Newquay surf legend Ben Skinner believes his son Lukas is on course to surf at the 2028 Olympics in the United States.

Fifteen-year-old Lukas has returned from Australia where he won the World Grom Search Finals against the best surfers around the world.

And 11-times European longboard champion Ben said: “We’re just so proud of him, he’s just achieving everything that he puts his mind to, got some big dreams and goals and just keeps going all the way.

“I think 2028 is a huge possibility for Lukas to make it to the Olympics. This is proof of what he’s just achieved.”

Lukas became the first British surfer to hold the World Grom Search title and said it was special and surreal to follow in the footsteps of world champions Gabriel Medina and Stephanie Gilmore.

Lukas said: “It was so good to go to Australia for the first time and just experience new things.

“It was so surreal, I was surfing with the best surfers in the world and to be around them, it was the best thing I could ask for.”

Before his trip Down Under, Lukas had been crowned the U16 champion at the Rip Curl Grom Search European final in Morocco in February.

He received a hero’s welcome at Fistral Beach at the weekend before the Your 2023 Caravan and Motorhome Club English National Shortboard Open Championships where he finished runner-up in the Men’s Open to Luke Dillon.

Steve England, editor of Newquay-based Carve Surfing magazine, said: “It’s the first time a British surfer has won the Rip Curl Grom Search and it is an amazing achievement to win against the world’s best young surfers. 

“Not only is it a huge boost to Lukas, but also lights up the way for our other young surfers. They can now watch and compete with a genuine world talent at their local beaches, which is amazing.”