Grant Twiggy Baker of South Africa suffers a massive wipeout, air dropping down a 45ft face during Round 1 of the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau on Thursday February 25, 2016. Photo: © WSL/ Heff
It’s an understatement to say Grant “Twiggy” Baker has had a big year. From that indellible wipeout of the 2016 Eddie to winning the Puerto Escondido Challenge come June, he’s about as high on the big wave totem pole as one can get right now. But what’s life like outside those moments? You know, the common everyday things we’d all like to ask our favorite surfer, like how it all got started and even their favorite wave?
Here’s Twiggy’s version of answering those basics.
When did you start surfing?
I started surfing around 1986 in and around Durban South Africa
What was your first board?
I had a Sean Jerram 5’2 that was way to big for me, I was a very small kid at 8 years old.
What is that you love about surfing?
I think its the freedom you get from being out in the ocean, away from the efforts of every day life that I enjoy the most. That and getting to test yourself in a natural environment which is very rare these days in normal modern life.
How did you start surfing big waves? Did something or someone inspire you?
Mine was a slow process, starting at my home beach in Durban when that got bigger and then slowly moving up and down the coasts around Durban, J-Bay and finally to Cape Town in the late 1990’s. Around the same time the Big Wave Africa event started and I got an invite into that. From there I met guys like Greg Long and Grant Washburn who invited me to come and surf Mavericks with them. The rest is history.
What was the scariest moment of your surfing career?
I’ve had a few, but the day Greg Long drowned at Cortez Bank and we were able to rescue and resuscitate him was a scary moment
What was the best moment in your professional career?
Winning Mavericks in 2006 was a turning point in my life. It set me up on a course to pursue my dream of being a traveling surfer. From there winning the Dungeons event in 2009, the XXL Ride of the Year in 2010 and then Mavericks again in 2014 were all cool moments.
From all the places you have surfed in the world, which one is your favorite?
I’m in J-Bay now with a nice swell on the way, staying at my Aunt Cheron’s house on the point with some of my best friends as locals. So right now I would have to say this is my favorite place in the world.
Tell us about Twig Surfboards. How did that get started?
Twig Surfboards was developed from an idea to make high quality surfboards that perform when the waves are at their best, made available to surfers who want the most out of their equipment on those special days of the year. Using research gathered over the years with experienced people like Gary Linden, Spider Murphy and Randy Cone and the continuous exchange of ideas between the TWIG Surfboards current shapers has seen the brand come of age. We simply make quality boards for good waves and great surfers.
So what does your daily schedule look like?
Wake up early, play with my daughter, have a surf, have a dive, work with my personal trainer, work in the factory, do some emails and going to bed early would be the perfect day.
What would be your advice to anyone wanting to pursue a career in the surf industry?
Find a niche that you are interested in and only make high quality, long lasting products that work. Don’t get caught up in the corporate, mass production of shit.
Any exciting plans coming up?
I’m on standby at the moment for events in Chile and Peru, two countries that I love to visit and come mid-October the focus shifts to the Northern Hemisphere. At that point I get to spend time in Hawaii and travel between there, California and Europe for more events. For a surfer like me, thats pretty exciting.
