Hanalei’s Andy Irons moved up a spot to No. 4 in the Association of Professional Surfers World Championship Tour rankings, after making it into the semifinals of the Globe WCT Fiji contest.
Irons fell to eventual event champ, Damien Hobgood in a semifinal match (15.00-10.34) on Tuesday.
The epic encounter pitted the three-time world champ (Irons) against a Cloudbreak (famed Fiji surf spot) master. From the outset, the two surfers threw caution to the wind, but Hobgood moved ahead when he executed a huge forehand hit, followed by a deep tube and a huge air. Needing a 15-plus score in the waning moments, Irons closed in on the lead, but Hobgood hung on for the victory.
“I kind of left the door open a bit but I got that good score right at the end,” Irons said in a press release.
The Hanalei resident made changes in his performances as the event went along.
“I thought they (judges) were scoring barrels better but then I realized they were scoring turns, so I had to change my whole tactics,” Irons said.
The Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour heads to Mexico on June 20, for event No. 5, the Rip Curl Search WCT.
Irons’ younger brother Bruce is ranked 10th in the world and Hanalei’s Roy Powers is tied for 39th place.
Kelly Slater, Bobby Martinez, Damien Hobgood, Irons, and Taj Burrow round out the top five.
Kaua‘i’s Rochelle Ballard and Keala Kennelly start up women’s world tour action on August 21. Ballard is tied for fifth and Kennelly is tied for eighth.
• Duane Shimogawa Jr., sports editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 257) or kauaisports@kauaipubco.com.
