Grant ‘Twig’ Baker won the Nazare Challenge

South African Grant ‘Twig’ Baker won the Nazare Challenge, the first event on the 2018 / 19 World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT), in huge 25 to 40 foot waves at Nazare in Portugal.

“I’m really happy to win here at Nazare,” said Baker on exiting the water. “I have spent the last six weeks here with my family, Kate and Billi, surfing every day in one foot to 20 foot waves and it has certainly helped me know more about the break.

“I’d like to thank all my fellow competitors. We all love riding big waves and the vibe out there was incredible. Everyone was sharing waves, everybody knew whose turn it was, it was epic.”

South Africa's surfer Grant Baker in action during the Nazare Challenge 2018/2019

He thus pipped Brazilian finalist Lucas Chianca and Spaniard Natxo Gonzalez from the Basque region, who came in second and third respectively.

Nazaré Challenge Highlights:

Final Results:

1. Grant ‘Twig’ Baker (ZAF, Durban)

2. Lucas ‘Chumbo’ Chianca (BRA)

3. Natxo Gonzalez (Basque)

4. Alex Botelho (PRT)

5. Joao de Macedo (PRT)

6. Russell Bierke (AUS)