Twiggy Goes Two Up!

True to his outstanding form this northern hemisphere winter, Durbanite Grant Twiggy Baker stormed the jagged ramparts of Half Moon Bay and came out the victor, the second time the South African has won at Mavericks, who some say is the twin sister of Dungeons in South Africa.

This makes it three wins for Saffas after Chris Bertish won in 2010 and Twiggy won in 2006, despite only having surfed Pillar Point for a couple of weeks beforehand.

Twiggy was imperious in the final, and never looked like losing. Defending winner Peter Mel looked awesome in his first heat, but fell away in the semi. Shawn Dollar impressed, but fell short in his semi.

Twiggy's timing, when he's paddling into big waves, is probably better than anyone else I've seen. He has a knack for putting himself as deep as possible and still making it

"Twiggy's timing, when he's paddling into big waves, is probably better than anyone else I've seen. He has a knack for putting himself as deep as possible and still making it," said Mark Healey before the event, and didn't that prove predictive.

As did the comments by fellow finalist Shane Dorian - the only surfer in the final to come close to Twiggy - on the official Mavericks Invitational website. The entry on Twiggy sums it up. Just add 2014 to his wins:

Maverick’s is all about the drop, and this unassuming South African – winner of the 2006 contest – has become the master. In the words of fellow competitor Mark Healey, “Twiggy’s timing, when he’s paddling into big waves, is probably better than anyone else I’ve seen. He has a knack for putting himself as deep as possible and still making it.”

One of the few surfers to dedicate his life to surfing big waves worldwide, Baker is a constant factor in the annual Billabong XXL big-wave awards, earning the 2010 Ride of the Year (from the Maverick’s contest) and winning for Biggest Wave and Best Overall Performance in 2009. Twiggy shared the experience of a lifetime with Long, Mike Parsons and Brad Gerlach in January of ‘08, venturing out to Cortes Bank (off the California coast) to tow-surf waves still widely recognized as the largest ever ridden. “To me, he’s the favorite,” says Shane Dorian. “Between his wave selection, aggressive approach and technical ability at Maverick’s, he’s who I would put my money on."

FINAL RESULTS

Grant Baker 29.33
Shane Dorian 25.53
Ryan Augenstein 16.66
Tyler Fox 12.66
Greg Long 12.00
Anthony Tashnick 0.00

Semifinal 1

Tyler Fox, 24.00
Anthony Tashnick, 23.49
Ryan Augenstein 22.50
Ken Collins, 17.83
Ryan Seelbach, 15,50
Peter Mel, 2.80

Semifinal 2

Zach Wormhoudt, 27.00
Greg Long, 24.99
Grant Baker, 24.21
Shawn Dollar, 20.49
Kohl Christensen, 3.02
Shane Dorian,