Found dead in his Dallas hotel room, Andy Irons is recognized as one of the greatest surfers of all time.
Irons was an extraordinary surfer, revered globally by enthusiasts and is often credited with transforming the sport of surfing.
Born on July 24, 1978, he passed away on November 2, 2010—just two days ago.
Having learned to surf on the perilous and shallow reefs of Kauai’s North Shore, Irons clinched three world titles (2002, 2003, 2004), triumphed at the Quiksilver Pro France three times (2003, 2004, 2005), secured two Rip Curl Pro Search titles (2006, 2007), and achieved 19 elite tour victories. Mere two months ago, on September 3, 2010, he won the Billabong Pro in Tahiti.
Together with his family, he organized the Annual Irons Brothers Pinetrees Classic, catering to young surfers. The governor of Hawaii designated February 13 as ‘Andy Irons Day’ forever.
Having a day named in your honor signifies the impact one has made.
During his youth, Andy frequently lost contests to his younger brother, Bruce, but that changed once he joined the World Championship Tour.
Billabong created an “Andy Irons” line of board shorts.
The 2004 film Blue Horizon (by surfing filmmaker Jack McCoy) chronicled his journey on the WCT tour alongside free surfer David Rastovich. The film also portrayed his long-standing rivalry with nine-time world champion Kelly Slater, who is heartbroken over the loss of his greatest competitor.
There has been some controversy regarding whether Blue Horizon represented a fair and accurate depiction of Irons’ surfing lifestyle, despite its documentary-like approach. Beyond “Blue Horizon”, Irons was featured in various surf films, with his last appearance in Trilogy, sharing the screen with Joel Parkinson and Taj Burrow.
On November 25, 2007, Irons wed Lyndie Dupuis in Princeville, Kauai. She was seven months pregnant with their first child, adding to the tragedy of his unforeseen passing.
In 2008, he received induction into the Surfing Walk of Fame in Huntington Beach, California.
Due to personal reasons, Irons opted out of the complete ASP World Tour season in 2009, participating in only a few events. He sought a wildcard entry for the 2010 ASP World Tour season, which ASP President Wayne Bartholomew granted. Consequently, Irons avoided the need to re-qualify in 2010 via the World Qualifying Series (WQS). He went on to win the Billabong Pro Tahiti in 2010.
There are speculations surrounding the circumstances of Irons’ death, with some reports suggesting a potential methadone overdose.
In a recent interview, Irons confessed to struggling with personal demons, revealing that surfing was his sole source of motivation.
Reports from The Association of Surfing Professionals indicated that he had been afflicted with dengue fever, a severe viral illness.
He remains the only surfer to have won every event on the world tour.
by Vandas Voice