Proving that intestinal fortitude can out power pure muscle, Grant "Twiggy" Baker won the 2006 Maverick Contest in Half Moon Bay on Tuesday. Standing only 5'11 and weighing merely 160 pounds soaking wet in his wetsuit, the 31-year-old South African charged into enough waves to make it into the final heat. Here is a quick interview with the new heir to Skindog Collins.

Mavericks rundownWith two perfect tens, one in the semi-finals and one in the finals, Baker also took the award for biggest single wave caught in the contest. Evidently there were 30,000 onlookers and hundreds of boats in the channel trying to view the action in the 20-25 foot surf crashing into this world-renowned big wave spot.

Also in the finals was Grant Washburn a local from the Bay Area big wave surf scene. As you can read in this interview, Washburn loves big waves, and one of his training grounds is my former backyard break Ocean Beach. Out at Taraval whenever the waves were over six foot I would see the "Gentle Giant" stroking around out there. It was amazing; with his massive limbs propelling his frame throughout the lineup, one minute he was north of you, the next south. If you see him inside after catching a long ride, suddenly he is outside of you in better position for the next one. He simply covers a lot of ground out there.

Thanks to watching his style of attacking larger waves, and by watching some of the other Taraval crew like Doc Renneker and Matt Warshaw, I developed a love for bigger surf. The only problem with that is that I am stuck in Santa Barbara. I know, cry my a river, stuck in Santa Barbara, I am lucky to be living here and not Ely, Nevada, no offense to any of the Nevadan readers.

Down here in the southern California I have a new hero to emulate. Bald Bernie the Grandmaster rocks a high performance longboard with no leash like no other I have ever witnessed. He surfs the groin down at the Islands harbor like a madman, and similar to Grant, he seems to cover a lot of ground in a short period of time. It reminds me that paddling is the key to finding that perfect position to nab the biggest wave. Does he do spectacular airs? NO. Does he try to do 360's and other skateboard-like manuevers? NO. After working an eight hour day of construction in the heat of the day, he tirelessly seeks out and rides the biggest waves the day has to offer. It's always good to have elder statesmen to learn from in this dynamic sport of surfing.

ER Harris