Tauranga's Marc Jacobs defied extreme conditions to finish fourth in the latest round on the World Kitesurfing Tour in Fuerteventura, Spain.

Marc Jacobs in Spain. Photo: Toby Bromwich/PKRA.

With winds gusting up to 45 knots, Jacobs was edged out by Spain's Alex Pastor in their heat, with both riders suffering numerous spills but Pastor picking up the points that counted.

Pastor went on to lose the final to Dutch rider Youri Zoon, who all but wrapped up the world title with his win at the weekend. Italian Alberto Rondina was third.

After finishing second in a PKRA event earlier this year, Jacobs believes it's just a matter of time before he makes the ultimate breakthrough.

"I'm always giving it everything, but at each event I'm getting more competition-smart and wiser," the Switch-sponsored 21-year-old said.

"This is my first full year on tour and most of the top guys have a few more years on me, so time is on my side."

The result lifted Jacobs to fourth overall in the world rankings. His next events are in Germany and Brazil.