Breaking the Boundaries

Humble and unassuming, you would never guess that Grant “Twiggy” Baker has surfed the waves of most people’s nightmares. Imagine jumping out of a tenth floor window and you will get some idea of what we’re talking about, then add freezing cold water, great white sharks, powerful rip-tides and razor sharp reefs, just below the murky surface, and you’re starting to get a better picture.

With impressive results in big wave surf contests, Grant “Twiggy” Baker has firmly entrenched himself as one of the world’s best! He’s the 2008 winner of the Red Bull Big Wave Africa, a big wave surf contest held at Dungeons, a world famous reef  break, just off  Hout Bay, near the ominously named dive site – Hamburger Alley.

He has received regular nominations for the XXL International Biggest Wave of the Year Award,  winning the Tow-in category in 2007 with his Jet-ski partner Greg Long. And he’s a winner of the prestigious invitational contest at Mavericks in 2006, a forbidding big wave spot near San Francisco which has claimed more than one life.

Dissatisfied with the status quo, “Twiggy” is always pushing the boundaries of what is considered rideable. A regular amongst hard core watermen, Twiggy spends months of the year training and testing his limits at renowned big wave breaks in the Cape, the USA and Hawaii. He recently made history, surfing previously un-ridden waves in the 60 to 100 ft range on a deep sea reef called the Cortez Bank, over five hours out to sea in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

A true inspiration, “Twiggy’s” actions speak louder than words. A man who knows what it means to face fear head on, Twiggy’s talk is bound to impress. Coupled with astonishing photos of him riding salt water giants, this unique presentation by a most amicable character is definitely one not to be missed.