Kaua'i's Janna Irons placed third in the Roxy Women's World Longboard Championship yesterday.

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.

PATACCHIA ADVANCES AT SOUTH AFRICA CONTEST

Fred Patacchia Jr. of O'ahu's North Shore won his third-round heat in the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay yesterday.

Only five heats of the third round were completed before the competition was postponed due to inconsistent conditions. Patacchia was the only Hawai'i surfer to see action yesterday.

Patacchia defeated California's Chris Ward, 11.5-10.17.

Patacchia is scheduled to face three-time former world champion Andy Irons of Kaua'i in the fourth round.

"I think it is going to be fun, we haven't had a man-on-man heat since I've been on tour," Patacchia said. "I think it will be a lot of fun, a lot of laughs, a lot of serious paddle battles ... and I am looking forward to it. It is not everyday you get to surf against a world champion."

In another upcoming fourth-round heat, Pancho Sullivan of Sunset Beach is scheduled to face Australia's Mick Fanning, who is currently the world's No. 1-ranked surfer.

Bruce Irons of Kaua'i has yet to complete his third-round heat.