Luke Gartside

When it comes to truly formative experiences, it's hard to pinpoint them until they’re long in the past. They’re sort of like the good old days in that regard. But even without the clarity of hindsight, it’s likely that various episodes from the last 12 months will loom large in the story of Lukas Skinner’s surf career.

At the top of the ledger are three big victories. The first, an under 16s European title in Portugal last summer. Then, at the finals of the European Ripcurl Grom Search in Morocco, where he pipped his good mate and Ripcurl teammate Hans Oridozola in the final. For those who don’t follow Euro Junior proceedings, Hans is one half of a fraternal duo rising quickly through the ranks. The pair cut their teeth at the Basque Country’s world-class waves and, one presumes, over many thousands of hours in the Wavegarden pool that their parents invented and built. In the final, Lukas, long touted as an aerial specialist, took out the heat with an excellent array of rail carves at pumping head-high Anchor Point. The prize was a trip to Bells Beach, to compete in the international final of the Ripcurl Grom Search, which runs alongside the CT event and sees the best under-16s from every continent converge in the Bell’s Bowl. Past winners include Caity Simmers, Caroline Marks, Gabriel Medina and Mason Ho. And now, Lukas Skinner. Quite a pedigree to have your name etched alongside. 

Of course, Lukas’ progression this year cannot be wholly summed up by his creaking trophy shelf. There were lots of bits in between. Like honing his heat strategy on training trips with the British team, or throwing himself into heavy waves around Blighty and constantly refining his equipment with his dad, shaper and top international longboarder, Ben Skinner. All of course, fitted diligently around his school work, in preparation for his GCSEs next year. 

Arriving at the Skindog Surfboards factory one afternoon, a few days after Lukas’ return from Australia, I find him sprawled out on a beanbag in his school uniform eating a breakfast muffin that looks slightly past its best. He’s had a geography exam that morning, he says, and is just about to go into his dad’s office for an on-air interview with Times Radio. It’s one of a dozen or so media requests that have come flooding in since his win, forcing Ben to hang up his planer and take up the temporary role of media liaison manager. 

While he battles with Zoom in the other room, I peruse a rack overflowing with Lukas’ old boards, all shaped by Ben, variously under SkinPups, Firewire and most recently Slater Designs, with whom Lukas signed last month. “Kelly actually messaged me the other day! He said we should go surf soon,” Lukas tells me excitedly, before straightening his tie and disappearing off for his interview. 

Standing at the rack with Ben, I ask about the challenges of being Lukas’ shaper. 

“For me, I always felt that I never wanted to hold him back, just because he wanted to ride my boards,” he says. “There was a part of me that was thinking, one day he’s going to step on someone else's and say ‘Dad what have you been making me? I didn’t realise how bad these were.’ But actually, it's been the opposite. He’s gone to America and ridden Mayhems and Merricks and come back saying these boards is still his favourite.”

“Keeping up with someone on his trajectory is super difficult when it comes to equipment,” he continues, pulling a tiny, pressure-dented stick out of the rack to look over. “You know, because he’s growing so fast. In one year he went from 5’3s to 5’8s and it’s down to me to keep up with that and make sure he has the right board under his feet at all times.”

“Of course, his surfing has changed massively too,” he adds. “The way he’s reading waves and the lines he’s drawing, the progression has been really steep and consistent.”

Sustained improvement at lightning speed is essential for any kid looking to shoehorn teenage surfing talent into a career and 15 is about the time when many of the most promising groms slow down, dogged by injury, teenage distractions or a fast-changing frame. Since recovering from a serious skate slam two years ago though, Lukas’ trajectory has been on an uninterrupted upward tilt. 

I’ve observed his progression in real-time increments over the period, but compiling photographic highlights brings the finer points into sharp focus. Looking back through the folder, each tail waft, layback and full rotation feature an unmistakable increase in power and finesse when compared with the same move captured just six months prior. 

According to British team coach Joel Grey – whose overseen all of the country’s finest talents for the last twenty years – much of Lukas’ success lies in his willingness to learn from every experience, be it a priority mistake, or a big day at Porthleven, and use it to get better.

Continue reading in Carve Magazine Issue 117