Andy Irons has become the winner of the Billabong Pro Tahiti, championship surf that has been celebrated throughout the summer in French Polynesia. The final of the WCT circuit of the Association of Professional Surfers took place on Teahupoo Island where two meter high waves could be surfed.
Hawaiian Irons, three-time world champion, competed for the title in the semifinals with also world champion CJ Hobgood. He had not managed to win in a WCT since 2007, but he has just obtained the 20th victory of his career and is placed in 7th position in the world ranking.
One of the most interesting heats was the one between Andy Irons and his eternal rival, the nine-time world champion Kelly Slater. Irons won, leaving Slater less than 4 points behind, which made the heat of this water sport even closer.
For his part, CJ Hobgood was able to beat Jeremy Flores, who at only 22 years old reached the semifinals. Even so, Flores has finished in third place in the championship, which will be very good for him to add points and place himself at number 19 in the world ranking.
Hobgood thus demonstrated the strength with which he has arrived at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, falling just short of taking number one but doing a formidable job. Born in the United States, he is closely related to surfing, as not only has he been surfing since he was 6 years old, but his brother, Damien Hobgood, is also dedicated to this sport professionally.
Other athletes who have also achieved good positions have been the Australian Adrián Buchan, who came in fifth place, losing against the North American Kelly Slater in the quarterfinals, and Tiago Pires, who obtained the best result so far this year, reaching to the quarterfinals.
Billabong Pro Tahiti has the following results:
Final result:
1 – Andy Irons (HAW) 14.67
2 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.33
Result in semi-finals:
SF 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.00 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.93
SF 2: Andy Irons (HAW) 13.57 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 10.26
Result in the quarterfinals:
QF 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.53 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 6.23
QF 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.80 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.33
QF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.67 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.77
QF 4: Andy Irons (HAW) 16.44 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.00
Andy Irons, who has become one of the most influential surfers in recent years, has a very promising future. So many years practicing surfing and sponsored by Billabong guarantee his career that, we assure, will continue to give a lot to talk about.
Photos: Billabong Spain
