Wednesday, November 21, 2001
Kauai's Andy Irons charged to victory in the G-Shock Hawaiian Pro yesterday, his first-ever Vans Triple Crown of Surfing win. Irons shines in winning
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Two days ago, Irons set the stage for the eventual win with his all-out approach in 18-foot, dangerous conditions at Alii Beach Park in Haleiwa.
Yesterday, even though the swell dropped, it was more of the same steaming Irons. In 10-12 foot waves, he ripped through the four-man semifinal, using speed and precision turns to defeat Florida's Cory Lopez and Damien Hobgood and Australia's Richard Lovett.
In the final, Irons was in trouble, trailing three competitors -- Hawaii's Myles Padaca, Australia's Mick Fanning and Lopez -- with eight minutes to go in the heat.
Making matters worse, twice Irons was washed from the take-off zone to the shore.
But he recovered and took off on what turned out to be a 9.75-point ride before pulling into a tube ride to overcome the other three and clinch the victory.
"(Monday) was really treacherous ... scary ...," Irons said. "I've never surfed Haleiwa that big. It was more about staying safe. It was the same kind (yesterday) but the current was a bit mellower. I got washed in ... but then got back out, and that 9.75-point wave came, opened up, and I was able to gouge a couple of big turns. Then I got a barrel and it was just icing on the cake."
Irons pocketed $10,000 with the victory, and he took the early Triple Crown lead.
Irons, ranked sixth in the Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour, also has a chance at the world title. Along with Hawaii's Sunny Garcia and ratings leader Hobgood, Irons and a handful of others can end up No. 1 if things go their way in the Nov. 26 to Dec. 7 Rip Curl Cup at Sunset Beach. That's the WCT season-ending event and the second leg of the Triple Crown.
"This is stuff I dreamed about as a kid, so to be living it is incredible," Irons said. "I can remember watching guys like Tom Curren and Sunny Garcia surfing here in the big events over the years and wanting to be like them. It still hasn't really hit me.
"To be able to prove yourself in Hawaii, in the biggest, most intense waves, is an amazing feeling. This win tops my books. The only thing better than this for me would be a win at Pipeline or maybe a world title."
Fanning finished second, followed by Padaca in third and Lopez in fourth.
After next week's Rip Curl Cup, the Triple Crown finishes up with the Dec. 7-17 Xbox Gerry Lopez Pipeline Masters.