A perfect ten from a stand up barrel gave Russell Winter the win in the final of the Inaugural O'Neill 5-star Highland Open yesterday at Brims Ness by Thurso, north Scotland. Competing against Brazil's Bernando "Pigmeu" Miranda, Winter scored a further 8.33 from a second huge tube which together with the ten secured him the trophy. The ecstatic Russell said, "I couldn't have asked for a better final, I just held my nerve. After a slow start, things finally started to come together halfway through the heat. I wasn't about to give up, and to get that 10, that just sort of sealed the deal. It was an amazing barrel."

The host wave for this World Qualifying Series event was Thurso East, though Brims Ness proved useful when Thurso's famous reef failed to produce the goods on a couple of the competition days (25th April - 2nd May 2006). At 59° north, Thurso is the most northerly wave spot on the planet to host a pro surf event. The opening field was 168 up and coming professional surfers. Full Results, videos and news at the O'Neill Europe Highland Open.

Related: O'Neill Highland Open on Extreme Channel TV