Jackson Baker will have scans on his ankle when he returns home after bowing out in round two of the Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach in Hawaii.
The Merewether surfer progressed in round one on Monday with a late wave in wild conditions but finished last in his heat on Thursday with a 6.27 total behind Maxime Huscenot (11.63), Weslley Dantas (10.67) and Mateus Herdy (10.40).
Baker carried an ankle strain through the the final two 10,000-point qualifying series contests of the year – the Vans World Cup and Hawaiian Pro, where he also exited in round two.
“It was a tough heat,” Baker said on Thursday. “My ankle was very painful. I’m going to get an MRI when I’m home to know exactly what is wrong with it.”
Baker still finished with his highest year points total - 5860 – and his best ranking. He was 73rd before the Sunset Beach event and will stay inside the top 100 and retain his place in 10,000-point contests in 2019.
Baker won two 1000-point contests in Australia and a 1500-point event in South Africa this year.
Championship tour-bound clubmate Ryan Callinan starts in round three at Sunset.
