Philip Andrew Irons (July 24, 1978 - November 2, 2010) is a professional American surfer. Irons studied surfing on a treacherous and shallow coral reef on the North Shore in Kauai, Hawaii. During his professional career, he won three world titles (2002, 2003, 2004), three Quiksilver Pro France titles (2003, 2004, 2005), two Rip Curl Pro Search titles (2006 and 2007) and 20 elite tour wins including Vans Triple Crown of Surfing four times from 2002-2006. On September 3, 2010 he won the Billabong Pro Teahupoo in Tahiti. She and her family hosted the Annual Irons Brothers Pinetrees Classic, a contest for children. The governor of Hawaii declared February 13 forever "Andy Irons Day". He is the only surfer who won titles in every place on the ASP calendar.
Video Andy Irons
Careers
Her younger brother, Bruce Irons, is a former competitor in the World Championship Tour of Surfing (WCT). During his childhood Andy often lost with Bruce in the contest, but that changed after he entered the World Championship Tour. During his professional career, he won three world titles (2002, 2003, 2004), three Quiksilver Pro French titles (2003, 2004, 2005), two Rip Curl Pro Search titles (2006 and 2007) and 20 elite tour wins including Vans Triple Crown of Surfing four times from 2002-2006. On September 3, 2010 he won the Billabong Pro Teahupoo in Tahiti.
In 2009, Irons resigned from conducting the ASP World Tour full season for personal reasons, though he participated in several shows. He requested a wildcard entry for the 2010 ASP World Tour season, which was awarded by ASP President Wayne Bartholomew. As a result, Irons does not have to re-qualify in 2010 through World Qualifying Series (WQS). Irons won the Billabong Pro Tahiti 2010.
He was inducted into Surfing Walk of Fame in Huntington Beach, California in 2008. The governor of Hawaii declared February 13 forever "Andy Irons Day". He is the only surfer who won titles in every place on the ASP calendar.
Billabong produces board shorts "Andy Irons".
Maps Andy Irons
Death
Irons died on November 2, 2010. She was found lying on a bed on her back with the sheets pulled to her chin, by two hotel staff after she failed to respond to knocking on the door and they went in to investigate.
Tarrant City Medical Examiner's Office concluded that Irons died of a heart attack due to severe blockage of the heart's main artery. The official autopsy report also lists the second cause of death as "acute mixed drug consumption", a list of alprazolam, methadone, benzoylecgonine (cocaine metabolites) and methamphetamine traces as drugs found in Andy's body at the time of his death. The initial press release mentions Dengue fever as the cause of Irons's death; However, an autopsy report by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office is negative for Dengue and other flaviviruses. It is unclear why rumors that Dengue fever contribute to the death of the breeding Irons.
In response to Irons's death, a World Championship Tour event in Puerto Rico was delayed for two days with competitors rallying a "rowing" funeral for Irons. Irons has resigned from the event for poor health reasons and flew back to his home in Hawaii during a stopover in Grapevine, Texas, near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. He reportedly stopped in Miami after leaving Puerto Rico and an early report said he was given salt drops. He was reportedly vomiting on a Hawaiian airplane before being moved before taking off. In the days immediately after his death it was reported that, in Dallas, a very sick Irons had attempted to board his flight to Honolulu at 11:30, but was denied at the American Airlines gate - a claim the company denies.
A memorial service is held November 14, 2010 in Hanalei Bay, Kauai. His wife Lyndie and brother Bruce spread their ashes outside Hanalei Bay where thousands of families, friends and admirers say their last goodbyes.
Friends and rival competitor Kelly Slater presented her victory to Irons on November 6, 2010. "I just want to express my condolences to the Andy family," Slater said. "I'm a bit overwhelmed right now but I want to dedicate this to Andy... It's like a proper contradiction.This does not really compensate for it, I'll give this title in a second if Andy can come back." Slater also wrote an empty memory to honor Andy Irons's life on the anniversary of his death; it was also the same day that Slater claimed the 11th ASP World title in Puerto Rico.
Personal life
Irons married Lyndie Dupuis on November 25, 2007 in Princeville, Kauai. She was seven months pregnant with their first child at the time of her death. Lyndie gave birth to their son, Andy Axel Irons, in Kauai on the opening day of the Pipeline Masters in Memory of Andy Irons, December 8, 2010.
Lyndie and Axel continue to live on Kauai Island where she and Andy share a home.
Movies
The 2005 film Blue Horizon (directed by Jack McCoy surfing artist), aligned his life on a free surfing tour of WCT, David Rastovich. The film also touches its competition with the eleven-time world champion, Kelly Slater. Although the film is made in a documentary style, there is some debate as to whether the film offers an accurate and fair depiction of the Irons surf lifestyle. In addition to "Blue Horizon", Irons is also the subject of many other surfing films, including the screen display in Trilogy , who starred himself, Joel Parkinson, and Taj Burrow.
Rivalitas with Kelly Slater
Irons has much publicized, and, according to him, over-hyped, competition with fellow professional Kelly Slater surfers. In an interview, Irons said:
For me, just affiliated with Kelly - being beside her - I mean, that's amazing. He's the best surfer. He's the best surfer in the world. Ever. The best, best, and best surfers, and my name is next to it everywhere is really flattering. He is Michael Jordan from our sport. Kelly knows how I feel about her. Apart from all the media hype that comes out of the competition there is a lot of respect given two ways. People do not realize there are times when we hang out. We will check the waves together. We talked about boards. He invited me personally for his contest at Tavarua. There is a lot of respect there.
Slater himself was quoted in the Surfer Magazine tribute to the Irons:
Andy is a really talented individual. I was lucky to have known him and had time together. I feel blessed that we work through the differences we have and I can learn what I make because of Andy. I became acquainted with a happy, funny, and innocent child who loved to live every second with the people she loved. I am very sad. My thoughts are with Bruce and Lyndie and their parents and all of their friends around the world. This is a big loss and too early for all of us. He is the most intense competitor I have ever known and one of the most sensitive people. He has so much life left in him that it is painful to think about. We look forward to his memories with our memories of him and his son on the road. There are many uncles waiting for him. I miss Andy very much. He has a very good heart.
References
External links
- Official site
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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