Brad...this is the best and most honest piece of writing I have read about Andy's drug use and death. It is good to finally read about the events, with specifics. Awesome work buddy.

An excellent story. I don’t question the authentic desire of those who would vow to celebrate Irons’s life instead of the circumstances of his death, but it’s really the only tack that most surf media can take in this situation. There are no mechanisms to raise these uncomfortable truths. I enjoy reading surf magazines, but sometimes I can’t help but look at the pages and think they obfuscate as much as they reveal.

An excellent story. I don’t question the authentic desire of those who would vow to celebrate Irons’s life instead of the circumstances of his death, but it’s really the only tack that most surf media can take in this situation. There are no mechanisms to raise these uncomfortable truths. I enjoy reading surf magazines, but sometimes I can’t help but look at the pages and think they obfuscate as much as they reveal.

"Irons then asked whether Del Olmo knew how to get another more serious drug, though Del Olmo wouldn’t say what it was. “I was not prepared to hear what came out of Andy’s mouth,” he says. “I shut him down immediately.” - was he implying Andy wanted Meth here - that or heroin?

ASP Should act responsibly and take care of business. Test the surfers. That will save lives. Screw the ones who choose drugs over their sport. Andy wouldn't have chosen drugs over surfing. What does this tell the young surfers? Fix this now, ASP, for the sake of Andy's son's generation!

Brad it's gotta be really hard to go against the surf community. In general we respect the family's wishes if the cause of death is something they'd rather not share with the world. And that's their right, I believe. But I hope your article might get the ASP to get their priorities in order if they really want the surf biz to be recognized as serious, respected anywhere near as much as cycling. So test them. If they want to continue to compete, make their income surfing all over the world, they have to say no to drugs. That simple. TEST THEM!

Not spitting on Andy's grave, but planting a cash crop there.

Brad, well written and very well put. This whole tragic set of circumstances was handled appallingly by his family and business interests.

Great story. Let's hope we can all talk, learn and educate ourselves about this matter. He wasn't the first and sadly won't be the last. Ronnie Burns is a n ame that comes to mind...

Great story. Let's hope we can all talk, learn and educate ourselves about this matter. He wasn't the first and sadly won't be the last. Ronnie Burns is a n ame that comes to mind...

Like everyone else at the time i couldn't believe the news that Andy had died. Not being part of the inner circle of the Pro Circus news reports at the time would have us believe he died from Dengue fever and i was angry no-one was looking out for him. Here in Australia surfing and mateship go hand in hand. and you don't let your mates down. Now after reading Brad's story i have a better understanding of what was really going on in Andy's life and although Andy's death is still very tragic the truth needs to be told to prevent this happening again. I don't feel angry now that i know the truth, i probably have even more respect for Andy " The Peoples Champ" knowing what demons he was having to deal with whilst being at the top of his game. RIP Andy you were an inspiration mate.

Thankyou Brad for this article. It makes me able to read about surfers and surfing again and believe what I'm reading. Andy Irons memory will still be celebrated because he loved surfing passionately. His drug abuse is a human failing and I wish for his sake his family and friends had been honest sooner. It may or may not have affected the outcome but instead of protecting hiscareer and reputation they may have saved his life!

Thankyou Brad for this article. It makes me able to read about surfers and surfing again and believe what I'm reading. Andy Irons memory will still be celebrated because he loved surfing passionately. His drug abuse is a human failing and I wish for his sake his family and friends had been honest sooner. It may or may not have affected the outcome but instead of protecting hiscareer and reputation they may have saved his life!

Good article, except for the anonymous mentor from rehab version of his habits. That to me would be the most upsetting part of the article having some invisible person making stories up.

As a surfer and fan of the CT I was shocked at how much the death of AI affected me when it happened. Such an inspiring gun-ho surfer whose visible mellowing made him more likable. I simply accepted the story I was feed by the surf media and couldn't imagine he'd had a serious drug problem with his athleticism and win Tahiti (naive me). This article seems to fairly and openly share a truth with no viscous intent. It has not diminished my respect for AI at all. It has further raised my awareness about how everyone, including sporting icons, can suffer but still lead productive lives. What an important message to be shared with teenagers, especially here in Oz where youth suicide rates are horribly high. If AI had been supported to go public I reckon the benefits would have been huge probably for him and for many "youth" that could learn through his story that life is up and down, tough and enjoyable, and that speaking out about problems is ok because it means you'll be helped.

after working in the surf industry for 20 yrs its nice to see a little truth come to the surface.Yes there is a big drug problem in this industry, and the reason its usually hidden is because it stems from the top.....company owners, directors, pro surfers, surfboard manufactures ,etc......and these guys like to keep there little world a secret....i work for a high profile company but choose to stay away from the social side as this type of partying is standard..If a friend of mine had a drinking problem i would not drink in front of him...just to let him know i care and want to help.....its such a bummer andy didnt have friends of this nature around him...AI was an amazing surfer and person....now lets hope the next generation learn from this.......

The surfing community needs to take ownership of its many deceits, namely the ethos of "Dude, be one with the ocean, but stay the hell off my wave!" Surfing magazines are replete with stories of surfing communities "defending their territory." Surfers find it humorous that a car battery is thrown off an ocean pier to dispel an unknown rider form riding someone's specific part of the ocean. In particular, the name calling & outright hostility surfers are showing to the standup paddleboard (SUP) community is mind boggling -- remember, don't you, that standup surfers were Hawaii's original surfers?

The surfing community needs to take ownership of its many deceits, namely the ethos of "Dude, be one with the ocean, but stay the hell off my wave!" Surfing magazines are replete with stories of surfing communities "defending their territory." Surfers find it humorous that a car battery is thrown off an ocean pier to dispel an unknown rider form riding someone's specific part of the ocean. In particular, the name calling & outright hostility surfers are showing to the standup paddleboard (SUP) community is mind boggling -- remember, don't you, that standup surfers were Hawaii's original surfers?

Excellent Article Brad!!! Thank you for speaking the truth about this and making this clear. Our industry has a major problem with drugs and we need to admit it and address the problem. Drugs ruin lives and should not be tolerated. I have the greatest compassion for the wife and child Andy left behind, and other loved ones. I feel Andy made poor choices and am angry at his selfishness!

People (not just kids) need to know what happened so they can make the best choices for themselves. Anyone trying to cover up the truth is selfish and inhumane. Thanks Brad. Always loved your writing, and respect it even more now.

I think this follow-up article, like the first one, is an ambush, and as about as cynical as it gets. It doesn't really concern itself with telling the truth about Mr. Irons' death. It's an attempt (again) to glorify the writer at the expense of the surfer, his family and the sport. I think it was clear to everyone that Mr. Irons was using drugs; I'm not sure you'd find a professional sport where some of the participants weren't abusing drugs in some way. But I don't think there is any clear evidence in this "expose" that only drugs killed Mr. Irons. It may have contributed to his death, although you could probably find just as many "experts" to "read between the lines" of the coroner's report and conclude that drugs were not a factor as conclude that they were. If you want to write about drugs in surfing, then write about that, without making Mr. Irons the poster child/whipping boy for your efforts. Shame on you, Brad.

Jon J - you're an idiot. Wake up, sir.

Jon J - you're an idiot. Wake up, sir.

How could "everybody" have known that he was in trouble? Even the asp had no idea and everyone else says he died of a heart attach.

This story gives new meaning to the term "sickbird!" Melekian is a vulture.

Brad. It's interesting how you brush off Naude and Staplebergs grievances (over the "Last Drop" article) as "fairly short" "fair enough", "that's about it" Whatever length the fact remains you lied to get a story. You are a yellow journalist and your criticism of individuals and organizations for profiting from this tragedy are hypocritical considering your forthcoming book. As it is clear you lied to get your tabloid scoop you lose any credibility as a serious journalist. This is a shame because the core issue here is the ASP and drug testing which I agree needs to scrutinized. However, I don't believe the end justifies the means. RM Please expand on you neanderthal response to Jon J's well written post?

incredible how the major surf publications froze up and decided to take the easy route on this one. thanks Outside for allowing the fans of Andy to understand him a little better.

A very tragic but honest story about a man who loved his surfing but was haunted by his addictions. I feel for his wife and family and pray someday they will be alright. I live in a family plagued by bi-polar and addictive disorders. Yes, they were better when they took their meds but it turned them into zombies and they would lose their creative and competitive edge. Self medicating with Coke keeping them up and downers to get some sleep ironicly keeps them on the hunt trying to just be somewhat normal. It's a rollercoaster ride that usually destroys families and those afflicted with this disease. Andy should be portrayed as a dynamic player in the sport of surfing. In this age of everyone wanting to know everything right now should remind themselves of the people who live in glass houses analogy. Let Andy's family and fans remember the good parts of his life and try to find some peace in his passing. After all, that's what you would want if it happened to you. RIP Andy!

As an active person involved in outdoor activity, I find it alarming the use of recreational drugs in every sport. It is really simply drug use can shorten your life expectance here on earth in any recreational pursue of nirvana. RIP Mr. Irons your troubles are over.

TO BAD FOR IRONS , greats surfer ever,

Thanks for having the courage to write the truth as all journalists promise. Others in the sport can learn from the heart felt mistakes his family, friends, sponsors and the governing body made in an attempt to protect him and his "secret" It's about time we all get real about the amount of drug problems professional and amateur athletes may have. It doesn't make him a bad man, not at all. It makes him human.. and an amazing surfer. Hope he got his own cloud in heaven.

This is a terrific piece of journalism. I've followed this from the first day and I applaud your tenacious courage. Mahalo from Honolulu.

Great article Brad, this is an issue in general life and not confined to surfing. Its a shame many sports are getting on board anti doping for the health and employee welfare side of things as well as keeping an even playing feild yet the ASP seem to burying their heads in the sand, pardon the pun. Shed a tear the day Andy died and while some may feel this taints his image and legacy it doesn't in my view, it could work towards him leaving a greater legacy if change comes of it. Props to australian magazine and website www.popmag.com.au for the link

We've all had amazing friends with substance abuse problems and by NO MEANS does it make any of them less of a person. Those that were close to substance abusers who've passed on should not feel disgraced. We all hope that good will arise from such situations in the form of awareness...

Thanks for the article!

"The problem is that, these days, pro surfing wants to be seen as a legitimate competitive event that has the same marketing potential as, say, professional golf" let's not all put our heads in the sand. There's druging in pretty much all major professional sports. I would guarantee Tiger Woods could not pass a drug test during his major wins. Look at where the guy is now cause of drugs. we as fans are to blame wanting bigger and better competition. if that upsets your values then stop buying Surf industry clothing, stop buying tickets to NFL/NBA/etc games, don't get sports packages on Direct TV, stop watching ESPN. Let the industry know your disguss through your wallet. otherwise STFU about it. Even you Outside magazine

Great insights in this investigative reporting article. Andy Irons was my favorite surfer. A tragic demise, but it's good to shed some light on the facts surrounding his death. RIP, Andy. Excellent journalism, Brad M.

“He found it a little harder to win,” says Kamalei Alexander… “Maybe those losses he was taking harder, and maybe he was compensating with drugs.” Maybe the drugs were making it a lot harder to win; enablers blame drug use on circumstances. Addicts, family & friends do anything to avoid truth. Many with the bipolar diagnosis self-medicate. Some feel too much pride, or enjoy mania & refuse help; they seek help and don't get a competent therapist/doctor. Or mania makes them too paranoid to take meds, doubtful here because he bought street drugs. The rapid check-in at a Dallas hotel instead of boarding his next flight says desperation for a fix stronger than in-flight alcohol. How sad that at this level of desperation he may have been close to hitting bottom & embracing lasting recovery, but didn't live through the bottoming out. I hope he found peace in dying.

“He found it a little harder to win,” says Kamalei Alexander… “Maybe those losses he was taking harder, and maybe he was compensating with drugs.” Maybe the drugs were making it a lot harder to win; enablers blame drug use on circumstances. Addicts, family & friends do anything to avoid truth. Many with the bipolar diagnosis self-medicate. Some feel too much pride, or enjoy mania & refuse help; they seek help and don't get a competent therapist/doctor. Or mania makes them too paranoid to take meds, doubtful here because he bought street drugs. The rapid check-in at a Dallas hotel instead of boarding his next flight says desperation for a fix stronger than in-flight alcohol. How sad that at this level of desperation he may have been close to hitting bottom & embracing lasting recovery, but didn't live through the bottoming out. I hope he found peace in dying.

Many bipolar people self-medicate; some are proud or enjoy mania & refuse help; or don't get competent help. “He found it a little harder to win,” says Alexander… “Maybe those losses he was taking harder, and maybe he was compensating with drugs.” Maybe the drugs made it a lot harder to win. Enabling is easier than truth. The rapid check-in at a Dallas hotel instead of boarding his next flight says desperation for a fix stronger than alcohol. At this level of desperation he may have been close to hitting bottom & embracing recovery, but didn't live through it. I hope he found peace in dying.

Many bipolar people self-medicate; some are proud or enjoy mania & refuse help; or don't get competent help. “He found it a little harder to win,” says Alexander… “Maybe those losses he was taking harder, and maybe he was compensating with drugs.” Maybe the drugs made it a lot harder to win. Enabling is easier than truth. The rapid check-in at a Dallas hotel instead of boarding his next flight says desperation for a fix stronger than alcohol. At this level of desperation he may have been close to hitting bottom & embracing recovery, but didn't live through it. I hope he found peace in dying.

U have no clue Brad. You need a new job. This article is hidious, misleading and draws its own fax from speculation and outside info. His family is not "covering' anything up. They chose not to share the pain w/the world and dont have to just because Andy shared his surfing with the world...AI will be loved and adored forever!!

Thanks Brad for exercising your 1st Amendment right -- My friends who are pharmacists say it costs 35 cents to make an Oxy -- dealers sell them between 10-$15. And the pharma. companies make 'em like candy. Gov. Scott of Florida is against legislation in Florida to stop PILL-MILLS. Why is that? Look at his $$$$INTEREST.

Thanks Brad for exercising your 1st Amendment right -- My friends who are pharmacists say it costs 35 cents to make an Oxy -- dealers sell them between 10-$15. And the pharma. companies make 'em like candy. Gov. Scott of Florida is against legislation in Florida to stop PILL-MILLS. Why is that? Look at his $$$$INTEREST.

Brad, Thank you for coming forward with "the true story" and letting people know what really happened. Drugs kill and they killed Andy. So sad for his son.

still one of the most painful losses in surf history, AI was super talented and appeared to have it all. so sad it was all smoke and mirrors. RIP AI

I cried when Andy died, but when I stood at his makeshift memorial in Hanalei I just felt angry. Angry with Andy for being so flippant at such an important moment in his life, angry with his family for not acknowledging his death might deter others from making the same mistakes. I loved Andy's surfing, and from everything I've read, everyone loved the man... While his death was way too early, and the pain is still very raw, he deserves an honest closure.

Brad, this was one of the most well written articles I've ever read. . .about anyone or anything. Thank you for telling the truth without sensationalizing. That is a rare talent in the media today. Thank you for being honest without demonizing Andy. Thank you for being fair. It's a great article and everyone who is not only a fan of Andy, but a fan of surfing (of any kind, not just pro) to read. I understand why his family wanted to keep the tox results to themselves, but it's nice to be able to see all of the facts illuminated.

I am about to put into production The Original Adjustable Wing Twin Fin have a look. http://www.wavefin.com/ http://www.youtube.com/embed/bJvJ9z3_gmM

Why is life so tedious and boring, painful after surfing the most beautiful places in the world? That is the question! Why not stay high instead of sucking up to the Nationalist agenda? A bit of caring and community after surfing might stop the fall of capitalism into fascism!

Great article. A rare glimmer of truth in an industry full of scared, if brave, children. RIP Andy.

Brad- the utter irony of your piece is almost laughable, if not for being infuriatingly hypocritical. It's no one's business how a man dies, but you make it yours to fuel your own personal agenda- MONEY. You're writing a book on him? I hope you plan to donate all the $ you make to a cause worthy of AI's memory. Otherwise, you are just another well-oiled cog in the machine & profiting at his posthumous expense. While you call out those around AI for wanting to keep that money machine revving, you don't seem to have any issue with being a contributing factor. You're no better than any of the people you are exposing.

Also, I'm sure you are aware that whatever happens within the walls of rehab is CONFIDENTIAL and the fact that you would include the words of that rehab informant shows the lack of taste you have as an author and the lack of trust we should place in you. Nobody has the right to out what a patient says while under treatment. The fact that you were easily willing to violate that code for the sake of your "story" is the ultimate betrayal........

I believe your article is disrespectful to the Irons family and to Andy's memory! I agree with everything Lori (above) states in her comments. You could have done a story on drugs in the sport of surfing and how it should change but you have over stepped your bounds when you go after Andy Irons. Shame on you!!!

I was at the Pipemasters in 2003 and stayed at the North Shore for the whole two weeks. The vibe was awesome and I will never forget the experience of probably one the best championship duels in modern surfing. Thanks AI for putting on an amazing performance that I will always remember.

I was at the Pipemasters in 2003 and stayed at the North Shore for the whole two weeks. The vibe was awesome and I will never forget the experience of probably one the best championship duels in modern surfing. Thanks AI for putting on an amazing performance that I will always remember.

Denial about drug/alcohol abuse is rampant. Most who want to cover it up are enablers or addicts themselves.

The anger from some of the commenters here is a little disturbing. These are truly immature thinkers, probably from AI’s circle. I can not understand, whether they knew AI or not, how they could be ticked off by this article. It was just a snapshot of AI’s demise and the response of the surf community, like it or not. All significant revelations were backed up by direct quotes from named sources. To attack the writer here is a bit like let’s kill the messenger, no? Seems like people have trouble facing the real issue here. No wonder AI never stood a chance if he was surrounded by such low class thinking.

The anger from some of the commenters here is a little disturbing. These are truly immature thinkers, probably from AI’s circle. I can not understand, whether they knew AI or not, how they could be ticked off by this article. It was just a snapshot of AI’s demise and the response of the surf community, like it or not. All significant revelations were backed up by direct quotes from named sources. To attack the writer here is a bit like let’s kill the messenger, no? Seems like people have trouble facing the real issue here. No wonder AI never stood a chance if he was surrounded by such low class thinking.

Lori ; Well said!!

Great article Brad. At last someone has got the balls to tell how it is!! There is so much more also!! The win of Andy where he came back from behind the podium his face covered with coke (right after rehab) to accept his trophy. The ASAP was well aware of it and turned the blind eye... And more and more... Lori; you are just like the others trying to shadow the truth and glorifying all the action of Andy!! Wake up to the truth. If any thing all the people surrounding him were contributing factors in his addiction, inviting him to parties, supplying him drugs etc... Hopefuly is death will not be in vain and things will change in the industry. There are so much drugs in surfing it is not funny and most of them do it!!!

Brad, keep writing. Great article. No matter what AI is still one of my favorite surfers. RIP Andy.

i get that AI was a troubled guy. and i get that you're ultimately trying to skewer the surf industry... but the high and mighty tweet-a-neering about your journalistic chops and the lack thereof in other media (see @graysonschaffer) strikes me as self serving and in poor taste given the man-as-imperfect-hero nature of the story itself. still melekian, can you please explain this hackneyed sentence at the crux of the story: "But he never talked, and five different writers and editors at three different surf publications say that’s because they were worried that Billabong would pull their advertisements." who is the "they" here? seems like a rather important detail to botch, no?

Drug and alcohol use will never end. Humans will always like to get high.... Banning drugs won't work. Hells bells, has anyone heard of designer drugs? And rehab can't cure stupidity. Andy Irons, Rest In Peace.

Drug and alcohol use will never end. Humans will always like to get high.... Banning drugs won't work. Hells bells, has anyone heard of designer drugs? And rehab can't cure stupidity. Andy Irons, Rest In Peace.

World B Free: "They" is the surf publications worrying Billabong would pull advertisements from the magazines as most surf publications are nothing but pages upon pages of advertisements and the published photos are advertisements in and of themselves. Much like newspapers subscriptions and news stand purchases dont pay the bills, adverts do.

World B Free: "They" is the surf publications worrying Billabong would pull advertisements from the magazines as most surf publications are nothing but pages upon pages of advertisements and the published photos are advertisements in and of themselves. Much like newspapers subscriptions and news stand purchases dont pay the bills, adverts do.

World B Free. We'd have more luck teaching a wombat the theory of relativity than expecting some of these 'Outside' sponges.. sorry reader's to understand a simple, well constructed question. What I find depressing is how an intelligent guy like Brad can be so cynical and set his sights so low.

leave it alone already. hes dead. "your a great journalist" no, your not. your a fame chaser. trying to get attention by beating this subject over the head. why are you even writing about surfing anyway? isnt there something else in the outside world you can try and make your mark in by slandering some one else. this family has probably had enough of people like you. but no, you just have to keep going. drop the subject. talk about the abuse of drugs in every other sport ever played across the world that take place out side. RIP AI

Thank you so much for an honest yet respectful article. It takes a lot of courage to take on the anger of family, friends, fans and corporations who would like to keep the truth down in the name of respect. But the greatest respect is allowing us to learn the right lessons through truth, not in continuing lies and feeding the dysfunctional behavior of corporations and the ASP. RIP Andy Irons, but thankfully honest journalism is alive in this article.

as naude was his "boss" in the original OD of MCD days in Indo does anyone think that there is blood on his hands? I mean, cmon how long can someone put corporate interests in front of the willingness to not enable those sad actions further. Not blaming anyone for others actions but if you had over ten years of this cycle happen under your watch with a chance to change it wouldn't you?

I don't know if Brad is just a messenger or a vulture. I don't care. I just know that what he writes can't be found in the standard surf. I hope his motives are not completly self-serving. Let's remember how AI lived. Let's remember the good, the bad and the ugly. Let's not shut our eyes. Let a lesson be taught. Let's celebrate (with moderation...).

I don't know if Brad is just a messenger or a vulture. I don't care. I just know that what he writes can't be found in the standard surf. I hope his motives are not completly self-serving. Let's remember how AI lived. Let's remember the good, the bad and the ugly. Let's not shut our eyes. Let a lesson be taught. Let's celebrate (with moderation...).

Hey people - AI was a public figure; public figures enjoy all the benefits of that - primarily $ - but they always chafe about the less enjoyable perks, like the notoriety, but they are the two side of the same coin. And really, people - you don't think that telling the truth about AI will open the eyes of a lot of kids, especially, about the real costs of the "surfer lifestyle"? You don't think that's important? Thanks for the article, Brad. And thanks for withstanding the bluster of these doofuses. Chas Smith - I often love and laugh at your writing, but please pull your head out of your ass.

Having spent considerable time in the corporate world Billabongs culpability here is huge. Effectively they have a senior executive with a known drug problem of great proportion, spanning a number of years. It seems it was an open secret within the industry, in any main stream sport or profession, support of a greater and if necessary more public nature would have been provided. Sure they sent him to rehab and gave him a year off, big deal......they knew what was up. RIP Andy.

I don't support this article and am about as far away from the Irons family inner circle as is possible. I live in London U.K. where the cynicism, greed and hypocrisy of the tabloid press ruin peoples lives on a daily basis. They, like some supporters of this article, justify their actions by stating "It's a lesson for our children", "it's for the greater good", "famous people are public property". It doesn't. It's about money. We all like to make money and have to make sacrifices to do so, but where do we draw the line between sacrifice and cynicism? The assumption that this article is a lesson for the kids is asinine. It actually creates a greater chance of kids getting into drugs as they're being sensationalized. Yes they sent him to rehab and gave him a year off (see Jim). wasn't that the right thing to do? What more could they do? As Chas Smith rightly said "he was an adult. He made his won decisions".

I meet Andy at the 2010 Bells. He was the only pro whose profesionalism really impressed me. He had time for a chat and was even genuinely interested in my ordinary boring life. The fact that he liked to party in his private life is none of our concern. furthermore, how dare you comment on the actions of his family, particularly when something this tragic has happened to thier son, brother, husband..... people dont talk about this kind of thing because its private. Why do we have to talk about problems, why cant we just do our best to be positive and happy. AI is my hero, get a life and a real story.

Finally someone willing to write an article on the truth behind the sport of Surfing. It is fueled on recreational drugs and a non sustainable life style. Magazines promote the sport as a lifestyle of heath, youth and vigor, yet fail to mention the thousands of want to be pro surfers and there demise. If the surfing is ever going to make the lines of other pro sports there need to be a more open media reporting on it. If surfing is sold on a life style basis it is in the interest of readers to see there lifestyle. If it is to be seen as a pro sport then the athletes need to respect what that entails. Regardless it is a sad story that someone with such talent was not helped. Im sure Billabong could have used some of the huge revenue his name/face brought to the brand and reinvested it into keeping a prized asset safe from harm. RIP AI.

So...How's the "brand" & "product line" holdin' up??? A.I. 4Ever... NOT!!! It doesn't seem like that is the case now does it??? May one of the GREATEST surfers of ALL time R.I.P... The rest of you "coattail" surfers(...Billabong, members of the surf media, the ASP, sponsors, managers at Wasserman Media Group, and family members)attempting to P-R-O-F-I-T off the "passing" of the person who actually did the "work" are just plain PATHETIC!!!! Image is NOT everything... Being REAL and HONEST is.... To actually think I felt sorry for you Lyndie makes me sick... It turns out you ONLY were thinking about the money(brand) weren't you??? Hook it on another corner girl, just not mine...

hey slow roller are you kidding me!!! bro your awfully shallow and cruel where is your compassion dude.you just dissed AI'S wife dude with your primitive/cruel words.yeah he sure looked like an incredible surfer leave it at that ,dont trash his immediate family.now go crawl under some rock in LA where you belong and please dont surf in public!!

hey slow roller are you kidding me!!! bro your awfully shallow and cruel where is your compassion dude.you just dissed AI'S wife dude with your primitive/cruel words.yeah he sure looked like an incredible surfer leave it at that ,dont trash his immediate family.now go crawl under some rock in LA where you belong and please dont surf in public!!

The sad truth about Andy Irons is that he is remarkably typical of many people who suffer from bipolar disorder....the difficulty of wanting to comply with medications that help the mood disorder, and the use of self-medication, usually with alcohol and cocaine, leading to a dual diagnosis, which is much more difficult to treat.. In addition, Andy shares the hallmark of a lot of people with bipolar...talent, talent, talent. It is unusual but not atypical for someone of Andy's age to have atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, but that was a second serious risk factor. I am SURE that Andy's family, like other supporting families of those with bipolar disorder, did all they probably could to deal with the illness and substance abuse, but they go hand in hand. Having lived with this problem in my own family, with my own daughter....I think a bit of empathy is in order. I don't think the tragedy is that Andy had a substance abuse problem. The tragedy is more likely that all those who knew and cared about him had to helplessly watch while he self=destructed in attempting to escape his demons. Thinking that it is easy to rein in someone with this illness is a fallacy. We will miss you, Andy and now, you are at peace. Your talents will never be forgotten.

The sad truth about Andy Irons is that he is remarkably typical of many people who suffer from bipolar disorder....the difficulty of wanting to comply with medications that help the mood disorder, and the use of self-medication, usually with alcohol and cocaine, leading to a dual diagnosis, which is much more difficult to treat.. In addition, Andy shares the hallmark of a lot of people with bipolar...talent, talent, talent. It is unusual but not atypical for someone of Andy's age to have atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, but that was a second serious risk factor. I am SURE that Andy's family, like other supporting families of those with bipolar disorder, did all they probably could to deal with the illness and substance abuse, but they go hand in hand. Having lived with this problem in my own family, with my own daughter....I think a bit of empathy is in order. I don't think the tragedy is that Andy had a substance abuse problem. The tragedy is more likely that all those who knew and cared about him had to helplessly watch while he self=destructed in attempting to escape his demons. Thinking that it is easy to rein in someone with this illness is a fallacy. We will miss you, Andy and now, you are at peace. Your talents will never be forgotten.

thanks for great follow-up. what a waste of talent and human life. very self centered selfish man indeed!!!!!!

the medical correlation between meth addiction and coronary artery disease is well established. After hearing of his meth addiction prior to his death, I am not in the least surprised of the autopsy result with regards to the cardiac findings. Sad end to an amazing surfer.

"outside observations 10/18/11 6:13:PM thanks for great follow-up. what a waste of talent and human life. very self centered selfish man indeed!!!!!! " WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREATEST SURFERS, we all have our unfortunate tails to tell or "demons" and clearly Andy tried to conquer them. His drive His ambition, was a man on a mission, a renounced 3x world champion. Try deal with that pressure & have a misunderstood medical condition!!! Hats off... AI forever, lost but not forgotten ps wat hav u achived? a house wife?

Brad- good read, thanks for getting to the bottom of the picture. Andy was a fantastic surfer, but that doesn't mean he can escape scrutiny. He was in the public eye, as a role model, and came up short. Comments attacking the author are shallow at best; he is just providing a honest look into Andy's death. Mourn Andy, but don't idolize him.

"You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" EPIC story, if the surfing community cares about honoring AI, they should use the truth to help others who may be on that path. Thank you for the story Brad, great stuff.

Thanks Brad. AI's drug problems were no secret and its utterly tragic to see the ignorance and vitriol of the hanger ons, industry flacks and enablers who pepper these message boards with mind numbing posts that amount to nothing more than "hear no evil, see no evil". Let AI's legacy be what it is - one of the greatest, hardest charging surfers of all time who died well before his time, in large part due to substance abuse. Whitewashing AI's past only perpetuates the problem and ensures future generations of talented marketable kids who fall prey to the negative influences of the sport are enabled rather than helped.

Dude, I think the thing that most impressed me with this article was the author's ability to show while Irons had an addiction, he had a great heart and infected many others with kindness and legacy. Addiction is something to remorse over, never something to chastise. Thanks for the excellent reading!

Congratulations on your article. It takes a brave man to say or write something that people don't to hear or read, but Andy's death should be a wake-up call to the surfing industry and all involved in it. Andy Irons, one the most loved and best surfers of all-time, died alone in a hotel room, an overdose seemingly the cause of the death, and the surf industry--his sponsors, the ASP world tour, and fellow competitors would rather not talk about the troubling aspects of his life and death when some truth and honesty would go a long way to insuring something like this never happens again. If I were Andy's family, I would want to see some sort of drug testing be implemented on tour, and some type of program in place that would that would help and counsel guys who tested positive. If I were Andy's family, I would want Billabong and his other sponsors to fund anti-drug programs, especially in Hawaii, because if you have ever spent anytime there, you know how bad it is (Andy couldn't go home to try to get over his drug problem because of wide-spread usage and easy access), and I'm not talking about pot. It seems to me that the tour and his sponsors enabled his problem while he was alive, and are enabling now, after his death. The industry imposed silence over Andy's death is troubling and is only going to perpetuate the problems that led to Andy's death. It's too bad that no one is stepping up and taking some responsibility. By not doing so, they are dishonoring his memory, and Andy deserves better.

I am French and a windsurfer, not a surfer. My idol is more Robby Naish than Slater, Caroll or Irons. But this article is an excellent description of the life of a man. It is not the usual written absurd eulogy of a superhero. Like tennisman Gerulaitis, Irons died of a sad chain of events, of which, like any adult, any human past his early 20s, he was the prime maker. Do we not all deal, find support but also stress, good and hard times with our demons, our families our employers, our sponsors or mentors ? He was a man. He was brilliant and gifted in his discipline. He did not waste it, he made great use of that gift. He should be honored for that (the surfing), mourned for that (his early passing), and frowned upon for that (his drug weakness). RIP

Hands down one of the best worded, setup I have ever read. Through this all everyone needs to look at the big picture, god sacrificed a chosen one to make an example of what needs to be stopped immediatly while the death is so fresh in our minds.

The death of Andy Irons was a terrible tragedy. The ASP has an ethical duty to test pro surfers for drugs, whether or not it ever becomes a mainstream sport. It's too late to save Andy's life but not too late to save someone else's. Pro surfing should do its part to tell the truth about drug abuse. It can kill or destroy lives. Mental illness runs in both my and my wife's family and is enormously painful for all of us. It's ruined the life of my very talented sister-in-law who is bipolar with schizophrenic episodes and is on medication that has drained her energy to the point it's hard to function. When she goes off of it she hallucinates and has to be hospitalized for months. I can understand why Andy would want to self medicate. It's remarkable how much he accomplished considering what he must have suffered. I didn't know him but saw him surf twice. I'll remember him as an incredible athlete who loved surfing and as a warning how some lives end in tragedy for which there's no rectification.

How will drug testing surfers save lifes? Everyone already knew he had a problem, a drug test was'nt needed for that, and that goes for most people that are at such a chaotic level of use that it would be deadly. Steroids wo'nt realy help a surfer and can even hinder them. An addict is going to use drug test or not, but if he fails and gets booted from ASP then he'll just use more out of depression and anger. I do'nt support or do drugs, i just do'nt see surfing needing drug testing to further the sport, it's part of what makes surfing unique - just go surf. And a huge percentage of pro's in every sport use steroids and rec drugs with drug tests, i know many people that say they are quite easy to pass. We lost a great surfer that was doomed no matter what, it's his mind that killed him, there was no stopping it. Great article and say a prayer for AI and his family!

The truth shall set us free. The personal struggle is over for andy. Let his story be a lesson instead of personal experience because it is one hell of a teacher. Experience is one hell of a teacher. I will remember Andy for every turn he made.......

With all due respect it's evident to me that some people around AI didn't want the truth to be known due to selfish interests. If he'd come clean he wouldn't have had to spend all the energy he did on maintaining an image. He could have rather concentrated his energy on his struggles.

Great article, one of the only ones that speaks the whole truth. R.I.P Andy

Good to read about what was going on in my head for a long time. People now better understand his struggle and the reasons for his death. There is no sense in worshipping something which was clearly not real. I am glad the guys at bong finally came to terms and deep inside they knew it would have been the right decision to come clear way earlier. Everybody makes mistakes thatswhy I don`t think less of Andy -it makes him even more complete as a person and his radical style makes so much more sense now. His constant fight and struggle was clearly shown in his aggressive and attacking style which fascinated every single surfer on the planet. For me he will always be one of the greatest inspiration in my life as a human being, as a great example for a stunning and extraordinary personality and especially as a surfer. He chose his path and he dealt with it better than anyone else on the planet would have been able to, thatswhy he has my deepest and sincere respect even more so now. I will miss you forever.

Billabong executives knew Andy was an addict. They could have simply amended his contract to require him to regularly take and pass drugs tests. They obviously did not take that though love step because they feared he would indeed fail the drug test and thus they would lose their star. In the end, Billabong did lose their star…Andy lost his life…and Andy’s son will live every day of his life without his father.

I am curious as to how Andy got all the drugs so quickly once he landed in Texas.

@taylor. working with a grammy winning band, athletes, celebrities etc... i'm surprised he didn't walk out of the airport high. no disrespect to AI or his family. and bi-polar.... hello! no surprises. if you know anyone that suffers from addiction/or have been an addict, you'll never truly know what goes on. well written article.