Hendrie, who began wavesailing more than 30 years ago, technically retired 10 years ago to start a family and “settle down without the competitive aspect of wavesailing”.

As his series titles and a number of other trophies added to the cabinet show however, he never really left – much to the chagrin of his wife, Hendrie reveals.

“She keeps telling me that I’m not as young as I once was, but I think she’s just getting tired of having to dust off the trophies in the cabinet,” he joked.

Hendrie’s title defence was completed in Gerroa on the south coast as part of the Summer Series, but it began in Woolgoolga and Wanda.

The Novocastrian champion admitted his first two rounds of the competition didn’t produce results, in part due to the unfavourable weather conditions.

It was the last three rounds of the five-leg series that Hendrie shone however, as he claimed first place in all three to secure his back-to-back title, and his fourth championship placing over his career.

“It’s funny, because before I ‘retired’ a decade ago for the family I didn’t imagine I would get these kind of results now,” he said.

“I think part of it is because I’ve stopped caring so much, I’m just getting out on the waves and I’m doing what I’d be doing whether it was part of the competition or not – that gives me the freedom to perform.

“Not caring about how well, or how poorly, I perform means I don’t panic or freeze, and I get the best results that I possibly could.”

The wavesailing veteran speaks of the sport, or passion in Hendrie’s case, with a stilled reverence, and reveals the “solemn quiet of being out on the waves by yourself” is one of the main reasons he’s loved wavesailing for more than 30 years.

“It’s amazing to get out onto the waves and just spend time out there, you get to experience so much and really push yourself,” he said.

Wavesailing wasn’t always in the public eye, Hendrie said, but believes the competitive nature of the sport is beginning to expand all over the globe.

“We’re already looking at an ‘east coast’ competition here in Australia between New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, and overseas they’ve founded an International Opens,” he said.

“It’s going to be like the surfing Pro Tour that they have on each year, so it’s just a shame there’s a lot of money and travel costs involved without having sponsors.

That’s not going to stop the Masters victor from getting involved however – not when he has a chance to go up against the world’s best.

“I’ll definitely be competing in the Australian leg once it finally comes here,” he said.

“I might not be able to go overseas, but the chance to get involved in something like that when it’s here on our shores will be very special, and I think it’s definitely unmissable. I can’t wait.”