GB Surfing is pleased to announce it has secured an uplift in funding from UK Sport for the remainder of the Los Angeles Olympic cycle, reinforcing confidence in the programme’s progress and future medal potential.
The additional £150,000 investment increases GB Surfing’s total UK Sport funding for the LA Olympic cycle (April 2025 – March 2029). This enhanced support will enable the organisation to further strengthen its performance programme as it works towards qualifying athletes for the Los Angeles Olympic Games and building a sustainable pathway to podium success at the Brisbane Olympic Games in 2032.
The award follows a rigorous review process, during which GB Surfing demonstrated the significant progress made in developing a high-performance environment capable of supporting athletes on the journey to Olympic success. The uplift reflects both the impact of recent programme developments and UK Sport’s confidence in the direction of travel.
The additional investment will help activate the delivery of GB Surfing’s recently updated Performance Strategy, which marks a deliberate evolution in approach. The training squad programmes will shift away from isolated camps and event-centred preparation, instead prioritising daily training environments, individualised support, and behaviours that underpin long-term performance gains. This shift will enable more consistent, tailored support for Britain’s leading surfers as they prepare for the demands of Olympic competition.
In addition to the programme uplift, GB Surfing has been awarded two Athlete Performance Awards (APAs). These National Lottery-funded grants, administered by UK Sport, are paid directly to athletes to help cover the costs associated with training and competing at the highest level.
APA places for development sport athletes are highly competitive, making the award of two places a significant step forward for GB Surfing. As the funding is designed to support Olympic success, UK Sport places greater emphasis on performances at Olympic qualifying events. As a result, GB Surfing’s APA selection policy is weighted more heavily towards results at the ISA World Surfing Games and the European Championships. While World Surf League (WSL) results are considered, they must be supported by strong performances at qualifying events to strengthen the case to UK Sport.
GB Surfing’s APA places have been awarded to Lukas Skinner, a three-time medallist at the Junior ISA Games and a WSL Qualifying Series winner, and Charlotte Mulley, who has delivered impressive results at the ISA World Games and reached the final of last year’s EuroSurf.
Chair of GB Surfing, Vicky Gosling OBE, said: “This additional investment is a significant boost for our programme and a strong endorsement of the progress we have made.
“It reflects the dedication and expertise of our staff, the commitment of our athletes, and the collective effort across the system to build a programme capable of delivering on the Olympic stage.
“With the continued leadership of our Head of Performance, Mick Cain, we are excited to build on this momentum as we push towards Olympic qualification and long-term medal success.”