СЪРФИНГ. Трикратният световен шампион по сърф Анди Айрънс почина на 32-годишна възраст вследствие на остра заразна тропическа треска "денга", съобщи Асоциацията на професионалните сърфисти (ASP). Хаваецът е намерен от служители на хотел "Гранд Хаят" (до летището в Далас, щата Тексас, САЩ), където той отседнал за кратко на път за дома си на хавайския остров Кауаи, след като се отказа от участие в про сърф състезанието в Пуерто Рико този уийкенд именно заради вирусното си заболяване.

Andy Irons (HAW), Billabong Pro Tahiti 2004, Regarded by his surfing peers as the man to beet at Teahupoo. "Winning would be massive, especially to get my confidence on a flow and carry it on for the rest of the year.", photo © ASP

Айрънс започва професионалната си кариера през 1998 г. и постига 20 победи в кръгове от елитния професионален тур на ASP. Mежду 2002-ра и 2004-та година той става три пъти поред световен шампион по сърф. Освен всичко друго, той е и единственият сърфист, който е печелил на всяко от местата за провеждане на професионалния сърфинг тур на ASP. Последната му голяма победа беше в началото на септември 2010-та в Billabong Pro Teahupoo Таити, където Айрънс безапелационно надви двамата американци - легендата Кели Слейтър в полуфинала и Си-Джей Хобгууд на финала. Анди Айрънс завинаги промени спорта със своите несравними способности и цялостен подход към сърфинга.

***

3-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons Passes Away

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Tuesday, November 2, 2010) – Andy Irons (HAW), 32, three-time ASP World Champion, passed away today en-route from Puerto Rico back home to Kauai from complications due to illness.

Official Irons Family Statement:

The world of surfing mourns an incredibly sad loss today with the news that Hawaii’s Andy Irons has died. Andy was a beloved husband, and a true champion.

Irons, 32, withdrew from a professional surfing event in Puerto Rico last weekend due to illness, and passed away during a layover en-route to his home in Kauai, Hawaii. He had reportedly been battling with Dengue Fever, a viral disease.

At this time the family thanks his friends and fans for their support, and asks that the community respect its privacy. The family also asks to not be contacted so their focus can remain on one another during this time of profound loss.

Irons, who began his career with the elite ASP World Tour in 1998, went on to collect 20 elite tour victories, four Triple Crown of Surfing Titles, three consecutive ASP World Titles and change the sport forever with his unparalleled ability and comprehensive approach to surfing.

Billabong Pro Tahiti 2010, The emphatic victory marked Andy Irons' 20th at the elite level of competition, and the Hawaiian was emotional when regarding his first win in over three years. "I did it!" Irons exclaimed, photo © ASP

Billabong Pro Tahiti 2010, Andy Irons: "I did it! I took a lot of losses, but I put in the hard work too. I dedicate this win 100% to my wife, Lindy, she is everything to me and without her, I'd be nothing.", photo © ASP

The thoughts and sympathies of the ASP family go out to the Irons family as the entire sporting world mourns this tragedy.

November 3, 2010 | ASP International
www.aspworldtour.com

Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico Officially Postpones Competition Until Friday Out of Respect for the Tragic Passing of Andy Irons

SOMEWHERE, Porta Del Sol/Puerto Rico (Wednesday, November 3, 2010) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), Rip Curl and surfers unanimously decided to postpone competition at the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico today out of respect for yesterday’s unexpected passing of surfing icon and current ASP World Tour competitor Andy Irons (HAW), 32.

Today Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico 2010 Officially Postpones Competition Until Friday Out of Respect for the Tragic Passing of Andy Irons, photo © ASP/Cestari

Irons, a three-time ASP World Champion, withdrew from competition citing illness and was en route back home to Kauai, Hawaii yesterday when he passed away. The loss of one of professional surfing’s greatest icons has sent shockwaves through the international sporting community.

A paddle out memorial service was held on-site in Porta Del Sol, attended by the world’s best surfers and hundreds of admirers.

Reactions from those in attendance:

Kelly Slater (USA), 38, nine-time ASP World Champion:

“We had a nice paddle out for Andy,’ Slater said. “It was a huge a group of people that got together – a couple hundred people paddled out. Obviously everyone is very somber and it’s just devastating news for everyone.”

Rip Curl Bells Beach 2010, Andy Irons held a reputation as perhaps the only true rival which nine-time World Champion Kelly Slater has ever known, and the two engaged in some of the most memorable title races in history, photo © ASP

“Everyone had their own connection with Andy on so many different levels,” Slater said. “He was a classic guy. Although he and I butted heads a lot a few years ago, I have so many good memories of Andy and we have become pretty good friends since. Generally, we just sit around and don’t even talk about surfing. We just have dinner and talk.”

“We’re just baffled that he’s gone.”

“It was nice for everyone to be together to have a chance to talk about him, about our memories: a little laugh, a little cry,” Slater said. “We just want to send some positive thoughts out to his family – to his wife, to his brother, and to his child that is coming next month. We’re all just thinking about that.”

“You know, Andy was a pretty dynamic guy,” Slater said. “He could be fierce in the water, the nicest guy on land – anything in-between. There were just so many sides to Andy. I’m going to have a million different memories of AI.”

“A few weeks ago I had a friend going over to Kauai to see Andy, and I said send him a message: When Andy surfs angry he smashes people and tell him to come to PR angry, focus that energy and use it,” Slater said. “So my friend called him and said he told AI the message and AI said he’s ready and I was so looking forward to see him surf this week. Just to see him.”

“There aren’t words to describe,” Slater said. “Unfortunately I’ve been through this with friends. There’s nothing that can make it better. You just have to feel it and process all those memories.”

“Andy was an absolutely gifted individual,” Slater said. “I’m lucky to have known him and had the times we had together. I feel blessed that we worked through the differences we had and I was able to learn what I’m made of because of Andy. We enjoyed many quiet times together with our girls in the last year and I got to know a happy, funny, innocent kid who was happy to live every second with the people he loved. I’m so sad.”

“My thoughts are with Bruce and Lyndie and their parents and all of his many friends around the world,” Slater said. “It’s a huge and far too premature loss for all of us. He was the most intense competitor I’ve ever known and one of the most sensitive people. He had so much life left in him and it hurts to think about. We look forward to his memory living on with our memories of him and his child on the way. There are a lot of uncles awaiting his arrival. I really miss Andy. He had a really good heart.”

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, reigning four-time ASP Women’s World Champion:

“It’s a really sad day and I think everyone is still in shock,” Gilmore said. “It’s crazy how the world works in mysterious ways. Luckily we’re all here together.
All the girls were down here. We all did the paddle out and to remember Andy.”

“We didn’t see the guys that often on Tour, but Andy in particular is one of the most beautiful human-beings,” Gilmore said. “Such an incredible competitor, but always so gentle and so kind. Always gave you the time of day. No matter where you were or how busy he was, he’d stop and say hi and ask how you were going. He’s going to be really really missed by everyone.”

“I think everyone admires him so much and he’ll never be forgotten.”

Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, reigning ASP World Champion:

“It was good having the paddle-out, getting everyone together,” Fanning said. “We’re a surfing family. We all look out for each other. Just for us to paddle out and show our respects to Andy, to his family, to all his friends on Kauai and Hawaii – it’s good. We are all hurting right now and we’re just wanting to pay our respects.”

“Andy was incredible,” Fanning said. “I think he was a person that always wore his heart on his sleeve. He didn’t try to impress anyone. He was just all about what he wanted to do. He was an amazing competitor; he was an amazing friend. And also, he was a brother. I haven’t just lost a friend, I’ve lost my brother here. It’s hard to take.”

C.J. Hobgood (USA), 31, current ASP World No. 14:

“All the surfers are here today and we were able to paddle out together,” Hobgood said. “Imagine taking all of the emotion in your body and putting it into one pot; it was so crazy out there. One second I just felt so mad, and then the next second I was just so happy.”

“The biggest thing was that the whole [WT] family was together and we were able to paddle out as one and show our love for another brother,” Hobgood said. “There are no words to say how we all feel, but in time there will be.”

“I think that the biggest thing is that we’re thankful for so much,” Hobgood said. “I’m thankful to be a surfer because we are family and I’m thankful to be a part of Andy’s family. I’ve traveled with him since I was 12 years old. Just the person that he was, it made me a better person. It made everyone around him a better person.”

“I’m thankful for so many great, wonderful years,” Hobgood said. “I think every surfer here today is just thankful that they could be here for Andy and show their respect for him, because we all understand that you can’t ever know when your time is up. So it’s comforting to know that all the other surfers would be there for you.”

Following the service, ASP, Rip Curl and the surfers opted to postpone the recommencement of the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico until Friday, November 5, 2010.

“Out of respect for the passing of Andy Irons yesterday, the ASP, event organizers and the surfers have all decided to postpone the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico until Friday,” Renato Hickel, ASP World Tour Manager, said. “This is a terrible loss for the ASP family and one we’ll be working through for many years to come. We need time to grieve and we will return on Friday.”

“We called an official lay day today in memory of Andy Irons and also to give the ASP professional surfers the space they needed to clear their heads, get their arms around each other and just take it all in,” Neil Ridgway, Rip Curl Global Marketing & Advertising Chairman, said. “On the event side, we feel that the best thing to do is to continue to prepare to run the Rip Curl Pro Search the best we can. We want to give these guys the type of event environment that they’re used to, because at some stage we believe that they will want to return to what they know best and that is pro surfing and that is winning heats and this time in honour of Andy Irons.”

Event organizers will reconvene Friday morning at 7am for a possible 7:30am start.

When competition resumes, up first will be Taj Burrow (AUS), 32, up against rookie Dusty Payne (HAW), 21.

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH PUERTO RICO ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (USA)
Heat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 3: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 5: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Bobby Martinez (USA)
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Dylan Graves (PRI)
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 8: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 9: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Dan Ross (AUS)
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)

November 3, 2010 | ASP International
www.aspworldtour.com

ANDY IRONS PHOTO TRIBUTE by ASP

Billabong Pro Tahiti 2010, Andy Irons: "I surf because I love to win. I love this feeling.", photo © ASP

  Tweet