In a remarkable comeback from a serious leg injury sustained in March, Perranporth surfer and GB Surfing Progression Squad member Lukas Skinner successfully defended his Boardmasters Open title over the weekend, thrilling fans at Fistral Beach.

This year’s Boardmasters Open, now upgraded to a QS 2,000 event under the revamped World Surf League structure, attracted a high-calibre field from across Europe, including Spain’s Andy Criere, who placed 17th at the 2024 Olympic Games.

In Sunday’s final, Lukas produced a composed yet dynamic performance, mixing powerful rail work with sharp aerials to post a winning total of 16.44 points, ahead of Criere (12.47), Portugal’s Francisco Ordonhas (13.07), and Spain’s Sean Gunning (15.03).

The victory was made all the sweeter for the 17-year-old Perranporth resident, who not only claimed the men’s title for the second year running but also repeated his win in the Junior Boys division, securing an unprecedented “double-double” on home turf.

The result marks another important step in Lukas’s development and a proud moment for surfing in the UK. His next stop will be Pantin, Spain, from 26–31 August, where he’ll look to carry his strong form into the next leg of the WSL Qualifying Series.