Andy Irons Wins Tahiti
Andy Irons won the Billabong Pro Tahiti in an explosive final with four foot waves at Teahupoo. The victory marks Andy’s 20th at the elite level of competition, and the surfer from Kauai was emotional when regarding his first win in over three years. “I feel like I’m back,” Andy said. “My whole dream was to come back and just win one contest, and I’ve done that now. I want more. And to win at Teahupoo, it’s my favorite wave in the world. It’s a very special win.”
En route to the final, Irons bested reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning, Patrick Gudauskas, and nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater. Andy opened up with a massive, freefall wipeout before utilizing his unparalleled backhand tube-riding skills to net a 14.67 out of a possible 20 and collect the win. “I did it!” Irons said. “I dedicate this win 100 percent to my wife, Lindy. She is everything to me and without her, I’d be nothing. I really, really like competing because I love to win and I feel on top of the world today. I surf because I love to win. I love this feeling.”
Hobgood, one of the premiere tuberiders in the world, was unable to find his way out of multiple barrels in the final bout against Irons. “I had good waves that I could have got the score on and I tried a little harder than I had to,” Hobgood said. “My highest score was only an eight through every heat leading up to this one and I hadn’t had a breakout performance. No one to blame but myself. I’m stoked all the same though. After the win, I told Andy there’s a lot of people pulling for you, including myself.” With the victory, Irons moves from No. 18 to No. 7 on the ASP World Title Race rankings. Photo by Robertson / ASP.
Billabong Pro Tahiti final results:
1: Andy Irons 14.67
2: C.J. Hobgood 8.33
Semifinal results:
1: C.J. Hobgood 15.00 def. Jeremy Flores 12.93
2: Andy Irons 13.57 def. Kelly Slater 10.26
Hawaii Surfing Reserves
Hawaii has some of the most famous and beautiful surf sites in the world, and now two of Hawai‘i’s most important and well-known surfing areas on Oahu are Surfing Reserves. The executive order formally “acknowledges the cultural, sports and historic significance of important surf sites in Hawai‘i,” and “raises public awareness about the importance of protecting, nourishing and developing Hawai‘i’s world famous surf sites.”
Duke Kahanamoku Surfing Reserve – which includes surf breaks bounded by the Ala Wai and the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium
North Shore Surfing Reserve – which includes surf breaks from Ali‘i Beach in Hale‘iwa to Sunset Beach
Surfers and spectators from all over the world come here every winter to experience the 25-foot spectacular waves at spots like the Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay. The executive order does not provide any funding, but enables the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which is responsible for managing all waters and coastal areas of the state, to receive donations for identifying, nourishing, and protecting the Hawaii Surfing Reserves.
Taj Burrow Wins Pipe Masters
Taj Burrow Wins Pipe Masters in his first appearance in the finals. With 11 years on the ASP World Tour, Australia’s Taj Burrow defeated reigning and six-time Pipe Masters champion Kelly Slater in the final heat. Taj controlled the 35-minute final from start to finish realizing that conditions favored high-performance, aerial maneuvers over the tube-riding that Pipeline is famous for.
In clean three-to-five foot waves, Slater had one short tube ride that only netted him a 3.93, which was his best wave score of the final. This was in contrast to the 8.73 average wave score he was carring into the final. The final two-wave totals had Taj on top with 12.83 points out of a possible 20. Kelly ended with a total of 7.10.
The Billabong Pipe Masters is the third and final stop of the Triple Crown of Surfing series on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. “This is 100% as good as you can imagine,” said Taj on the podium. “For me, winning this contest is the next best thing to winning a World Title. This is the one and only event that everyone would probably pick to win and I can’t believe I’m standing here right now. It’s an amazing feeling. There are so many tough guys that you go up against in this event that I thought it was out of my reach. This is the best victory of my career.”
Stephanie Gilmore Wins Billabong Pro
Stephanie Gilmore wins her third straight Billabong Pro Maui and secures back-to-back Triple Crown titles. Continuing her stunning career, Stephanie took the event over Sofia Mulanovich in clean four-to-six foot conditions at the point break of Honolua Bay.
Stephanie’s 18-point total in the final heat was too good for Mulanovich. Sofia’s best ride in the final was 5.50 points out of a possible 10. Gilmore scored a 9.67 and backed it up with an 8.33 giving her a total of 18.00 out of 20 points, compared to Mulanovich’s 10.17 total.
“Once again, Maui has just been incredible and to win this event three times in a row is just awesome. I couldn’t have been happier with the way things have gone today. Winning the Vans Triple Crown is definitely up there with winning the World Title and it’s definitely one of the biggest accolades of surfing professionally. I can’t believe it’s all happening again, it’s awesome.”
Final 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings:
1. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2. Silvana Lima (BRA)
3. Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
4. Coco Ho (HAW)
5. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
6. Melanie Bartels (HAW)
7. Chelsea Hedges (AUS)
8. Paige Hareb (NZL)
9. Rebecca Woods (AUS)
10. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
11. Samantha Cornish (AUS)
12. Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
13. Alana Blanchard (HAW)
14. Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
15. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
16. Amee Donohoe (AUS)
17. Megan Abubo (HAW)
18. Layne Beachley (AUS)
Joel Parkinson Wins O’Neill World Cup
Joel Parkinson takes home a dramatic win on the second event in the Triple Crown of Surfing. The O’Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach was pumping 15-20 foot waves for the final day of the event, and final results were Joel Parkinson 13.17, Sunny Garcia 12.87, Mick Fanning 10.16, and Dusty Payne 2.43.
Sunny led for most of the final, after starting out with a long and speedy barrel that earned him a 9.47 (out of 10). Joel answered back with a few shorter barrels of his own, edging Sunny out by just three-tenths of a point, with too little time to close the gap. Current World Tour ratings leader, Mick Fanning, took third place, while Hawaii’s Dusty Payne took fourth. Fortunately for Payne, his fight into the finals has earned him enough points to secure a seat on the 2010 ASP World Tour.
Joel has now won at Sunset three times, “Winning this feels as good as the first time.” “Right now it feels really good because I’m back on the podium and back winning going into the biggest battle of my career,” as they head into the final stage of the Hawaiian leg of the ASP World Tour at the Billabong Pipeline Masters.
In Memory of Eddie Aikau 25th Anniversary
The 25th anniversary of The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau big wave event is planning to get underway. This event only takes place if wave heights are in excess of twenty feet, and all forecasts are pointing towards one of the largest swells to hit Hawaii in decades. The last time the event ran was in December 2004.
Held in honor of the legendary Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau, this event gathers the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the globe. It is the world’s longest running and most prestigious big-wave invitational. The universal appeal and strength of “The Eddie” is a testament to the human spirit it honors and that we all seek to connect with: a life lived with passion, dedicated with meaning, and exited from heroically. Just 31 when he lost his life in an attempt to save others, his life story is now woven into the fabric of Hawaii.
The opening ceremony was an overwhelming tribute, complete with the original Hokule’a voyaging canoe in Waimea Bay in the midst of a 15- to 18-foot swell. The Hokule’a is a traditional double-hulled vessel that represents the original Polynesian voyage to the Hawaiian islands, and a symbol of great Hawaiian pride. It is also the same boat from which Aikau paddled for assistance in 1978, never to be seen again. Clyde Aikau, winner of the 1987 event, led the paddle-out of this year’s official Invitees and Alternates circling the Hokule’a and paying respects to Eddie.
Clyde is ready to ride on what he expects to be the swell of a lifetime. “Knowing that it’s probably gonna go, everybody’s real jacked, including yours truly. I really think it’s going to be a big one, probably the biggest waves ever for the event. I’ve surfed all the big waves that have come through here, ‘74, ‘69, and this one should be even bigger than that.”
