Salt Rock’s Twiggy tops global rankings

Local monster-wave surfer Grant “Twiggy” Baker is sitting pretty on top of the global rankings.

One of Salt Rock’s favourite sons, Baker consolidated his lead at the top of the 2018 / 2019 World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT) rankings after finishing fifth in the Jaws Challenge at Pe’ahi on Maui in Hawaii.

After having collected 11 000 points for winning the Nazare Challenge in Portugal last month, he earned another 5305 points at Jaws and now leads Hawaiian Billy Kemper by 2960 points with just one event left on the schedule.

Competing in gigantic 10 to 16 metre surf at the big wave venue famous for producing huge hollow waves, Baker rode one of the biggest waves of the event in his round one heat on Monday, earning 7.63 out of 10 from the judges, which was enough to see him finish second in the heat and progress to the semi-finals.

WATCH: Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker wins Big Wave Tour Nazaré Challenge

The fast rising swell and bumpy wave faces that caused multiple horrendous wipe-outs prompted BWT commissioner Mike Parsons to put the event on hold after Baker’s heat due to the dangerous conditions for both the surfers and safety crew, and then call the event off for the day.

Returning on Tuesday, Baker again finished second in his semi-final heat to qualify for the final, which guaranteed that he would retain his rankings lead.

In strong winds that made catching and riding the towering 10 metre plus waves tricky, local Maui surfers went on to dominate the 60 minute final with Kemper finally taking the honours for the day.

Baker will have to keep his determination heading into the final event of the BWT: the Mavericks Challenge in California – which Baker has won twice in the past.

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