ANDY IRONS(HAW) -BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS IN MEMORY OF ANDY IRONS- surfworldtour.blogspot.com- TRIBUTE TO GREAT CHAMPION OF SURFING

ANDY IRONS(HAW) -BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS IN MEMORY OF ANDY IRONS -
surfworldtour.blogspot.com TRIBUTE TO THE GREAT CHAMPION OF SURFING


This BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS is in Memory to the great Hawaiian surfer Andy Irons(HAW) that was three times WORLD CHAMPION - in consective years 2002/2003/2004  and won almost five PIPELINE MASTERS in Hawaii straight away -2002/2003 and 2005/2006, just another great Hawaiian surfer Jamie O'Brien(HAW)broken his serie.Andy Irons(HAW) is my idol and will be forever!!!

He passed away with 32 years old,  and began his career at WCT -World Championship Tour -ASP -Association of Surfing Professionals,in 1998  and reached 20 victories in the elite tour, and also collected four Triple Crown of Surfing.

 Now I am living in  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but when I am in my hometown in a big house and sometimes upset I just watch Andy Irons(HAW) surfing movies and I feel much better.

Andy Irons(HAW)was someone very special : fearless, strong, tall,  had a strong way to eye, besides and a glamorous style. He always competed with all his strenght to win the championships. His last victory was in September,2010 in Teahuppo, Tahiti -Billabong Pro with great performance as always.

Since I entered the  surfing world in 2008 certainly the sadest day for me was November 2nd, 2010 ,when I heard the news about his death in Dallas, Texas, USA; When he felt sick in Puerto Rico -and withdrew from Rip Curl Search, and was going back home to Kawaii, Hawaii. I searched the news in many related sites and did my own post(see the post on November 10th,2010  ) I remember this post was very accessed  - I am able to track the blog posts.

I was so sad that I thought to quit the blog, but I realized that he would like that I should continue even without him in the surfing world. He stopped to compete in 2009 and received a Wild Card to come back in 2010 WCT.

In 2010 the WCT was in Imbituba, Santa Catarina and I used to take the bus from Porto Alegre/RS at midnight and arrive in Garopaba around 6.00 am. I was following up the competition on the Internet and Atlantida radio /RBS -Rede Brasil Sul -Globo affiliate in my state, RS.  It was "lay day", my luggage was ready to travel at night, however a close friend of mine had some health problem  and I had take her to the hospital so I  just took the bus next night and arrived in Imbituba, at dawn.

The Round 3 was finished and Andy Irons(HAW) was defeated .So I stayed at guard-rails -surfers entrance awaiting A.I. but unfortunatelly I could meet him anymore. Who am I to call the great champion to have a picture or even  shake his hand. I stayed in Praia da Vila -Imbituba till the Final of the stage where Jadson Andre(BRA) defeated the great champion Kelly Slater(USA).

I was so sad by not even see Andy Irons(HAW) despite  I was in a photo on the shore with Jadson Andre and somebody else on the Billabong site of the event...Some friends of my hometown -small city close to Porto Alegre - asked me- You were at Billabong site-first page-, weren't you???

After this championship in Imbituba/SC the WCT moved to Rio de Janeiro in 2011, and I decided to continue the blog, and do not regret. At  my first Billabong Rio Pro, I got a little lost in this huge town, but I did by best as always. In 2012, I bought a Nokia smarthphone  with a better camera and my work got much better.

Nobody knows exactly what happens when we die!!! My dear father died in 2005, but sometimes when I am in my house in my hometown I feel his presence giving me good vibes and strenght. My father had much strenght as A.I. and always said to me:

Be always strong, play sports, and learn English, because so you can work and have a career. I studied a lot since the University; played soccer, tennis, basketball, ride a bicycle, running, swimming, motorcycle trails and so on.I just learned to surf(a little) in 2008 at Vento Sul - Surfing School in Garopaba /SC when I lived there.

I will never forget my first day of surfing lesson with the teacher, in March 2008.  It was so special day, perhaps one of the happiest days in my life - My body was so tired, but my heart was very happy. That is why they say "surf is the sport of Gods".

Perhaps, Andy Irons(HAW)was a "HAWAIIAN GOD", and we just do not know yet!!!

 

photo by Daniel Smorigo -WCT 2010-Imbituba/SC

 

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