Twiggy steals the show
Baker came into the event as an injury wildcard and his winning performance will kick off his 2016/17 BWT Title campaign with 12,500 points and first place on the BWT rankings.
Ballito’s big wave surfer, Grant “Twiggy” Baker, conquered 24 of the world’s best big wave surfers in towering 20-to-35 foot surf at the Puerto Escondido Challenge, Mexico last weekend.
The first event of the 2016/17 World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT) tested the top big wave chargers with enormous and difficult beach-break conditions. A solid swell from the South Pacific delivered massive surf over the two days for the inaugural event at the exceptionally powerful beach-break known as “The Mexican Pipeline.”
Baker came into the event as an injury wildcard and his winning performance will kick off his 2016/17 BWT Title campaign with 12,500 points and first place on the BWT rankings.
“I managed to arrive from Ballito a few days before and get some warm up surfs before hand, so I felt ready and confident and the waves suited my style of surfing perfectly. Sometimes in these events everything seems to fall into place and you can feel the momentum building. It is a great feeling and I was happy to come out on top this time,” said Baker.
With his technical and precise surfing throughout the final, the 2013/14 BWT champion put on a stunning performance and captured early control over the field, solidifying his lead with incredible rides. Baker locked in multiple excellent-range scores, but it was the perfect ten awarded for escaping a massive tube that cemented his victory. His final combined score was an impressive 27.50 out of a possible 30.
“I have been coming here for 20 years and I love it. The event was epic, with big, heavy waves and a good vibe on the beach and between the competitors. 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.”
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