Posted at 5:36 p.m., Friday, December 19, 2003
Andy Irons wins world surfing title
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
The final day of the prestigious Pipeline Masters was completed in 4- to 6-foot waves at the Banzai Pipeline.
Irons, 25, won his first world title last year. He entered the Pipeline Masters ranked No. 2, but he surpassed Florida’s Kelly Slater by winning the contest.
Slater and Irons both advanced to the four-man final, with Irons dominating the 30-minute heat. His two best waves scored a total of 15.16 — an 8.33 early in the heat, and then a 6.83 late in the heat to clinch it.
Slater placed fourth in the final with a two-wave total of 9.17.
Australia’s Joel Parkinson made a late charge to place second. Another Australian, Phillip MacDonald, was third.
Irons made it a clean sweep of the championships, also winning the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title, which is awarded to the best overall performer in the three North Shore contests held over the last six weeks.
