WHEN he entered his first Flowboarding competition in 2002, Sunningdale’s Billy Tennant had no idea it would take him to the dizzying heights of superstardom and world champion status.

The 29-year-old recently returned from the World Flowboarding Championships at the Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi, where he secured two world titles; in the process becoming the first South African and first from the continent to win the honour of being a double world champion.

Incredibly the former Northwood School pupil won his fifth world pro-body boarding title at the annual championships and his second drop knee title.

“I’m stoked; it’s the biggest win of my career so far. It’s a huge milestone for me. I’ve always wanted to win the double and in the last few years it has been a close run thing, and it has alluded me by few points,” he said.

“The competition was extremely competitive and each course on the world circuit offers a different challenge.”

His performances also helped the South African team secure a bronze medal behind the USA and overall winners, the UAE.

Tennant began his Flowboarding safari at the WaveHouse at Gateway and said the bug bit immediately.

“The first time I rode the waves, I was 17 and I can’t say what in particular grabbed me but I just couldn’t walk away from the sport. It’s truly a versatile sport for all ages. I began to enter local competitions and in 2002 I won my first competition. The rest as they say is history,” he exclaimed.