Stab Magazine | Nazare Too Dangerous: Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

480 Views

Nazare Too Dangerous: Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker

World number one and former BWWT Champ, Grant Baker, can’t see himself returning to Nazare to compete.

news // Dec 24, 2016
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

After a horror day of injuries and potentially fatal near misses, South African Big Wave World Tour world number one, Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker, has taken to Instagram to say he can’t see himself returning to compete at the Portuguese big wave event in Nazare.

“Nazare as a wave is a phenom, as challenging and beautiful as any big wave I’ve surfed but the dangers involved seem to outweigh the rewards. Those 20 minutes during each heat, on the back of a ski, holding on with all your strength while jumping 10 foot foamies, were some of the most terrifying experiences of my life and something I can’t see myself repeating?” he wrote.

Screen Shot 2016 12 23 at 6.35.48 pm

While not the heaviest wave in the world in terms of ride-ability, what Nazare lacks in that department it makes up for with sheer chaos in the lineup. Where reef breaks offer a natural channel in which to escape, Nazare is a beachbreak subject to the full randomness and raw energy of the tremendous storm swells required to run events like this.

The contest, which was won by Australian Jamie Mitchell, made for compulsive viewing with huge, sketchy drops, potentially fatal near misses and utter carnage on all fronts. Former World Tour surfer and big wave barrel specialist, Damien Hobgood, was nearly killed after a jet ski landed on him while attempting to make it out from shore for the start of his semifinal. His driver and fellow big wave surfer, Garret McNamara, was forced to abandon ship at the crest of a 10-foot teepee with Damo still on the back of it. The Floridian barely had time to react before he was thrown off and hit with what he believes was the 300-plus kilogram (700 pound) weight of the jet ski.

Screen Shot 2016 12 23 at 6.44.13 pm

Damo Hobgood, in one of many questionable situations on the day. Photo: WSL/Laurent Masurel

“I knew I had to distance myself from the Jet Ski, so I tried to get away from it while I was in the air – and it felt like we were in the air forever – and then suddenly it was like getting hit with a ton of bricks, a full car crash,” he told Surfing Magazine, in a detailed interview.

Elsewhere, Hawaiian Aaron Gold suffered an injured hand, Portuguese Joao de Macedo a black eye, American Nic Lamb a concussion, and Brit Tom Butler was hospitalised with suspected water on the lungs.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/d65X14LGu6U

For event winner, Australian Jamie Mitchell, the silverware could become some of the most sought after in world surfing should Nazare never run again. The world class watermen sure earned it, reigning supreme and sitting pretty after a day of cartoonish victory at sea conditions.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Can Jordy Smith Defend His Turf at Piping Hot J-Bay?

Four (or five) time Trials winner Damien Fahrenfort consults his Betonline.AG spreadsheet.

Jul 9, 2025

SEOTY: Liam O’Brien stars in ‘Friction of Perception’

"Hopefully I don’t come across like too much of a peanut."

Jul 8, 2025

10 Shapers To Watch In The Next 10 Years — Part One

“It’s like a drug empire, man. Cut the head off the snakes, and more will…

Jul 7, 2025

Mason Ho Joins Ritual Vision, Releases Remix Of Greatest Hits

Dion Agius riffs on the eyewear brand’s U.S. expansion, Ritualistic Tendencies, and the new stars…

Jul 7, 2025

Is It Time For A New Judging Format?

We have a modest proposal — a WSL head judge disagrees.

Jul 7, 2025

Luke Thompson Turns Last Year’s Priority Disaster Into Ballito Gold

+ earns himself a wildcard into Jbay.

Jul 7, 2025

Fiji Has Its First Professional Surfer, And He’s Unbelievable

16-year-old James Kusitino’s incomprehensible tube lounging leads to a deal with Former.

Jul 6, 2025

Laird Hamilton on The Limitations of Being a Purist, Invention vs. Ownership + Why He Never Had a Sticker Deal 

Untold stories from his How Surfers Get Paid interview.

Jul 4, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 3, 2025

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025

Houshmand Bludgeons Field To Win Second CT — Molly Picklum Tastes Blood, Snatches World #1 In Brazil

You can't argue with big surfing — that's Saquarema wrapped.

Jun 29, 2025

37 Years Old And World #1 — What’s Changed For Jordy Smith?

On rediscovering decades old surfboard templates, having a personality on the CT, and why this…

Jun 27, 2025

Tom Lowe Stars in ‘Let Me Live’

The wild, improbable ascent of Britain’s best big-wave surfer.

Jun 27, 2025
Advertisement