Jackson Baker rang three people on Friday just to make sure a potentially "life-changing" call to surf in a championship tour event on his home break of Merewether wasn't a dream.
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Baker, 24, and fellow Merewether Surfboard Club member Philippa Anderson, 29, were in shock on Friday after being told the CT was coming to Newcastle and they would get wildcards to compete.
The experienced qualifying series surfers were part of an official announcement on Saturday morning, following the Newcastle Herald revealing on Friday that the region could host a round of the tour.
The 2020 CT was lost to COVID-19 and only one round, the Pipe Masters in December, has been held in the 2021 campaign. It's hoped Newcastle, and Australia, will provide a safe haven to kick-start the World Surf League's showpiece.
For Baker, the Newcastle event in April will be his first appearance on the CT and chance to compete alongside clubmates Ryan Callinan and Morgan Cibilic on the elite stage.
He was runner-up in trials for the Gold Coast Pro in 2019 and was also in the mix twice for a wildcard at Bells Beach.
He said the chance to debut at Merewether could be "life-changing".
"I'm super pumped," Baker said. "It's still a bit of a blur. Over the weekend it's sunk in a little bit more.
"I got the article sent to me and it didn't click that I might be the guy to get a wildcard.
"It wasn't until that afternoon that I got the call, and I was dead-set in shock. I even called three people that afternoon to double-check that it was real. I was wondering if I was in a dream.
"It was a pretty cool experience and I've got to get working hard now.
"I was already in training for the QS events so I guess this gives me a bit of extra drive and sets an end goal.
"If you achieve something there, show what you've got, you could be in for a long run. It could be pretty life-changing. All the hard work could pay off. You never, never know."
Until the call, Baker was focused on QS events locally and getting to the next level of the WSL - the Challenger Series. The 1000-point Great Lakes, Port Stephens and Maroubra contests are on this month, followed by the 3000-point Central Coast Pro from March 2.
"In these smaller ones, it's just about being in the top 10 in Oz, getting into the Challenger series and that kind of sets me up," he said.
"Then if I can make a couple of heats in the CT event and get my best result ever, I could potentially get wildcards into the next few.
"I've just got to put my mind to it. I know I'm good enough, I just haven't quite made it there yet, but to showcase what I can do on my home turf, anything could happen.
"It would have been great at [Gold Coast and Bells] to make the main events, but I guess it makes it even more special that my first will be here on my home turf.
"It's going to be a pretty bloody cool experience."
For Anderson, the opportunity will be her third on the CT but first since 2013.
The South African-born talent was a wildcard at the Gold Coast Pro in 2012 and Rio Pro the following year and she has been close several times to qualifying for a full season on the tour.
Craig Kerry
Craig Kerry is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.
Craig Kerry is a sports reporter for the Newcastle Herald.
