Victory for Baker in Mexico
Durban surfer tops rankings after win in Puerto Escondido
DURBAN’S Grant “Twiggy” Baker sits atop the World Surf League’s Big Wave Tour rankings after winning the opening event of the 2016/17 season in massive, pristine waves in Mexico last weekend.
Baker, the 2013 big-wave champion, slipped to 14th in last season’s rankings and was given a wild card into the Puerto Escondido Challenge.
Up against 24 of the world’s best heavy-water exponents, the 43-year-old South African charged from the outset, finishing runner-up in 12m surf in his first heat, despite suffering several horrendous wipe-outs.
“Yesterday was pretty difficult out there, so I didn’t have a great heat but I made it through,” said Baker.
“This morning when I woke up I saw it was my favourite size for Puerto and I was so happy.”
In cleaner and slightly smaller 10m waves and windless conditions, Baker reigned supreme, comfortably winning his semi-final and then posting a perfect 10-point ride after emerging from an enormous liquid cavern to cruise to victory in the final.
“I’ve been coming here for 20 years and I love it,” he said.
“The waves are amazing and I want to thank all the locals for being so hospitable and making us feel so welcome. To my wife and baby at home, this one’s for you.”
Baker pocketed $25 000 (R375 000) in prize money and earned 12 500 points to put himself at the top of the rankings, ahead of reigning bigwave champion Greg Long, of California, Mexico’s Pedro Calado and veteran Carlos Burle, of Brazil.
The 112-man field in the Ballito Pro has been whittled down to the last 16 after a week of excellent weather, with variable waves and winds at Willard Beach in KwaDukuza.
South Africa’s Jordy Smith, the top seed in the QS 10 000-rated, R4 million event, and Beyrick de Vries, of uMhlanga, are still in contention and will face each other for a place in the quarter-finals.
Of the other six locals in the draw, only Matthew McGillivray managed to advance from his opening encounter against the world’s best competitors. The 18-yearold wild card from Jeffreys Bay won his round-of-96 heat, but then finished fourth in his match-up against Australians Jack Freestone, Stu Kennedy and Yadin Nicol, all of whom have competed on the elite Championship Tour.
The eyes of the surfing world will switch to Jeffreys Bay on Wednesday when the waiting period opens for the J-Bay Open, stop No 6 of 11 on the Championship Tour.
Everyone remembers the dramatic scenes this time last year when Mick Fanning, of Australia, became tangled up with a shark during the final.
Fanning is back for another shot at the title, and his performance, as well the shark mitigation protocols that the World Surf League has implemented to keep the surfers safe, will draw interest from a worldwide audience
Both the Ballito Pro and the J-Bay Open can be watched live at worldsurfleague.com.