Skinner is the European longboarding number one

Jersey surfer Ben Skinner has continued his outstanding form by winning his third European surfing title of 2009.

The Perranporth-based surfer claimed first prize at the ESF Longboard Championships in Portugal, adding to earlier wins in Jersey and Spain.

Skinner, 24, beat France's Alexis Deniel in the final in Portugal to make 2009 his most successful year to date.

He said: "I'm absolutely over the moon, but also a little tired. It's all been pretty tense."

Skinner's route to the title included a wins over the defending champion Antonie Delpero [quarter-final] and his brother Eduard Delpero [semi-final].

Skinner said: "The semi-final was massive and I gave it absolutely everything, with the 17.25 being my biggest score in the whole event.

"It was a man-to-man heat against Eduard and I was determined not to let it slip.

"I just put my head down and tried to focus on my own performance and forget about anything else."

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