Ben Skinner exits the water in triumph yesterday afternoon Picture: DAVID FERGUSON (00804793)

Jerseyman Ben Skinner surfed his way to a magnificent European title in front of friends and family at St Ouen’s Bay yesterday.

Skinner, representing the Channel Islands, though now resident in Cornwall, took the longboard championship with an aggregate score of 15.6, ahead of Frenchman Remy Arauzo, with 13.94 and the current ISA World Surfing Games champion Antoine Delpero, in third with 12.47.

‘It means the world to me right now to win on home turf,’ said a delighted Skinner. ‘I owe a lot to this beach and the people here – the support was unbelievable, really special. I felt really good in the final, I had my family, my girlfriend, my son and the team all watching on the beach and it gave me such energy.

The results earned the Channel Islands fifth place overall on 7,460 points, just 110 behind England, with France topping the bill on 10,580, Spain second (9,395) and Portugal third (8,700).

• Full report and results are published in today’s Jersey Evening Post