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South Africa's Grant Baker Wins Arnette Punta Galea Challenge In Massive Surf
ASP International
PUNTA GALEA, Spain (Sunday, December 22, 2013) A spectacular day of surfing on the Xpreshon Big Wave World Tour saw South Africa's Grant "Twiggy" Baker take the win at the Arnette Punta Galea Challenge in Basque Country, Spain.
The large Atlantic Ocean swell pumped consistent big waves into the Punta Galea Harbor point with surfers agreeing that waves faces were in 20 - 30 foot range all day.
Baker, 40 years of age and from Durban in South Africa, controlled the 45 minute final from start to finish utilizing perfect positioning and taking the biggest and best waves to finish with a near perfect score of 29.01 out of a possible 30.
"What a day for me, it just got better each heat and in the final I felt like I actually peaked and it just worked out perfectly" said Baker. "This wave surprised us. It is a legitimate big wave in the world of big wave surfing and we all really enjoyed the challenge."
Today's win sees Baker leading the Xpreshon Big Wave World Tour rankings for this season and well positioned to win this year's Xpreshon Big Wave World Tour Title.
"It's the aim to try and win the Xpreshon Big Wave World Tour Title and today's win certainly has me well placed, but there's three event to go and I really have to focus on each event and be ready for when they might run."
Finishing second and third and not far behind Baker were Santa Cruz, California pair Nic Lamb, 2nd place on a final tally of 28.21 and Ken Collins on 24.87 in 3rd.
"I would have love to have won today and I think it got down to Baker's last wave where he was in a slightly better position than myself to catch that wave" said 25-year-old Lamb.
"I'm still happy with second. Ken (Collins) and myself are here representing Santa Cruz and to place 2nd and 3rd sees us both well in touch on the world rankings and I'm looking forward to the next three events, two of which are on our home coastline in North America - Mavericks and Oregon."
Punta Galea offered an amazing spectacle for the large crowds, estimated above 10,000, who lined the picturesque 400 meter cliff face that overlooks the break in an amazing natural auditorium setting.
Local Basque surfer Adur Letamendia from nearby Zarautz was the highest placed European making the final and placing 4th ahead of Ramon Navarro from Chile and David Bustamante (Basque/Spain).
Australian waterman Jamie Mitchell placed 7th overall, narrowly missing the final when he was edged out in his Semifinal by Navarro.
The water safety team were kept extremely busy all day with numerous snapped leashes and a particularly dangerous inside rocky section to the break where many surfers had to be towed from.
One such incident saw rider and ski come to grief on the rocky point.
Apart from that, the day was managed superbly by competitors and organisers.
Three event locations remain on the Xpreshon Big Wave World Tour, Mavericks in California, Oregon and Todos Santos (Mexico) with a waiting period through to March 31st.
The events only run if and when a large swell and good surface conditions coincide with surfers given a few days notice to get to the location and surf.
Results Arnette Punta Galea Challenge
1st - Grant Baker (South Africa/Durban) 29.01
2nd - Nic Lamb (USA/Santa Cruz) 28.21
3rd - Ken Collins (USA/Santa Cruz) 24.87
4th - Adur Latamendia (Spain/Zarautz) 23.57
5th - Ramon Navarro (Chile) 14.34
6th - David Bustamante (Spain) 0.00
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