Andy Irons Returns to Form in First ASP Event This Year

Teahupoo, Tahiti – When Andy Irons popped to his feet, grabbed his rail, and pulled in under the heaving Tahitian chandelier at the Billabong Pro, the buoyant crowd that had amassed in the tepid channel to watch him surf let out a collective sigh of relief. Praise the heavens, Andy was back, and from the looks of it, he was better than ever

Putting on a relentless display of finesse mixed with more than a decade of Tahitian know-how, Andy surfed divinely against Jihad Khodr in his first heat since announcing his yearlong sabbatical at the end of last year. It was clear from the moment Andy stood up on his first wave that Jihad never stood a chance.

From the outset, Andy looked relaxed and confident—a lethal combination in competitive surfing if there was one—and put on such a show of force that it couldn’t be rivaled today. It was as if Jordan came out of retirement and sunk a three from 30-feet out the first time he touched the ball. Today was Andy’s day, and he knew it, and even more so…we knew it. Andy Irons Traction available in the store.

Stay tuned for updates as Andy goes toe-to-toe with Bede Durbidge in the next round of competition.