Rivals turn up heat

Wednesday 30th September 2009, 3:00PM BST.

Antoine Delpero (France) and Ben Skinner (CI) after their longboard heat. Picture: DAVID FERGUSON (00800898)

BEN SKINNER came close to beating the world champion in the second round of the Eurosurf longboard competition yesterday.

With both Skinner and Frenchman Antoine Delpero being drawn together in the same heat it was a chance for the surfers to meet once again having both battled it out in the final of last month’s ISA World Surfing Games.

On that occasion Delpero won the gold medal while Skinner claimed a bronze but it was a much closer affair yesterday in St Ouen’s Bay.

Credited as being the best showcase surfing of the whole day both executed hang 5s and 10s along with drop knee turns and excellent cross stepping.

The Jerseyman, who now bases himself in the UK, put in a strong base of points early on but was quickly chasing a score in the 17s which Delpero set with his third and fourth waves.

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