Most of the world’s Big Wave Surfing elite will be gathered in one room on Friday 3 May. The Grove Theatre they call that room, and it hosts the 2013 Billabong Global Big Wave Awards (presented by Pacifico) – more commonly referred to as the XXL – as in EXTRA EXTRA LARGE – the type of waves you need to ride if you plan on getting invited to the party.
Well, it just so happens there’s a Saffa who loves nothing more than to charge some XXL waves. Well, you could say he loves getting invited to swanky award ceremonies just as much, so if you throw in the added incentive of winning money and getting a VIP invite to a heck of a party, then Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker will charge almost any wave you put in front of him.
And over the past year he did.
Twiggy slays a monster during a session at The Right in Western Australia.
His session at ‘The Right’ in Western Australia last year almost ended in a close call for his tow partner Paul Paterson, so you can say there was some serious water moving out there. But you already knew that from the picture.
Twig also charged during a session at California’s infamous Cortez Bank which almost cost the life of one of his best friends – current Big Wave World Champion Greg Long. Once again, serious water.
Twiggy on a wild one at Cortez Bank.
Those wild and stormy sessions were a world away from the perfection Twiggy got to ride at Cloudbreak during the Volcom Fiji Pro last year. Clean, peeling incredibly and with barrels the size of an apartment block. Once again, serious water.
Cloudbreak does it’s best impersonation of a comic book wave, during a session that had the world transfixed.
Some incredible sessions at Jaws, as well as around Mavericks and Northern California, all added to an impressive big wave surfing season for the South African charger. His nomination for the 2013 XXL Awards ‘Best Performance’ is indicative of this.
Twig’s “Best Performance” nomination is his second VIP invite to the global awards, having already secured a nomination for the US$20 000 Pacifico Paddle Award, which also means he can take his lovely girlfriend Kate Lovemore.
He’ll be up against the following fellow big wave madmen:
Other award nominees announced on the night were for the US$3 000 XXL Wipeout of the Year Award. Shouldn’t these guys be getting the same prize money as the other awards? US$2 000 (US$1 000 goes to photographer) would just be the administration fee for the kind of injuries they could have suffered – Just like the other awards.
Thankfully, none of the nominees suffered death in these wipeouts, so we can watch as these guys get it wrong in some seriously serious water:
Last, but certainly not least, the announcement of the US$5 000 Billabong Girls Best Performance Award. Keala Kennely and fellow nominees Paige Alms and Anastasia Ashley are part of a group that are ensuring Women’s Big Wave Surfing gets pushed far beyond any kind of human limits. Check them out below.
For more check out http://www.billabongxxl.com
XXL WIPEOUT OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEES
(Surfer prize $2,000 – Video prize $1,000)
Brett Burcher (Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia) at The Right, Western Australia.
(Video by Darren McCagh.)
Joao de Macedo (San Francisco, California, USA) at Maverick;s, California.
(Video by Curt Myers.)
Tom Dosland (Haiku, Hawaii, USA) at Jaws, Maui, Hawaii.
(Video by Elliot Leboe.)
Axi Muniain (Zarautz, Basque Country, Spain) at Nazaré, Portugal.
(Video by Ingo Quintana.)
Chris Shanahan (Denmark, Western Australia) at The Right, Western Australia.
(Video by Darren McCagh.)
SURFLINE BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD NOMINEES
(Surfer prize $5,000)
Grant Baker (Durban, South Africa)
Kohl Christensen (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA)
Shane Dorian (Kona, Hawaii, USA)
Mark Healey (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA)
Greg Long (San Clemente, California, USA)
BILLABONG GIRLS BEST PERFORMANCE AWARD NOMINEES
(Surfer prize $5,000)
Paige Alms (Haiku, Hawaii, USA)
Anastasia Ashley (San Clemente, California, USA)
Keala Kennelly (Haleiwa, Hawaii, USA)
So much respect for all of them but most of all for the chicks. I had no idea!