his first memories of being "in the water" start aged two.
He said: "From five I remember surfing with friends - I still surf there now.
"It's always been a big thing, especially watching my dad.
"It's a really good time to be at this age in surfing - it's been amazing."
Now Lukas' younger sister, aged 13, and younger brother, aged eight, surf too - with sister Lila on the Team England Junior squad.
And there are hopes there could be the whole family at future Olympics.
Lukas said: "The fire [my dad] gets from competition has followed on to me and I just love competing.
"When the surf's good we're always comparing who got the best wave that day.
"My sister is progressing so much. It's really cool to see.
"And my brother did his first contest the other day and won it.
"[Young surfers] just keep believing, it's going to be hard but keep training, keep surfing and stay positive."
Lukas was speaking at the Wave, near Bristol, where he trains.
His dad Ben is a 12-time European longboarding champion and is currently third on the World Surf League's longboard world rankings.