Ben Skinner is the new European longboarding number one

Cornwall's Ben Skinner has won the 2009 European longboarding title.

Skinner, who grew up in Jersey and learned to surf in St Ouen's Bay where he won the title, said he was proud to win the championship in the island.

"I'm over the moon, I've wanted this for a long time. I owe a lot to this beach and a lot to these people," Skinner told BBC Jersey.

"It's where surfing began for me, all these people taught me to surf, they pushed me into waves, what a feeling."

Skinner, who is currently ranked third in the world, finished with 15.6 points for his two waves.

World number one Antoine Delpero, of France, finished third with 12.47, with fellow countryman Remy Arauzo in second with 13.94.

Along with Skinner's gold in the longboard, the Channel Islands' team claimed a silver and a fourth place on the final day of the championships.

Skinner in action in the longboard final

Former European champion Clayton Lidster grabbed a silver in the masters division, while Sam George was unlucky to finish in fourth in the senior men's.

Channel Islands team manager Rorey McMichael was overjoyed at the results, which saw the squad finish fifth in the overall standings.

"We've had an awesome day," he said. "I'm just unbelievably pleased with the whole team, we almost took fourth from the England team."

Final team standings:

1. France - 10,580 points

2. Spain - 9,395

3. Portugal - 8,700

4. England - 7,580

5. Channel Islands - 7,460

6. Morocco - 7,000

7. Wales - 6,505

8. Ireland - 6,180

9. Holland - 6,022

10. Germany - 5,317

11. Switzerland - 3,815

12. Sweden - 2,183

13. Belgium - 1,658

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