Jersey Man Wins The European Longboard Tour
JERSEYMAN Ben Skinner scored a perfect ten on his way to winning surfing's European Longboard Tour title at Estoril in Portugal.
The Cornwall-based Old Victorian won the final round of the tour last weekend to take the European title by a massive 872 points from France's Timothée Creignou, who was knocked out in round two.
Almost a year to the day after claiming a silver medal in the World Surfing Games in California, 23-year-old Skinner said: 'Winning the first European Longboard title is a dream came true. I've had such an incredible experience in Estoril and the Portuguese organisers did a terrific job.
'It's been a truly amazing three weeks here with all the guys on the tour. We've all had a fantastic time and I've been especially delighted with my form. I finished second in the first two tour events before winning my last one to win overall.
'I've been driving round here with three English guys and for us all to finish in the top ten out of the 48 competitors is a big statement for British surfing. I've been in very good frame of mind, too, and I think that has helped. I love Portugal, I've been really relaxed and I've surfed well.
'Conditions last weekend were perfect, with four-foot waves. It couldn't have been better. I scored a perfect ten, too, and it's the first time I've achieved that at a big event. Normally it's very difficult to score ten at the top events because the judges mark at a very high level.'
The competition was held at beachs at Guincho, Bafureira and S‹o Pedro do Estoril, against competitors from Portugal, the UK, France, Germany and Romania.
Skinner added: 'I'm now looking to do as many surfing trips as I can in the next few months because it will be more difficult next year because my girlfriend is having a baby in January. I hope to get back to Jersey, too, because my auntie has just had a baby - Holly.
'I'll be returning to Portugal next year because the World Surfing Games are being held there and it would be fantastic if I could go one step further than the last Worlds next time.'
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28-10-2007, 15:21 PM
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