A windsurfing champion has high hopes for the year ahead after landing one of the sport's coveted honours.
Lucas Meldrum took up the sport as a child and now he has been recognised for the tricks he pulls in the waves by being named Windsurfing Personality of the Year.
Fans voted for the 23-year-old from Brighton to take the crown, Bob Ingram, boss of UK Windsurfing which runs the event, said Lucas "encompasses all the qualities" of the annual award.
Lucas started windsurfing on a Greek holiday at the age of ten with his dad Phillip.
He said: "It's been a long time in the making but this year has been a breakthrough.
"A lot of people have been been behind my journey and it feels like I'm one of the first in the new generation to win something like this which is quite exciting."
Lucas, who was winner of the 2023 Tiree Wave Classic in Scotland and was handed a giant sword to mark the victory, said: "My dad was windsurfing before I was even born but he stopped when I came.
"We went on a holiday to Vasiliki and I've grew from there. I joined the Lagoon Watersports club down in Hove and got really into windsurfing. I would go any time the conditions looked good.
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"The instructors helped me to improve and I was able to go on some really good trips to places where the conditions are perfect.
"The freedom on the water is on a different level, especially out on the sea in big waves and strong winds. You are on your own out there and forget everything. It's always been something that's quite enchanting for me.
"Whenever there are around 25mph winds I'm out. When you get the storms it's really good.
"Unlike football where you can go training every day, you need to stay fit in other ways on the calm days."
Lucas is now looking for new sponsors to take his career full time.
"My parents have helped me with giving me lifts to competitions and get really good equipment," he said.
"There's a predicament of wanting to do it full time but I'm still searching for outside sponsors to go to some world tour events, which are really expensive to get to."
Lagoon Watersports director Harvey Dawkins said: "We are thrilled with Lucas's windsurfing achievements.
"He learnt to windsurf on Hove Lagoon and look where he is now. It's truly inspiring.
"Windsurfing offers an incredible connection to the natural world and a fantastic escape from the digital era we live in."
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