WSL Newcastle Cup: tragedy inspiring Aussie surf wildcard Jackson Baker

There’s a heartbreaking reason this surfer never wears a full wetsuit no matter how cold it is and it will be no different in the Newcastle Cup world tour event.

Jackson Baker at the Burton Automotive Pro. Pic: Tom Bennett

Former courier driver Jackson Baker has been pinching himself since getting the call to tell him he had been awarded the wildcard to compete in the Newcastle Cup at Merewether tipped to start on Easter Thursday.

On Wednesday at the official media launch of the world surf league event which kicks off the Australian leg of the world championship tour, Baker was pinching himself some more as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with surfing royalty.

World champions Italo Ferreira from Brazil and American Carissa Moore were there, along with Australian world No.1 Tyler Wright and Newcastle world tour surfer Ryan Callinan.

Local Jackson Baker often rides a pink board in honour of his mother.

Callinan was the man who helped Baker through the devastating loss of his mother to breast cancer in 2016, only to lose his father to cancer the same year and his mother to an aneurysm a year later.

The loss of his mum as a teenager still haunts 24-year-old Baker and affects the way he lives and competes to this day.

“There was some tough times, things to go through in 2016 when I lost my mum to breast cancer. It’s long enough that it’s just sad now, but it still sucks,” Baker said.

Your Rip Curl Newcastle Cup appetizers are served, courtesy of chef @fioravantil.
Video: Tomo McPherson pic.twitter.com/6rgPCqH346

— World Surf League (@wsl) March 28, 2021

“I take the positives out of it. We had time with her. Now I use this as motivation because I always want to do her proud. I have that extra push to make it.

“When it first happened I thought ‘why me, why now?’.

“I went through a couple of tough years. I learnt a lot through those years but I had my dad and sister. Ryan Callinan also help me a lot.

“I had a tattoo on my wrist with a breast cancer symbol and a rose. I always make sure I can see it. I never wear a full wetsuit, I never want to cover it up. I always look at it.’’

Jackson Baker, second from right, has been awarded a wildcard onto the World Surf League tour for the Newcastle Cup.

Merewether club mate Phillipa Anderson has been awarded the women’s wildcard for the first event of the Australian leg of the World Surf league.

The Newcastle Cup is being held for the first time and as a replacement for the Bells Beach event which is traditionally held over the Easter break.

Merewether locals Anderson and Baker have been surfing together for most of their lives and more now that Baker has given up his job as a courier driver to refocus on surfing.

“For the last year I have been doing courier driver work, seeing what it is like to be in the work force. I wanted to put some money aside as well,” he said.

Ryan Callinan is one of the Australian favourites for the win at Newcastle.

“Working has really made me appreciate things more. It’s a blessing because it has made me realise how good I had it.

“So this opportunity I have I will be taking with both hands.’’

The Newcastle event will be Baker’s first appearance on the Championship Tour.

Baker (11.50) on Thursday finished second in his heat with Brazilian Italo Ferreira (12.23) and Aussie Jack Robinson (9.33) to advance into the round of 32.

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