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Hawaiian
Andy Irons Claims 2002 ASP World Title
Tuesday, December 3 (Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii) Hawaiian Andy Irons today claimed the 2002 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) crown with an unsurpassable ratings lead. Surrounded by family, friends and media, the 24 year old watched his nearest rival Luke Egan (Aus) bow out in the quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Cup, thus losing any chance to bridge the impressive gap the heir apparent had already forged throughout the season.
Coming into Hawaii the stage was already set for his seemingly inevitable crowning, though main rival Egan was never going to hand it to him freely. The Australian required a third place or higher finish at Sunset, and if achieved, the showdown would continue on into next weeks Xbox Gerry Lopez Pipeline Masters. It wasn't to be. Despite losing his own quarterfinal match due to an interference call, Irons anxiously watched the following 35-minute decider. As the crowd grew around him and time elapsed, Egan needed a 7.7 score. Within the final 10-seconds he caught a good ride and surfed it great, but the wave didn't offer enough and the announcers read out a 6.3. The siren sounded, cheers and screams were let loose, and Irons climbed on to the top of a truck and raised his arms. The race was over. Moments later, after his Kauai boys had carried him to the podium to the applause of all around, he joined the stage with ASP President/CEO Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew, who coincidently won his 1978 world title the same year Irons was born. Egan then walked over to congratulate the Hawaiian who was showered in champagne, before the following was said: "It's really a pleasure for me to be able to give world titles away," said Bartholomew. "Andy's had a great year so far. He's won three WCT events and still has Pipe to go. Please join me in congratulating the new ASP 2002 men's world champion - Andy Irons!" "There's a lot
of emotions running through me right now," began Irons. "It's
just been an incredible year and I never thought I'd put one together
like this. It's been an unreal ride and I can't believe it. I just want
to thank all my friends for their support, as they're the best friends
in the world. I want to thank my mom and dad for coming down... I have
a lot of people to thank. All my sponsors of course, and I want to thank
everyone for showing "Winning Bells
was a dream come true in itself," he continued. "Then Teahupoo
right after that just topped off an incredible month. I've felt really
good this year. I didn't make the stupid mistakes I used to. I've gotten
a little older and hopefully I've learned from those mistakes. I'll probably
make more mistakes, but as long as I keep learning from them, "I've just got to say Luke's always been one of my favorite surfers," he added, of Egan. "I'm always down just to watch his heats cause I love the way he surfs. I know he's going to win one. The guy ages and just gets sweeter every year. He's surfing better than ever and is incredible. I really take my hat off and have a lot of respect for him." Irons' father Phil, who has watched and nurtured both his famous sons' surfing careers, made the following comment after the emotional climax was achieved. "It was due," began the elder Irons. "He was focused the whole way. It's something the kid worked for since he was little. To do it here at home... I got on a flight this morning at 6am from Kauai to be here. He's set for life now. It's overwhelming." Egan, who has pushed Irons all the way, offered the following praise for the new world champion. "He's been the most complete surfer all year by far," conceded Egan. "I know I was right next to him, and from what I saw he ripped at Teahupoo, he ripped in Fiji, and then when it was tiny he was also one of the best surfers and that's what it takes to be world champ. He highly deserves what he got today."
1. ANDY IRONS - 2002 ASP World Champion D.O.B.: July 24,1978 2002 WCT EVENT RESULTS 2002 PERFORMANCE CAREER VICTORIES (13) PERSONAL DETAILS For more information www.aspworldtour.com Written by Jesse Faen, ASP Int'l Media Director: jesse@aspworldtour.com Digital images will
be available free of charge from Pierre Tostee/ASP: |
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Irons,
the 1998 ASP World Junior Champion, clinched his first WCT event the same
year at Huntington Beach, California. He then secured another major victory
two years later, again in California, but it was in 2002 the Hawaiian
combined his ability with consistency. At the years second tournament,
The Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, Australia, he defeated 2000 world champion
Sunny Garcia (Haw) for a ratings lead he never lost. From there he won
the following tournament in Tahiti, his favorite venue at the infamous
break of teahupoo during the Billabong Pro. After a series of 17th place
results, he broke the pattern with a runner-up finish at the Quiksilver
Pro France, before claiming another title the following WCT in Spain,
at the Billabong Pro.