Remembering Andy Irons
News continues to come out about the death of Andy Irons. Reports of dengue fever and a methadone overdose are both swirling around the web. We'll continue to keep you updated. Until we know more, here's a short list of of what surfers who knew Irons had to say about his death.
"I talked to Phil [Irons], I talked to Bruce [Irons] -- everyone's just crying. I was surfing Mavericks with Shane [Dorian] and everyone else and saw all these missed calls. My girlfriend called and said Andy had died. I didn't return these calls because I didn't want to drive and cry at the same time. Everyone on Kauai is crying right now."
--Surfer Reed McIntosh, ESPN
Credit:© ASP / CESTARI
"I think in the contemporary age that Andy Irons is the best competitive surfer that Hawaii has produced, since the start of the pro tour back in the mid seventies," Triple Crown Director Randy Rarick said.
--Triple Crown Director Randy Rarick, KGMB
"The kind of surfing he did was so creative and so different from any other surfer. He was real fluid, but real powerful at the same time. When he was on, I don't think anybody could match him."
--Surfer Evan Valiere, People
"Andy is definitely going out a legend," said Rainos Hayes, who surfed against Irons in professional contests, and also coached him on the Billabong-sponsored team. "There isn't anybody who can question that Andy is by far the best surfer to come out of Hawaii in modern-day history. He changed competitive surfing as we know it for the next generation."
-- Surfer Rainos Hayes, Honolulu Star Advertiser
To learn more about Andy Irons, read the following.
Last Drop, By Brad Melekian for Outside Magazine
Andy Irons, 1978 - 2010, ESPN
When a Man Loves a Rival, NYT
My Favorite Andy Moments, SurferMag
--Joe Spring
@joespring
