ESPN Brazil seems to be snagging all of the great interviews lately with surfing’s biggest stars. First, Caio Salles of ESPN Brazil caught up with Kelly Slater at Bells Beach, where Slater revealed his goal of having wave pool construction started by as early as this summer. This time, Claudio Grillo of ESPN Brazil sat down with former three-time World Champion Andy Irons in one his most candid, revealing interviews since returning to the ASP World Tour after taking a year off.
“Just that year and a half of stepping away and coming back now, it seems like ten years really. I mean surfing has changed a lot in a year and a half,” said Irons. “They’ve changed the format. They’ve making the tour a lot more exclusive. A lot more money. A lot more exciting surfing. They’re doing aerials I’ve never seen before.”
The aerial progression Irons referred to is due in-large part from the newer generation of professional surfers. And Irons gave them their due. “Dane Reynolds came on, I thought there was no one that could do airs like this, but now there’s Jordy (Smith) and Owen Wright and Dusty Payne. All these kids are surfing so good,” said Irons. “It’s inspiring to me. At the same time, it keeps me on my toes. You have to be really serious.”
Irons said he didn’t take an earnest approach to the season’s initial contest, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, where Irons finished tied for 17th place. “The first contest this year, I wasn’t serious at all,” said Irons. “I came in just like, “Oh yeah, I used to win, I can do this again.” But I got smoked. Bobby Martinez, who is a kid I surfed against my whole life, but he was on game tight. He blew me out of the water.”
It was then in the interview that Irons addressed his issues, including weight gain. “So I went back to the drawing board. I didn’t have boards dialed, so I got that dialed in. I went to the gym a lot. I had to lose weight,” said Irons. “The time off, I gained some weight. As you do with time off, you relax. I relaxed. I had time to go over my career, my life, and go and see what makes me happy.”
Fortunately for Irons, the time off allow the former three-time ASP World Champion to find true happiness. “Contests make me happy. I like competition,” said Irons. “I like to put the jersey on, feel like a big game day. Go down to the beach, you got your boards and you’re psyching and you’ve been training, it all comes down to that day.”
Even with his continued struggles, including a disappointing tied for 33rd finish at the Santa Catarina Pro, Irons still has the competitive fire.
“That’s what I still love to do,” said Irons. “As long as I love it, I’m going to keep doing it.
