Nine-time world champion Kelly Slater has taken out the 2009 Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro in Brazil over in-form local Adriano de Souza.
Slater, 37, only made a last-minute decision to compete in the event while his journey to Brazil was riddled with delayed flights, visa complications and missing baggage.
But the American veteran didn't let that get in his way as he broke his worst slump on the ASP World Tour to secure his 41st tour victory with a comfortable 17.94 to 14.67 win.
De Souza had earlier knocked out Australian Joel Parkinson in the semi-finals, while Slater beat compatriot CJ Hobgood.
"There were much better waves in the final than there were for my semi-final," Slater said. "Adriano found a pretty good rhythm early on and posted some pretty good scores, but I felt comfortable out there and felt that the waves would come to me if I were patient."
"I started out pretty slow in Brazil, and I wasn't even planning on coming initially. I rode borrowed boards, ones that I shaped, epoxies, everything and I definitely think I found my formula today."
Slater's win rockets him from 25th to No.9 on the ASP World Tour ratings.
De Souza, meanwhile, moves from fifth to No.2 on the back of his performance to reach the final.
"I felt like I peaked in the final," De Souza said. "I don't think I could have surfed any better. I thought I had him (Slater), but he's the nine-time world champ, and you have to be perfect to beat him. I'm still very happy with my runner-up finish. It is my second of the year and puts me in a really good position heading into the next event."
Parkinson, the current ASP world No.1, was in sensational form through the final day of competition, dispatching ASP Dream Tour rookies Kekoa Bacalso and Dustin Barca in his Round 4 and quarter-final heats respectively.
In a grudge match re-igniting their final bout on the Gold Coast during the season opener, Parkinson and De Souza went blow-for-blow in the first semi-final, with the Brazilian claiming victory this time around.
"I'm really frustrated as I wanted to win that one," Parkinson said. "I had an okay start, but Adriano picked up a few good scores towards the end. I got him at home and the Goldy and he got me here in his home country - that's what is great about the tour, everyone surfs in their own country at some point."
The next event will be the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay in South Africa from July 9-19.