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Newquay's Ben Skinner is through to the last 32 of the Oxbow World Longboard Tour event in France
by George Mojo
06/05/2008:// The former European champion dominated his opener with the second best heat score of round one to defeat ex world champion Taylor Jensen and Spain's Felix Palmero.
The 23-year-old Cornishman finished the round with 15.5 points and a place in round three at Les Cavaliers, in Anglet.
"I'm just stoked to make this heat," said Skinner. "Taylor Jensen is one of my favorite surfers and to finish ahead of him is really all I could hope for. I am really happy with that heat."
Skinner posted an excellent 8.25 point ride in the tricky small conditions to secure his spot and so missing the sudden-death second round.
"The waves were really tough out there and I just tried to make the most out of these two foot waves and it worked out well for me.," he said. "I am just stoked to see how longboarding is back with these two events this year, and I want to thank Oxbow for all their comitment in the sport."
South African Matthew Moir and Australian Jackson Close join Skinner, while Michel Demont, the reigning ASP European Longboard Champion, finished last in his first round heat and will have to get through Round two to keep his title hopes alive.
Fellow Cornishman Sam Bleakley, from Sennen - who has won both the English and British titles, is up against American longboard legend Colin McPhillips and Japan's Anri Nabeshima.
Frenchman Antoine Delperro scored the highest heat total with 16.90 points out of possible 20.
Delperro, who beat fellow French Basque surfer Timothee Creignou and Japan's Eugene Teal, employed a full repertoire of manoeuvres using his nine foot board at its most.
"It is just the best start I could hope for," said Delpero. "I got the wave of the day right after the hooter sounded and it made my heat until the end. It is perfect for my confidence and I felt really good out there."
The 2008 Beachley Classic got underway this morning, completing Rounds 1 and 2 as well as the opening two heats of Round 3 at nearby Freshwater Beach in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves
Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, has officially announced her retirement from full-time competition, effective at the end of the year
Former Exeter University student Josh Lewin first heat at the Ocean and Earth Pro in the Canary Islands has been delayed because the 2ft surf was deemed uncontestable
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