Oh to be at the Quik/WSL table last night. As if yesterday itself wasn’t enough of enough of a thing, news today out of WSL HQ is that The Eddie done went and broke the internet albeit temporarily, albeit in Hawaii.
There’s a strong case to be argued that Grant “Twiggy” Baker’s free fall into oblivion could’ve been the straw that broke the camel’s back but when Tracks dials in the well-spoken South African, he’s quick to bring up the elephant in the room that may have been forgotten in yesterday’s blitzkrieg.
“There were a lot of naysayers prior to today and I even heard people asking is The Eddie still relevant,” Twig begins shortly after exiting a crowded room to make the line clearer.
“Well, Waimea and The Eddie today proved how relevant it is and it was 100 per cent worth the wait, everything was vindicated today. The balls it took to recall that contest, for Glen (Moncata, event director) and his team to have the balls to recall that contest after it not running just a couple weeks ago…it was pretty much the best competition I’ve ever been in, by a country mile.”
The fact Twiggy was even in the water yesterday is a tale in itself. Already carrying a back injury that left him unable to paddle during the Pehai event, Twig flew home only to be shooed back out the door by his wife and their new baby girl, Billie.
“I came over for the false Eddie and I wanted to go home, but my wife just kept telling me, ‘No, just stay there and get ready,” Twiggy says.
“She was convinced The Eddie was coming and she wouldn’t let me come home. Amazingly enough, she was right.”
As for the free fall itself, Twiggy chuckles before explaining.
“The beginning of our heat was very consistent but we were getting caught inside a lot. I had some opportunities but I didn’t really get it together and I was thinking ‘Send me another set, send me another set,’ and sure enough that set came through and I was going no matter what,” he says.
“I kinda was in position and felt good about catching and it felt like I could make it but as Waimea does, it comes up from underneath and lurches halfway down so it hung me in the lip. I had a split second decision to make, either try and push the take off and stick it or jump…the rest is history.”
Indeed, but even with nothing but air below him, Twiggy has the wherewithal to assume the position and somehow brace for what’s about to come.
“I landed like a cat, which is how I like to land, so I managed to get a good landing but it still sucked my back over and gave me a good pounding. Luckily there was no permanent damage and later on I was thinking, ‘Shit, this is The Eddie, I should have stuck it,’ but watching the replay I did the right thing. It’s like Martin Potter said, ‘If you can’t get a good wave, get a good wipeout.”
Like every other competitor yesterday, Twiggy says the memory of Brock Little in an already emotionally charged day, was also as good as excuse as any to go that extra mile.
“He was always me hero and the guy that influenced me most when it came to my style in big waves,” he says.
“He influenced our generation. It was a completely emotional day, but right now, my eyes are closing and it’s time to go to bed. I think I’ll sleep in till 10am tomorrow.”
