Layne Beachley, the most successful female surfer of all time, will retire at the end of the 2008 season.
The seven-time world champion called an end to her stellar career at a media conference in Sydney, in the midst of a tour event in her name, the Beachley Classic.
The 36-year-old from Sydney's northern beaches holds the record for most number of Tour victories with 29, but after 19 years on the road said she was ready to move on to the next phase of her life.
"This is a bittersweet decision for me as I feel like I feel like I'm surfing the best I have in my whole career," Beachley said.
"But the time is right. I'm motivated to find new and challenging ways to achieve different things in my life.
"From surfing to business, there is always so much to learn," said Beachley.
"I'm really proud of the impact I have had on women's surfing and I feel blessed to have been in a position to inspire a whole generation of surfers to pick up a board and experience this wonderful sport."
Men's surfing legend Kelly Slater, a nine-time world champion, was glowing in his praise of Beachley.
"Layne is the greatest female surfer of all time," Slater said in a statement.
"She has continued to blow minds and shatter records with her surfing style, technical ability and focus. She will be missed in the surfing world."
Beachley made her debut on the World Tour at 16 and by the time she was 20, was ranked world No.6.
She won the first of six consecutive world titles in 1998, and then her seventh in 2006.
With 3036 points, Beachley is currently running third in the 2008 tour standings, behind Peru's Sofia Mulanovich (3504) and Australia's defending world champion Stephanie Gilmore (3516).
