Houston, We Have Liftoff!

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On the podium, his trophy was a giant bunch of bananas as big as a man, but in reality his prize was a lot more. More prestige for South African athletes, and another milestone in his career, apart from the bucks of course.

As Houston says, "@andre_botha_662 opened the path, @markmccarthy13 paved it and now we get to walk it. "Pretty grateful to get chaired to the podium by good mate and current World Champion @iaincampbell_ as well as sure-bet future World Champion @tristan_roberts"

"I'm proud of my country and the riders coming out of there!"

MEATY SLAB: This is why this wave is so coveted ... for its thick round tube. Photo APB

We are too. Houston was hunting for his first win in four outings at the infamous Canary Island reef slab. Look at the drone view to see the mutant mechanics of this perfect bodyboarding barrel pile driver.

In the final, up against defending champion Amaury Lavernhe (REU), Houston had to take to the sky to steal victory away in the dying minutes, a flawless backflip. It was a special moment for the South African, with his parents watching their son in any form of international compeition for the first time. It's also where he fell in love with his wife Natasha eight years ago.

TOP OF THE WORLD: This is Houston's first win here in four attempts. Photo APB / @jesusdeleon

The final was slower than previous heats, with the waves becoming more intermittent and the larger sets from earlier heats almost non-existent. The heat was Lavernhe’s for most of the 30 minutes, but a late charge from Houston saw the tide turn, with the points on his side of the board with 5 minutes to go. The countdown to victory was torturously slow, and as the seconds ticked away, two fists pumped into the air from Houston, with Lavernhe quick to embrace the new king and offer his crown.

Final Results
1. Jared Houston (ZAF), 15.70
2. Amaury Lavernhe (REU), 12.67

SAFFA TRIO: World Champ Iain Campbell and Tristan Roberts chair the king. Photo @jesusdeleon