22-year-old Matthew Schembri is representing Malta in the Nelo Summer Challenge, an 18-kilometre international surfski race being held in Porto, Portugal between Friday and Sunday.
Mr Schembri has been paddling since he was 14.
In 2011, he competed in the flatwater world championships in Szeged.
He was introduced to surfski in 2010 and has been training with coach Christopher Camilleri.