THREE’S A CHARM

If you count success in world titles, then Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker is probably the greatest competitive surfer South Africa has ever produced. Sit with that. Swirl the words around your mouth like an unwooded Chardonnay. Tracking Twig’s progress from skinny-legged, wide-eyed grom, with little heavy water experience, at the inaugural Red Bull Big Wave Africa in 1999, to multiple Big Wave World Champion, global surf icon, test pilot and pioneer of numerous perfect waves and threader of impossible needles. At 46 years young, Grant Baker has become something of a living legend. “I’m starting to think it’s not so difficult.” Laughs Twig. “I mean, if someone like me can do it three times.” And just like that he cuts through all that butter like a hard squeeze of lemon.

3RD CUT THE SWEETEST?

This one was sweet because at the beginning of the season my goal was to be in the top 10 and stay on the tour, because of how much better everyone’s become at big wave surfing in the last few years. Guys like Billy Kemper, Kai Lenny, Lucas Chianca, Natxo Gonzalez and Ian Walsh… there are incredible surfers on the tour. Before it was us ‘big wave guys,’ not the most skilled surfers but we were