Wed Oct 15 2008 14:00:00

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Tuesday, October 14, 2008) - Andy Irons (HAW), 30, former three-time ASP World Champion, is one of the greatest surfers ever to step foot on a surfboard. He is one of the only people to handedly beat reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 36, and his performances in the heavy waves of Hawaii and around the world are the stuff of legend. This past September, Irons shocked the world by skipping his Round 2 heat at the Quiksilver Pro France and pulling out of Europe altogether. Little has been officially reported since then, but Irons recently sat down with Surfline’s Lewis Samuels to speak on his absence, his state of mind and what the future holds. This...is their story...

SURFLINE: Why did you no-show for your heat in France?
ANDY IRONS: It was a decision I made after the first heat I paddled out in, the day before, and made a complete fool out of myself. I just wasn’t into it, and I felt like I was going to have a crazy meltdown if I stayed and tried to fake it any longer. It’s hard to explain, but it goes all the way back to J-Bay, where I was freezing cold, miserable, and I truly wanted to lose that heat to Granger [Larsen], and just get the hell out of there. I even gave him a wave hoping he would get the score. Ever since then, it’s like every time I put a jersey on I am slamming my head into a brick wall, and causing myself even more problems with my sponsors, fans, judges, and all these internet bloggers or whatever you call ’em. What people don’t understand is that I am just as confused as they are.


Are you going to the next ASP event, in Brazil?
No Brazil for me! I am in California right now just trying to get my mind right, and taking a break from surfing all together. Been going out...

For full transcript, check out Surfline’s ’Breathing Room’

For more on Andy Irons, check out his ASP WORLD TOUR PROFILE