Brothers Irons a class example for Kaua'i kids
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
HANALEI, Kaua'i — The surfer kids strutted Hanalei Beach yesterday, relishing surfing professionals Andy and Bruce Irons' gift to the community, the third annual Irons Brothers Pine Trees Classic.
Jan Tenbruggencate • The Honolulu Advertiser
They were a colorful sight. Little guys with the bottoms of their surfer jams dragging around their ankles. Tough 10- and 12-year-olds tossing wet hair out of their eyes. Fit young girls in skinny bikinis or wetsuits or rashguards.
World champion professional surfer Andy Irons, and brother and fellow pro Bruce, back right, signed hats at the third annual Irons Brothers Pine Trees Classic.
The kids mobbed the brothers Irons as they stood in the shade of the ironwood trees that give the surf break and the contest its name. (Ironwoods aren't pines, but like pines they have needles.)
Surfer mom Amy Marvin stopped Andy Irons.
"Thank you for doing this," Marvin said. "The kids are so stoked."
As an aside, she added: "These guys are heroes. They came up right off the streets of Hanalei."
Andy, 25, is the two-time world surfing champion. Bruce, 24, won the 2001 Pipe Masters before the older brother began dominating it, and is a ranked surfing pro.
The Irons Brothers Pine Trees Classic, for Kaua'i kids 14 and younger, takes place in the community that nurtured them when they themselves were knee-high surfers.
"It gives back to the community," Bruce said, signing a hat for a girl of about 12.
As he handed it back to her, she asked, "Can I have a hug now?" He gave her one as her girlfriends giggled.
Jan Tenbruggencate • The Honolulu Advertiser
Kids surrounded the brothers whenever they were out of the water, asking them questions about surfing, but more often just asking that they autograph hats, boards and shirts.
Andy Irons signed a surfboard for a young fan at Pine Trees in Hanalei yesterday.
That's what the event is for, Andy said. "It's for the kids. It's just a fun day."
And a sunny day. The break fronting Pine Trees has a complex, constantly changing sandy bottom. The surf meet, run by Nelson Tokioka, was able to hold its competition for the youngest kids in a knee-deep area where the parents could stand and push their 5- and 6-year-olds onto their waves. Older competitors took to 2- to 4-foot surf 100 yards to the west.
The competition was limited to 134 kids, and the Irons family ensured there were lots of prizes. Every entrant got a backpack full of logo gear — shirts, hats, pins, decals and lots more. One out of four entrants won something — there were 36 trophies and six bowls, and winners also got another backpack with even better gear, including things like watches and cell phones.
"When I was growing up, I always wanted a contest with a lot of prizes," Bruce said.
"We call up the sponsors and ask them to clean out their warehouses. Even last year's stuff. These are kids. They don't care," said Phil Irons, the boys' dad. "My kids are living the dream. They get so much stuff. We wanted to spread it out a little."
There's no entry fee to the all-day contest, which includes food. Phil Irons said sponsors and members of the community help a lot; each of his boys pitches in about $5,000 to cover the meet's costs.
It isn't entirely clear whether the participants are more excited about the chance to surf in a contest, the prizes, or the chance to meet, talk to — and maybe get a hug from —one of the famous Irons boys.
"This is such a great event. It's wonderful to see these kids from Hanalei come back to Hanalei and do something like this," said Kawika Goodale, whose son, Dylan, 12, won his first heat yesterday.
Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.
