Six months after suffering an injury in Nazaré, Jared Houston claims the 2017 Teahupoo Tahiti Challenge, at the End of the Road.
The last day of competition saw the world's best bodyboard competing in glassy, six-to-eight-foot waves.
In the final, the 2015 APB World Tour champion wasted no time and opened his account with an 8.17 ride, forcing his opponent Garth McGregor deliver a near-perfect performance.
The Australian tried to answer landing a massive ARS over the shallow reef, but he was sucked by Teahupoo's powerful inside forces, and quickly understood he was not going to take the home.
"I'm just so emotional. The moment doesn't really seem real from where I've come in the last few months and the hard work I put in. It is such an amazing reward to win this prestigious event," expressed Jared Houston.
"I just want to thank my wife, family, and everyone who has been a part of the past six months of my journey and contributes their grain of salt to bodyboarding and this life we love."
The next stop on the 2017 APB World Tour season is the Itacotiara Pro, to be surfed from June 14-15, in Brazil.
2017 Teahupoo Tahiti Challenge | Final
1. Jared Houston (RSA), 15.33
2. Garth McGregor (AUS), 5.10