Posted on: Tuesday, November 9, 2004
Andy Irons rules waves for third consecutive year
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
The surfing dynasty of Andy Irons is now at three years and counting.
Irons officially clinched his third consecutive Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) world championship yesterday despite being eliminated in the fourth round of the Nova Schin Festival at Praia da Vila, Brazil.
"This is beyond any dream," said Irons, who is from Hanalei, Kaua'i. "I never thought I'd get three titles. I was so stoked just getting one, and if my career had ended that day I would have been totally fine with it."
Instead, Irons is now the only Hawai'i male surfer with more than one world championship. Derek Ho (1993) and Sunny Garcia (2000) are the only other male surfers from Hawai'i with a world title.
Irons clinched the 2004 title when No. 2-ranked Joel Parkinson of Australia was upset yesterday in the third round of the Nova Schin Festival. Brazil's Tanio Barreto eliminated Parkinson, 14.46-10.90.
"I just didn't have it in that heat," Parkinson said. "I wobbled around and kind of lagged. I'm a bit disappointed with myself and feel like I've let down a lot of people."
With one contest remaining on the 2004 World Championship Tour, Irons has 7,824 points to Parkinson's 6,876.
The final contest of the tour is the Rip Curl Pipeline Masters at the Banzai Pipeline, Dec. 8 to 20.
Irons, 26, is having the most consistent year of his already illustrious career. He won two contests this year, placed second in two others, and third in three others.
"This year I had the best year ever, really," he said. "It felt like the pressure wasn't as heavy, and I had a lot of fun."
The third and fourth rounds of the Nova Schin Festival were completed in 4- to 5-foot surf yesterday.
Irons defeated Brazil's Raphael Becker, 16.43-11.73, in the third round. A few heats later, Parkinson was upset, sparking cheers from the small Hawai'i contingent.
"This is so different than last year," Irons said, referring to his down-to-the-wire 2003 title race with Kelly Slater. "Going into the final of Pipeline against Kelly was the full showdown. But this year in Brazil I just had to watch (Parkinson) and thought for sure he was going to make that heat."
Florida's Slater holds the ASP record with six world titles, including five in a row from 1994 to 1998. Mark Richards of Australia won four titles, and Irons is now tied with California's Tom Curren with three.
Before the start of the fourth round, Irons was awarded the perpetual ASP world championship trophy. On the victory stage, Irons donned a T-shirt that read "3X World Champ." Billabong, Irons' primary sponsor, had the shirts prepared for the moment.
Tom Whitaker of Australia then took away a little of the luster by upsetting Irons in the fourth round.
"I guess there was too much going on today," Irons said. "Tom surfed well, but I'm just glad it's all over. Now I can hang out and let the festivities begin."
All the Hawai'i surfers in the Brazil event were eliminated yesterday as Andy's younger brother, Bruce, lost in the third round along with Kalani Robb of O'ahu's North Shore.
Irons is expected to return to Hawai'i on Thursday, and will compete in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. The first event of the Triple Crown, the Vans Hawaiian Pro, will run Nov. 12 to 24 at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach.
Irons is also attempting to three-peat as Triple Crown champion.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.
