Baker steps up
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday March 22, 2011
MEREWETHER grommet Jackson Baker has never shied away from matching it with the bigger boys.In his short surfing career the blond bombshell has displayed the tenacity to compete beyond his 14 years, and he showcased that spirit again last week at Surfest to win the under-16 division of the Cadet Cup at Merewether Beach.Disappointed by his narrow loss in the under-14 final to Stanwell Park's Kalani Ball, Baker funnelled his frustration into producing a two-wave score of 14.75, which included a near personal-best ride of 9.25, complete with a snap and an air-reverse manoeuvre."It was one of my best-ever results to win the 16s because I was two years younger than pretty much all the other people," Baker said."I heard straight after the 14s that I just got beaten with 20 seconds to go."When I heard that I just knew I had to go out big in the 16s final."Baker narrowly missed a chance to contest the Surfest Pro Junior when he finished third in the trials at Anna Bay.It has been a massive year already for Baker, who many consider to be among Newcastle's finest surf talents.In January Baker won the under-13 Teenage Rampage International at North Cronulla for the second year running by beating highly-fancied American Kanoa Igarashi. He followed soon after with victory in the NSW leg of the Goldfish Series at Avalon.Baker will surf in the Australian final of the Goldfish Series at Manly on April 16 and 17.In May the year 8 St Pius X Adamstown student will continue his surfing education with a trip to Indonesia to ride the big waves of the world-renowned break, G-Land, at Grajagan Bay in East Java."The swell over there is much heavier and the waves are more powerful," Baker said."I'm trying to get used to more powerful waves so when I come back home I'll be able to surf bigger waves."You've got to be a good all-round surfer, you can't just be good at one thing."I've got to get better a big-wave surfing."
© 2011 Newcastle Herald