Florence resident Gabriel Cruz was better than his little brother Jackson on Saturday (Aug. 15), if only for a day, winning the pro division of the X-West Huck Fest all-big-air sandboard competition at Sand Master Park.

"I did a frontside 360 (to win), or was it a backside 360?" said Gabriel, 24, grinning. "I get 'em confused with skateboarding, which I also do."

Jackson, 21, who lives in Klamath Falls, placed second to maintain his first-place status in the Dune Riders International World Tour 2015 pro point standings.

Jesse Austen of Florence was third in Saturday's event.

University of Oregon student Logan Livingston, 19, who lives in Florence, won the men's amateur, while Bekah Austen of Florence won the women's amateur.

"Sandboarding is such a forgiving sport," says Livingston, a three-sport athlete in high school at Rockford, Ill. "I was afraid of it at first, but that sand is pretty soft."

Sponsors of Saturday's event included Xwest Clothing, Sand Master Park, Venomous Boards, Driftwood Shores, KAVU and Dr. Dune's Wax.

The X-West Huck Fest was the final U.S. stop this season, with future events on the DRI World Sandboard Tour  scheduled for Oct. 10-11 in Chile, Nov. 28-29 in Peru, Dec. 4-5 in Brazil, March 20-21 in Mexico and April 1-3 in Egypt.

The 2016 World Tour kicks off May 21 with the World Sandboard Day Season Party at Sand Master Park.