A WEST Somerset student will be represent Team England in the men’s world stand up paddle championships in Denmark on September 2.

Ben Pye, 17, from Tivington near Minehead, will be competing against the world’s best men, most of whom are full-time professionals.

He will be taking part in the 2017 International Surfing Association (ISA) StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship in Copenhagen, competing in a 20 -kilometre race.

Starboard, one of the world’s largest watersports brands, sponsor him and supply him with his state of the art carbon race boards, he started racing about 18 months ago.

He competes most weekends around the UK and although still a junior by age, he always competes in the men’s elite class and is currently leading the men’s national series.

He recently returned from Portugal where he was representing Team England in the European Championships.