Grant 'Twiggy' Baker

Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker is a professional big wave surfer, based in Durban.

He won the Red Bull Big Wave Africa at Dungeons in 2008 and made history the same year by riding arguably SA’s biggest wave ever (over 70 foot) at Tafelberg reef the same year.

In April 2010 Baker was nominated for the Ride of the Year, Monster Paddle, Monster Tube, Best Overall Performance and Wipeout of the Year awards for waves he rode at Mavericks in California in February during the Mavericks Surf Contest.

The passionate South African succeeded in winning the Ride of the Year and declared it a victory for his home country.

Q: How would you like to be introduced at a social event?

A: Grant “Twig” Baker is how I’m usually introduced but both Grant and Twig work

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: My family has an orphanage in Inanda Kwazulu, it’s based on the family unit idea from Uganda and we hope to have up to 800 kids within the next two years.
Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: I like being active and don’t like just sitting around and relaxing so for me if I’m not surfing I’m snowboarding, kiteboarding or travelling.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South African would you want it to be?

A: I live in my dream home with my girlfriend Kate and it’s in Umhlanga Rocks which is the only place I think I could live.

Twiggy in action riding giants

Surfing
Q: You’ve had an amazing last few years in Big Wave Surfing, winning the Billabong XXL earlier this year as well as the Big Wave Africa in 2008, being invited to surf Mavericks and getting your SA colours. What has been your proudest achievement?

A: I think I have three that all seem very special to me….Winning Mavericks in 2006 was what put me on the world stage in regards to surfing and what enabled me to live my dream of travelling and surfing, winning Big Wave Africa in 2008 because we had put so much into that event and for it to run in such good, big conditions and put Dungeons and Cape Town on the surfing map once again was amazing and the winning the Billabong XXL this year which to us as big wave surfers is our world title kind of cemented me as one of the best from the past decade.
Q: What do you enjoy most about big wave surfing?

A: I think finding and surfing a new wave is what keeps me intrigued and I love the whole process of what it takes to do this….It’s amazing how much time and effort it takes to make a new discovery and score publishable waves and I find this very exciting and fresh.
Q: Where are some of your favourite breaks in the world?

A: South Africa to me has the best and most diverse waves in the world with the least amount of surfers so for me, home is where the heart is!!
Q: What’s your next big challenge in big wave riding?

A: Finding and surfing the first 100ft wave, I think we have pushed it as far as humanly possible within the paddle –in category and all that’s left is to discover and surf bigger waves using PWC assistance.
Life in South Africa
Q: What do you enjoy most about living in South Africa?

A: It’s home and from all my travels to so many different places and cultures I have never found a better place to live then South Africa. I can promise you the grass is not greener anywhere else.
Q: When asked about crime in South Africa, what is your response?

A: There are almost 6 billion people in the world with only so much in the way of wealth and resources and when you have a gap between the haves and have not’s that’s unjust and unfair there will be crime. Until the haves take responsibility for this and realise that wealth and power mean nothing in the long term and that greed will only lead to the downfall of everything we are trying to create will we be able to fix what we have. South Africa could easily be transformed into the most amazing place on earth if only we would all work together to correct what the economic system of the past has created and into a more socially responsible system.
Q: To which three local attractions would you first take an international visitor?

A: Northern Kwazulu, the Transkie and the North Western Cape.
Q: South Africa’s greatest surfing export is?

A: It still has to be Shaun Tomson, he showed us what was possible and taught us how to behave as surfers abroad coming from South Africa, with dignity and respect moulded with a strong fighting spirit.

Barry Hilton

Introducing everyone’s favorite cousin: Barry Hilton.

Considered to be one of South Africa’s funniest, Barry has become a house hold name with his distinctive brand of South African humour. Known as being the cleanest comedian in the country, Barry prides himself on his optimistic outlook on South African life.

Since becoming a professional comedian in 1983, Barry has performed to sell-out crowds both locally and internationally and was the first South African comedian to perform at the prestigious London comedy club, The Comedy Store.

Website: http://www.barryhilton.co.za
Video Clips: Link
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Location: Port Elizabeth

Barry was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: How would you like to be introduced at a comedy event in Australia?

A: Hello Mate – Barry Hilton.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from your morning routine to your favorite brand of underpants.

A: I love fishing but I always put them back no matter what I catch except my third wife – I’m keeping that one.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Being with my family. As long as we are together it doesn’t matter what we do.

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South African would you like it to be?

A: Port Elizabeth – We already live in it. Sandy, myself and the kids designed it together so it suits our needs. If I ever had to move I would have a house overlooking the sea if I could afford it.

This question was proudly sponsored by Private Property. Looking for the ideal home in PE? How about this amazing 221 ha game farm. Even includes 2 landing strips.

Comedy in South Africa

Q: South Africans are known for our sense of humor and the ability to laugh at ourselves. What is it about South African humor that makes it so unique?

A: Because we can openly talk about each other without anyone being offended.

Q: Give us a little insight into your daily routine. How much time do you spend working on new material, preparing for your next show etc?

A: I make sure I write 10 seconds of material every day. It might not sound much but if you add it up it is more than 1 hour a year.

Q: Having been in the industry since 1983, what are your thoughts on how South African humor has changed over the years?

A: Funny is funny!

Q: If you were opening a new comedy club, which young South African comedian would you ask to do the opening bit and why?

A: Trevor Noah – He’s on the cutting edge and the guys in between myself and him better be worried!

Q: What can we look forward to from Barry Hilton in 2010?

A: Another Child.

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: Sorry I didn’t get back to you on this I was going to sms you but my phone got stolen. Crime affects everybody, even if it doesn’t happen to you, you are still affected by it. You people are stealing my time.

Q: To which three local attractions would you not take international visitors?

A: I’d take them everywhere because local is lekka, but if I had to choose it would be Hillbrow, Durban Beachfront and a supporters of Eugene Terblanche meeting in Soweto.

Q: Favorite South African personality to joke about?

A: Steve Hofmeyer.

Life in Port Elizabeth

Q: What do you enjoy most about living in Port Elizabeth?

A: The wind, it keeps the tourists away.

Q: Favorite outdoor venue in or around PE for spending time with your family?

A: Schoenmakerskop, picnic on the rocks watching the dolphins.

Q: If you were tasked with commissioning a poster to advertise Port Elizabeth to visitors of the Soccer World Cup, which image would you select?

A: Mine – “if you think this guy is a joke you should see our football team.”

General

Q: Who do you consider as the funniest person ever?

A: Richard Prior.

Q: If your were going on a road trip, which 3 South Africans would be most keen to travel with?

A: Julius Malema, Joe Parker & a bus driver.

Q: Which of your jokes would you most like to be remembered for?

A: I can’t feel my legs – written in 1983.

Q: What are some of your favorite chirps from audience members?

Q: Once I went on stage and the mic was echoing. So I said hello…hello and …….. and I said…. schizophrenic . The audience member said would you both shut up.

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo?

A: Any positive South African. Mark Andrews – does he remember having hair?

We’d like to thank Barry for finding the time to answer our questions and wish him every success with the future. We look forward to many more laughs from a comedian who has set the standards in South African comedy since the early 1980′s.

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