If you had to ask the 11-time world champ where he learnt to surf, Kelly Slater would tell you “a place like PE, but warmer”. Well, maybe he wouldn’t mention PE, but Cocoa Beach is not known for its epic waves.
Neither is PE, but it too produces its fair amount of ripping surfers, and in amongst the past SA Champs and local heroes is a shredding junior named Luke Bakker, a DJ by night and wave assassin by day. He is this week’s Surf Ninja and a surfer to watch whenever a swell wraps into the bay.
NAME: Luke Bakker
AGE: 17
LOCAL SPOT: Pipe
BEST THING ABOUT SURFING?
Surfing good waves with my friends.
WORST THING ABOUT SURFING?
Wetsuit tans.
TO MAKE A LIVING I…?
Mow the lawn for my dad and DJ part-time.
THREE TRACKS THAT HELP YOU SHRED?
DC-Breaks – Move Closer
Camo & Krooked – Dusk to Dawn
Danny Bird – Judgement Day
BEST SURFER IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?
Dane Reynolds.
DAWNIE OR ARVO SESH?
Arvo.
WHICH SURF SPOT DO YOU HAVE TO SURF BEFORE YOU DIE?
Hossegor in France.
WHEN YOU ARE NOT SURFING, YOU CAN BE FOUND WHERE?
Behind my DJ equipment mixing tunes.
BIGGEST FEAR?
Drowning.
BEST SURFING MEMORY?
Surfing cooking Supers with my dad and uncle one afternoon while everyone else was watching the Bokke play rugby.
