Andy Irons defeats Egan for Billabong Teahupoo, extends ASP leader position

Teahupoo, Tahiti – Current ASP ratings leader and Hanalei resident Andy Irons greatly extended his position by defeating Luke Egan (Aus) to win The 2002 Billabong Pro Teahupoo.

In doing so, Irons jumped 1000 points over second place American Cory Lopez in the ASP rankings. Irons won the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Australia in April.

Irons also won $30,000 for winning the event.

The Billabong Pro is the third event on the 2002 ASP World Championship Tour.

Irons, long considered one of the best at Teahupoo’s notorious reef break, cemented his reputation with the title he wanted most. Having won a World Qualifying Series (WQS) event here in 1997, and then the Trials division in 2000, the 23-year-old charged all week, posting the highest overall total during his semifinal match for 26.6-points.

Against Egan in the 40-minute final, the Hawaiian appeared to have done his dash too soon, falling the first five attempts as his opponent took control. Just after halfway, however, he secured the best score for a 9.0, and then took the lead with another good ride near the end. The Australian regained the top spot during the closing seconds, but Irons was on the next, better wave, and secured a 7.25 for victory.

“Oh my gosh,” began an overwhelmed Irons, still surrounded by friends and media in the water. “Two in a row, double whammy. Now I feel stupid I started counting myself out (during the final). ‘Louie’ started off with a really good score and came back at the end with a late drop. He’s just such a fierce competitor. I was waiting for him to just nail it, but there were no waves. I can’t believe. It’s like a dream right now.

Afterward the interviews, he rode to shore on the back of a Jet Ski with his girlfriend, and Billabong Pro Teahupoo women’s champion Keala Kennelly, also from the Hawaiian Island of Kauai.