South African big wave surfer Grant “Twiggy” Baker took top honours, winning the “Ride of the Year” at the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards. The award was presented at a glittering function in Anaheim, California this weekend.

Baker, 36, pocketed US $50,000 for his incredible ride on an enormous wave, which he paddled into during the Maverick’s Surf Contest at Half Moon Bay in Northern California, on February 13, 2010.

“This is for my country, South Africa! We have the FIFA World Cup later this year and we’re a proud nation,” Baker said in his victory speech after thanking the El Nino weather conditions for producing an amazing year of big waves around the planet, his fellow nominees for their incredible performances and confessing that he did not have a speech prepared as he did not expect to win
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