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Thirteen years ago I was doing some casual teaching at St Pius, a catholic school in Newcastle, where surfing was an optional sport on the curriculum. When I asked the teacher who was in charge of the surfing programme if there were any standout talents, he told me, “There’s this one kid who looks like he’s got what it takes to go all the way. His name is Jackson Baker. He’s really really good. ” At the time such a bold prediction seemed fanciful as Jacko was only 13 but it has since proven to be on the money.

After Jacko nudged his way on to the CT last year he surprised many of the more highly-rated competitors with his polished attack and competitive savvy. Meawhile the salty mo’ and honest, post-heat commentary earned him a solid following amongst fans who like the sort of pro surfer who reminds them of a mate from the pub. Jacko’s major achievement in 2022 was surviving doomsday at Margaret River and finishing above the mid-year cut line, but this year he will be hoping to make his presence felt in the upper tier of the rankings.

Tracks caught up with Baker just before he headed to Hawaii for the Pipe Pro, where he was bundled out by John John in the early rounds last year.  On his last day in Newcastle, Jacko was headed to Ryan Callinan’s fathers memorial golf day. We don’t know what he shot, but based on the conversation below, we figure Jacko would be a great guy to walk 18-holes with.    

Tracks: Hi Jackson, what have you been up to recently ?

JB: The three months here at home between events has been just amazing.  Just to hang out and relax has been so good..

What about this golf day, they say Ryan’s dad was a great guy, what was your experience of him ?

JB: Just a really special guy.  It’s probably not great going to this golf day the day before I leave. I’m absolutely shit at golf but he was such a legend and I really feel like I want to give back to the (Merewether boardriders) club, they got money together to fund me when I was doing the challenger series so I feel really grateful.  It was during COVID so there wasn’t much money around.  My sponsor Rip Curl covered the bare costs but without the boardriders doing that it wouldn’t have been the same.

Tracks: Only a Novocastrian knows just how important it was for a local to finally win Surfest.  I mean it was the 36th time it’s been run and the town has only now finally got a home town winner.   How wrapped were you to win the thing ?

JB: Maaaaate it was unbelievable…  In the final Ryan and I were in it with Hedgy and one other guy so I knew we had a big chance to finally get a home victory. And when it happened they could have not even given me a dollar of prizemoney, it felt so good just to get that MR trophy.

Tracks: Jackson nobody knows how to make a cut like you do.  You are truly the cut maker’s cutmaker.

JB: Ha yeah I don’t want to be cutting it that fine anymore !

Tracks: It was your birthday a few days ago, how old were you ?

JB: 26

Tracks: It looked like win, lose or draw you were really enjoying the whole experience of being on tour last year.

JB: Just finding out what everything was about pre-cut and then why change to be what the system wants me to be? Just be yourself.  You gotta enjoy the tour because we’re living the dream right.

Tracks: You get along with everyone ?

JB: Oh yeah, we’re all friends on tour. Cal’ Robson did his flood relief thing last year and all the boys got behind it.  But once you’re in the water it’s deadly competition !

Tracks: So it’s all good not just between the Australians but with all the guys, Americans and Brazillians ?

JB: Yeah all those guys are great.  We’re all friends outside the water.  Guys like Filipe and Migi (Miguel Pupo) are awesome, especially Filipe.  He’s the world champ but he’s just such a great guy.  Outside the water he’s amazing but get him in the water and he’ll cut your throat in a heartbeat !

Tracks: It must feel good having Ryan back on tour ?

JB: When I made the tour Morgan was on and Ryan; it was like ‘sick I’m with the boys’ and then when they weren’t I was bummed so it’s great to have Ryan there and Morgan will get straight back on for sure too I reckon.  Ryan was great for me because he lost his dad that same year my mum died. He’s such a great person.  I think when I won that Surfest final it was the first time I’d ever beaten him.

Tracks: Who do you hang with when you’re on the road ?

JB: Connor O’Leary is my best mate.  He’s great and like Ryan he’s like a bit of an older brother mentor type too.  Connor was actually in my first heat in the first comp I surfed in.  It was a Rip Curl Gromfest, I was like 7 or 8 and he won the comp and I came second. And I got sponsored by Rip Curl after that.  That’s when it all started to happen.

Tracks: Who do you travel with?

JB: Usually Rossy (Mitchell Ross) and Carrisa. (Moore) It’s unreal.  That’ll be later though and my girl will come later.

Tracks: Where do you stay when you’re in Hawaii?

JB: Well I’ve been coming for years and years now and I usually stay with Kalani David who died not long ago.  It’s so tragic man, shattering.

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Tracks: The WSL have replaced G-Land, a wave you grew up with, with Kelly’s pool.  Have you ever surfed there ? 

JB: Never surfed in a pool.  But throw the pool at me, I’ll have a crack ! It’s a post-cut event so I’m not too worried.  Everyone seems to spend a lot of time setting up for that big air out there so it might be cool to try something different like just lay a bit rail out there.

Tracks: You pumped for Pipe ? Last year you said nobody is out there to give you anything for nothing, do you still feel the same way?

JB: You just don’t get anything extra at Pipe.  Last year I though that because I’d made the CT now I may have got a little more opportunity or something but no. It’s humbling.  It’s the sort of place where if you have any sort of ego or anything out there, and I definitely don’t, but if you did you’ll get it knocked straight out of you.

Tracks: You said last year you didn’t want to be that one year guy.  Now you’re not what have you got in mind in terms of goals ?

JB :I want to on the tour for a long time, like Luke and Hoyo back in the day.  Maybe bring a title home, maybe a couple of wins. To be able to survive and still make the cut without even showing much of my best surfing feels really good.  I really want to show what I can do.

Tracks: Winning Surfest, surfing your first dream tour and  then requalifying last year must have made for quite a year, is there anything you can think of that has changed for you?

JB: When my mum died it was extra hard.  August 2016.  I just went backwards after that. I was upset at the world and angry all the time.  I was a real mummy’s boy and when she was gone I had to do things on my own.  I said to myself ‘fuck this’, I’m going to do this for her.  She always thought I could do it. And now like I’m out there doing it myself but I feel like I’m doing it for her too.

Tracks:  Is there one thing you don’t particularly like about the Dream Tour ?

JB: Going from G-Land to El Salvador was pretty heavy.  Like packing up and going straight to the other side of the world or just getting home for one day, seeing your missus and family and having to leave straight away again is hard. But hey, it’s not a bad work place to go to, I mean, I’ve done a bit of work as a brickie’s laborer and I know what I prefer.  (laughs)

Tracks; Last words ?

JB: Haha, ask anyone and they’ll tell you I could talk forever, even underwater !  Just that Muhammed Ali thing, that’s what I want. Float like a butterfly sting like a bee, that’s me.

Enjoyed this interview? Check out our recent chat with one of Jacko’s best mates’ on tour, Ryan Callinan.