Live 2 Surf

Sam Bleakley on the nose in California

Cornish hopes of victory in the final World Longboard Tour event of the season in California have been dashed. Newquay's Ben Skinner and Sennen's Sam Bleakley had been poised for a place in the last 16 but were eventually knocked out.

Newquay's Ben Skinner and Sennen's Sam Bleakley had been poised for a place in the last sixteen in San Clemente but were eventually outpointed in their respective round three heats.

Skinner, a former World Surfing Games silver medallist and British champion, was the closest of the Cornish duo to booking a round four slot.

Skinner surf strongly in the contestable 2 to 3 foot waves at San Onofre racking up a 12.9 point two wave tally from the judges.

But his opponent, Alex Salazar, from Brazil, called on all his technical surfing know-how to clinch the encounter by just under two points.

Bleakley, meanwhile, an England international, was outpointed by top South African Matthew Moir.

Bleakley, who has been a prolific winner in both UK and European contests, started well with a series of rail to rail and progressive moves on the clean waves faces.

The Cornishman was rewarded with a 10.4 point total for his best two waves.

Moir was undeterred though choosing some of the bigger set waves to set out his stall with a repertoire of both modern and classic longboarding skills.

The Oxbow World Longboard Tour is the last of two events on the ASP WLT with the top finisher of the series taking the title of ASP World Longboard Champion.

Australian Harley Ingleby, 25, won the first event at Les Cavaliers in Anglet, France and ahead of the American leg of the tour was eager to stay in the hunt for the overall title.

But it was Hawaiian Bonga Perkins who walked away with the world title after winning the final against Frenchman Antoine Delpero.

It's the second time Perkins has lifted the crown - his last was in 1996.

Perkins proved to be unstoppable throughout the Californian event defeated Delpero 16.95 to 13.90 in the crucial finale.

"I've been bridesmaids and 3rds and 4ths so many times now and I was hoping that my 2nd title would come soon before I bow out," Perkins said. "I'm blown away right now."

Perkins, who entered the San Onfre contest in third place, issued powerful rail-to-rail surfing throughout the contest, consistently compiling some of the highest heat totals. The Hawaiian did the same in the Final, netting two eight-point rides in the opening minutes of his heat.

"I've been doing it almost every heat, trying to sneak a couple in and get a couple under my belt, and they ended up being my stronger waves every heat," Perkins said.

"That 30 minute heat felt like a long time. I felt like I was holding my breath."

Despite his amazing performance throughout the contest, Delpero was unable to put a stop to the polished Hawaiian veteran. Delpero's second place finish at San Onofre State Beach also puts him at No. 2 in the world behind Perkins.

"I just could not find a wave in that heat," Delpero said. "I would have liked to win, but that's life, that’s competition."