Iain Campbell: the 2017 APB World Tour champion | Photo: Estrelinha/APB

Iain Campbell has been crowned the 2017 APB World Tour champion.

The South African bodyboarder clinched his maiden world bodyboarding title in the sand banks of Nazaré's Praia do Norte, in Portugal.

Campbell is the third South African bodyboarder to win a world title. The first was Andre Botha (1998 and 1999), and the second rider was Jared Houston (2015).

"That was insane. This is so epic. This makes it all worth it. It's been a long couple of years, trying to achieve a goal like is always hard work, but I finally got it. To have this trophy and title is unbelievable," said Iain Campbell.

"It all comes down to the training and everything I've been doing back home. I moved out of Durban to Cape Town just to get better waves, and surf a lot more, and it seems to have paid off."

Iain Campbell: the new world champion finished runner-up at the 2017 Nazaré Pro | Photo: Estrelinha/APB

The newly crowned 2017 APB World Tour champion locked in the first world title of his career after defeating Diego Cabrera in the semifinals. The truth is that Campbell was the most in-form athlete of the season.

"Working with a trainer, who's been helping with mental coaching, was great too. So a huge shout out to Philip Nel because this is what I wanted to do. I'm completely blown away," added the South African.

Iain Campbell ended up facing António Cardoso in the final, but the local rider made sure his fans had reasons to celebrate on the beach by winning the prestigious event.

"I feel amazing. I started crying in the water, in the last ten seconds. I don't know why I was crying. It's just the emotion..." expressed the bodyboarder from Nazaré, who became the first ever Portuguese to win an APB World Tour event.

The final event on the 2017 APB World Tour calendar is the Gran Canaria Fronton King Festival, held in Galdar, Canary Islands.

2017 Nazaré Pro | Final

1. António Cardoso (POR), 12.65
2. Iain Campbell (RSA), 12.25

Top Stories

Pedro Levi is on a mission to ride the biggest wave of all time on a bodyboard.

Pierre-Louis Costes and Morey Bodyboards signed a partnership and sponsorship deal. The French will ride for the American boogie board company.