Kaua'i's Jeff Hubbard turned 2009 into a masterful year.

Hubbard achieved two significant accomplishments this year: a bodyboarding world championship and a master's degree.

"I was so stoked when I got my master's degree (in May)," said Hubbard, 34. "And then to top off the year with another world title ... it's pretty heavy."

He clinched the International Bodyboarding Association's 2009 World Tour last week at the Canary Islands. It is the second world title of his career. His first came in 2006.

"The first one was more like a dream come true," Hubbard said. "This one seemed like I had to put a lot more effort into it."

The 2009 tour featured events in Hawai'i, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Venezuela and the Canary Islands.

Hubbard won contests in Peru and Portugal during the summer to take over the No. 1 ranking. Entering the tour finale at the Canary Islands, he held a slim lead over four others.

"It was pretty intense," he said. "I was in first place going into it, but there's four other guys in contention for the world title. If one of them won the contest, they would've won the tour, so they were hoping for me to lose."

Hubbard was upset in the round of 16, and had to watch from the beach as three of the other contenders continued to advance.

But in the quarterfinals, all three contenders were eliminated, including fellow Hawai'i competitor Mike Stewart.

"I was beyond stoked that it happened," Hubbard said. "Mike is such an unbelievable competitor, just a legend in the sport. I kind of didn't think he would lose."

When it was announced that Hubbard had clinched the 2009 world title, the other Hawai'i competitors carried him around the beach on their shoulders as he waved a Hawaiian flag.

The sport of bodyboarding implemented a world tour in 1995 to determine its world champion.

Somewhat surprisingly, Hubbard is the only bodyboarder from Hawai'i to win a world tour championship (Stewart won a record nine world titles prior to the advent of the tour).

Hubbard said it helped that he was able to graduate from Hawai'i Pacific University with his master's degree in business administration in May.

"Once I finished my schooling, I was able to put a lot more effort on tour," he said. "I was practicing all summer and at the end of the year. It seemed to help my bodyboarding."

He is already putting his degree to work, serving as a business consultant for some of his sponsors, including BZ Bodyboards.

"Professionally, this is going to extend my career," Hubbard said. "Having two world titles is great for my sponsors. They can promote me, and keep promoting their products."

He said his wife, Heather, also played a key role in the successful year.

"She's always there supporting me no matter what," he said.

Hubbard will begin defense of his world title at one of his favorite spots — the Banzai Pipeline. The 2010 tour is scheduled to start in February with the Pipeline Pro.

DAVID HUBBARD ALSO A WORLD CHAMPION

David Hubbard, Jeff's younger brother, is also a world champion.

Hubbard won the drop knee division of the IBA World Tour. It is the third consecutive year that he won the drop knee title, and he did it in dominating fashion this year.

There were three drop knee events in 2009, and Hubbard won all three.

In the drop knee division, competitors have to ride waves with a one-knee stance.

Hubbard actually competes in both the open and drop knee divisions. He finished 2009 ranked No. 14 on the open tour.

IBA 2009 WORLD TOUR FINAL RANKINGS

1, Jeff Hubbard (Hawai'i), 6,320 points. 2, Dave Winchester (Australia), 5,880. 3, Ryan Hardy (Australia), 5,830. 4, Guilherme Tamega (Brazil), 5,760. 5, Mike Stewart (Hawai'i), 5,753. Other Hawai'i competitors: 14, David Hubbard. 37, Jacob Romero. 45, David Phillips.

DROP KNEE DIVISION

1, David Hubbard (Hawai'i). 2, Ardiel Jimenez (Canary Islands). 3, Dave Winchester (Australia).