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In February 2006, an unknown 32-year-old South African surf shop manager stood on the sand at Pillar Point, a hop across the boneyard from Maverick’s. An incredulous Grant “Twiggy” Baker turned elated when he learned he had just won the fifth-ever contest at the notorious Half Moon Bay slab, just two years after his first session there. It was a moment that launched his career in the big-wave game. Afterward, he signed his first sponsorship deal at age 35. Better late than never.
Three Big Wave Tour World titles, another Maverick’s victory and four XXL Awards later, Baker gets after it. Two decades after his first season in Northern California, he is still waking up early, sitting with the pack (or outside of it) and committing to the sketchiest bowl in California. The 51-year-old’s experience, skill set and flat-out balls for the heavy stuff have led him into some of the biggest and most hair-raising waves ever attempted at Mavs. But he didn’t do it alone.
This upcoming winter of 2025-26 will mark 20 years since Baker broke into the big-wave scene. The folks at Isurus Wetsuits, which have kept Baker warm in Northern California and South African winters, recently sat Baker down to chat about Maverick’s and the community that has helped him there.
From filmers to photographers to shapers to bar owners, Baker is tapped into this town. He stays with a local family, knows all the local kids, and works with local shaper Mike Wallace for his arsenal. His guns, built under Iconoclast Surfboards, are a blend of new and old-school principles. Mike is taking a George Greenough and Marc Andreini “edge board” concept and applying it to big-wave boards. The principle behind the design is that the edges provide extra lift and speed where other boards stall. “The last two years I’ve just been on magic boards,” Baker said. “Fast and loose. That relationship has developed beautifully over here.”
He is tight with the older generation like Jeff Clark, Grant Washburn and Ion Banner. And, because he’s often trading off waves with them, he’s familiar with the younger guys like Luca Padua and John Mel. Though Baker doesn’t grab a tow rope at Maverick’s these days, he has nothing but respect for Luca’s uncanny ability on unpaddlable days. “When you watch him tow surf, he’s at the Kai Lenny, Luca Chianca level,” Baker said of Luca. “They’ve taken their tow surfing to another level and it’s beautiful to watch.”
Baker would be the first to say that for as big as his profile is today, it wouldn’t be the same without Maverick’s and the boots on the ground in Half Moon Bay. And of course, the local bar Old Princeton Landing gets a shoutout. No better place to have a cold one after getting rinsed by a 30-footer. Good on ya, Twiggy.
Continue reading...
Three Big Wave Tour World titles, another Maverick’s victory and four XXL Awards later, Baker gets after it. Two decades after his first season in Northern California, he is still waking up early, sitting with the pack (or outside of it) and committing to the sketchiest bowl in California. The 51-year-old’s experience, skill set and flat-out balls for the heavy stuff have led him into some of the biggest and most hair-raising waves ever attempted at Mavs. But he didn’t do it alone.
This upcoming winter of 2025-26 will mark 20 years since Baker broke into the big-wave scene. The folks at Isurus Wetsuits, which have kept Baker warm in Northern California and South African winters, recently sat Baker down to chat about Maverick’s and the community that has helped him there.
From filmers to photographers to shapers to bar owners, Baker is tapped into this town. He stays with a local family, knows all the local kids, and works with local shaper Mike Wallace for his arsenal. His guns, built under Iconoclast Surfboards, are a blend of new and old-school principles. Mike is taking a George Greenough and Marc Andreini “edge board” concept and applying it to big-wave boards. The principle behind the design is that the edges provide extra lift and speed where other boards stall. “The last two years I’ve just been on magic boards,” Baker said. “Fast and loose. That relationship has developed beautifully over here.”
He is tight with the older generation like Jeff Clark, Grant Washburn and Ion Banner. And, because he’s often trading off waves with them, he’s familiar with the younger guys like Luca Padua and John Mel. Though Baker doesn’t grab a tow rope at Maverick’s these days, he has nothing but respect for Luca’s uncanny ability on unpaddlable days. “When you watch him tow surf, he’s at the Kai Lenny, Luca Chianca level,” Baker said of Luca. “They’ve taken their tow surfing to another level and it’s beautiful to watch.”
Baker would be the first to say that for as big as his profile is today, it wouldn’t be the same without Maverick’s and the boots on the ground in Half Moon Bay. And of course, the local bar Old Princeton Landing gets a shoutout. No better place to have a cold one after getting rinsed by a 30-footer. Good on ya, Twiggy.
Continue reading...
