Sport

Baker sets Big Wave nominations record

15 April 2010

South Africa's Grant "Twiggy" Baker has set a record by being nominated for five different categories in the 10th edition of the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards, the "Oscars" of big wave surfing.

Baker, 36, who hails from Durban, has been selected as one of the five finalists in each of the categories for the Billabong XXL Ride of the Year, the Monster Paddle, the Monster Tube, the Surfline Best Overall Performance and the Verizon Wireless Wipeout of the Year.

'I couldn't be happier'

"I couldn't be happier," said Baker on Wednesday. Last year, he won the Billabong XXL Biggest Wave and the Surfline Best Overall Performance awards.

"The Ride of the Year is where the biggest cash is. The Overall Performance is judged by your peers. I love barrels so to be nominated for that is an honour and nobody really wants to win the Wipeout award.

"I am most proud about being nominated for the Monster Paddle because the crew has definitely been focusing on paddling into the biggest possible waves for the past couple of years.

'The biggest wave ever'

"One thing for sure is that whoever picks up that award this year will have paddled into the biggest wave ever."

Baker received his nominations for the Ride of the Year, Monster Paddle and Monster Tube awards for waves he rode at Mavericks in California in February during the Mavericks Surf Contest.

His Wipeout took place during a tow in session at Jaws on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Xmas day while his exploits in South Africa, Chile – where he won a big wave event, Hawaii, California, Mexico, the Cortes Bank and Tahiti earned him an Overall Performance nomination for the second year running.

Awards ceremony

The Awards Ceremony will be staged on Friday, 23 April at the huge Grove Theatre in Anaheim, California where an invitation only audience of 2 250 surf and media luminaries and VIPs will celebrate the feats of the world's top big wave chargers.

The entire night's festivities will be webcast live on the Billabong XXL website and many partner websites.

The show will also be the focus of a one-hour television special airing on the ESPN networks starting on the evening of 18 May.

In all, over $130 000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the world's greatest big wave surfers.

SAinfo reporter