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Posted at 5:27 p.m., Sunday, July 15, 2007

Janna Irons finishes third in women's longboard event

Advertiser Staff

Kauai's Janna Irons placed third in the Roxy Women's World Longboard Championship today.

The final day of the week-long contest was completed in 2- to 4-foot waves at Biarritz, France.

Irons was eliminated in the semifinals by California's Jennifer Smith, 11.0-9.0.

"I had a really bad surf in the semifinal," Irons said. "But I'm still so stoked with the result. And now I've won enough money that I won't have to work all summer."

Irons received $1,900 for finishing third. She is the cousin of pro surfing stars Andy and Bruce Irons.

Smith went on to defeat France's Justine Dupont for the championship. Smith received $5,000, and was crowned the 2007 world champion of women's longboard surfing.

Smith, 21, placed second at last year's inaugural women's world championship event.

"I feel so blessed to be in the situation I'm in right now," Smith said. "I made the final last year and lost, so to come back and make the final again and take the title is just an incredible feeling."

Runner-up Dupont is 15, and the world championship contest was the first major event of her career.

"I didn't surf well in the final and didn't deserve to win," Dupont said. "But this whole week still feels like a dream. I can't really believe what I've achieved. It might take a little while to sink in."

Honolulu surfers Crystal Dzigas and Joy Magelssen tied for fifth place and received $1,000 each.

All surfers in the contest had to ride surfboards at least 9 feet long.