Andy Irons captures U.S. Open title
Advertiser Staff Jae C. Hong | Associated Press
Kaua'i's Andy Irons and Maui's Hank Gaskell won prestigious surfing titles in front of a large audience yesterday.
Irons won the men's division of the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing, and Gaskell won the junior pro division (for surfers ages 20 and younger).
The week-long U.S. Open of Surfing was completed yesterday in small waves at Huntington Beach, Calif. It is considered the biggest surfing event in the United States, and contest officials estimated yesterday's attendance at 100,000.
Irons defeated California's Rob Machado in the men's final, 13.10-12.66.
"I tried to be patient and selective," said Irons, who received $15,000. "It was amazing to look back from the water and see all the people cheering. It's an awesome compliment."
Irons trailed early in the final, but took control midway through the 30-minute heat with back-to-back waves that received scores of 6.83 and 6.27.
It was Irons' second U.S. Open championship. He also won it in 1998.
The contest did not count toward the World Championship Tour ratings. Irons, the three-time defending world champion, is ranked No. 2 this year. No. 1-ranked Kelly Slater of Florida did not enter the U.S. Open.
The junior pro featured an all-Hawai'i final, with Gaskell defeating Dustin Cuizon of 'Ewa Beach.
Gaskell, 19, trailed for most of the heat, but won it with a wave score of 7.33 in the closing seconds. Gaskell's two best waves scored 14.8 to Cuizon's 14.0.
"I was getting really nervous, hoping another wave would come," said Gaskell, who received $2,500. "I got really lucky."
It was the fourth time that Cuizon had finished second in the junior pro of the U.S. Open.
Julia Christian of California won the women's pro division; Nikita Robb of South Africa won the women's junior pro; and Joel Tudor of California won the pro longboard division.
Among other Hawai'i surfers: Melanie Bartels of Wai'anae tied for third in the women's pro; Coco Ho of Sunset Beach finished third in the women's junior pro; and Kai Sallas of Honolulu tied for fifth in the pro longboard division.
"I tried to be patient and selective," said Andy Irons, who defeated California's Rob Machada, 13.10-12.66, in the men's final.
