Damian King, three-time world champion, will retire from professional bodyboarding at the end of the 2013 season.
The rider from Port Macquarie, the bodyboarding capital of Australia, says the decision to retire was not made lightly but was bolstered by his desire to spend more time with his young family.
"I really miss them when I'm away competing," he said. "Winning the Surfer of the Century award really put things into perspective for me.
"There's not a lot else I can do in my sport, and I want to spend more time with the family, so it's just the right time."
Damian King will aim for one last world bodyboarding title before calling it quits at the end of the 2013 season.
"I won the qualifying tour earlier this year for next year. I'm going to give it one more crack next year, and that will be it for me."
"I've been thinking that I'll miss it, but I've been using that energy to make sure I really have a good last year. Besides, if I keep going, there's a good chance I'll be in a wheelchair by the time I'm 40. It's surprisingly tough on your body".
Damian King won the IBA World Tour titles in 2003 and 2004.
In 2011, he took the Drop Knee World Tour to become the first bodyboarder in history to win both prone and DK trophies.