Surfing

In a statement released to “the media” (we didn’t get it), the Irons family has reportedly denied asking a Texas judge to delay the release of Andy Irons‘ autopsy toxicology report, according to Surfing Life.

“A lawyer in Dallas, operating without authorization from the family, made a unilateral decision to request a delay on behalf of the family as a way to provide sufficient time for the 10-page toxicology report to be translated into laymen’s terms and prevent the risk of its being misconstrued or misunderstood. … Unfortunately, this delay has now caused a firestorm of media speculation about the intentions of Andy’s family.”

In the statement the family also wanted to clear up some other issues relating to things Andy’s wife Lyndie was quoted as saying:

Firstly, Mrs. Irons has long regretted her previous remark about the truth “tarnishing Andy’s brand,” which she attributes to her confusion and grief at the time of learning of her husband’s passing. Secondly, Mrs. Irons’ quote that she believes the autopsy results will “contradict the rumors [of] a drug overdose” does not reflect Lyndie Irons’ or the family’s beliefs today. We know that Andy’s life and death were tainted by drugs and are ready to accept the Medical Examiner’s findings.

We’re looking forward to all of this being over. Click the link for the entire statement.

[Link: Surfing Life]

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We did a little test the other night. We played Owen Wright and Adriano de Souza’s quarterfinal 4 heat in the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio for some friends who surf, but who don’t follow the ASP Tour. We asked them to watch the waves and then decide who they thought won the heat.

They chuckled when they saw Owen Wright over-surfing a small wave, and then their jaws-dropped as Adriano blasted his now infamous 8.23 point floater. After watching all four waves we asked them who won. They gave it to Adriano. What we realized from our completely non-scientific research was this–no matter how the ASP attempts to quantify their judging system it really comes down to whose wave was more impressive. Our test subjects agreed with the ASP judges.

The ASP Judges, however, didn’t seem to want to leave it with their scores, and yesterday (May 22, 2011) they released a statement regarding why the heat was scored the way it was. The number one reason they give for the controversy is that the Heat-on-demand don’t show Adriano’s wave properly. It was “a lot bigger than what was shown online,” they say. While, that can be argued all day long, it seems their best response is the following:

Our job as the judging panel is to score the surfers that are pushing the criteria to the limit. Both of Owen’s airs were good maneuvers (they are also the bread and butter for nearly every surfer on tour these), but executed on the easy sections of the waves. Where as Adriano’s floater was done on such a critical part of the wave. I would probably add that if Owen’s first turns on both scoring waves were bigger or more critical, then both waves would have been scored higher. . . I pose the question, would you, as a fan of top-level surfing, prefer the surfers to do a good turn on a small easy wave or a good turn on a wave that is going flat-out with a heaving, unforgiving closeout section?

As much as we got caught up in the discussions, when they put it this way we have to agree with the ASP Judging panel. Follow the jump for a more detailed explanation [click to continue…]

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After the emotion that Adriano de Souza displayed following his complete dismantling of Taj Burrow in the final of the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio on Friday, May 20, it was impossible not to be moved. It was a slow final. The waves were hardly consistent, however, de Souza soldiered through snagging the best of the waves and attacking and claiming them in his typical style.

By the halfway mark of the 35 minute heat de Souza was leading with a 6.5 and a 2.17. Burrow had a 7.0 on his first wave, but then completely fumbled his next two good waves. The crowd cheering wildly each time he fell couldn’t have helped. Following the falls it appeared that Burrows was broken. Though he got an okay wave in the final minutes, it was not enough.

“When you’re in a final you want to win it,” Burrow said from the podium. “I’ve been in two this year. I’m still happy. I love the Brazilian crowd. It was a good event. I’m happy to be in Rio. Thanks everyone for having us.”

De Souza kept the title at home in Brazil, won his second Elite Tour event, and moved into the lead of the ASP World Title race going into J-Bay. Through tears, a nearly emotionally incapacitated de Souza said the win was just too much for words. “It’s no words to say right now,” he said. “Thank you so much. I want to say thanks to my manager for believing in me. Thank you to Red Bull. And to all my fans down the beach. Thanks guys watching.”

It was an uplifting end to a interesting week on the ASP World Tour. While there may still be discussions about who won or should have won heats during the week, there is no doubt who won the final. Felicitações, Adriano [click to continue…]

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Andy Irons‘ family requested today (Thursday, May 19, 2011) that the toxicology results from Andy’s autopsy, which were supposed to be released tomorrow (May 20, 2011) be delayed another 30 days. The request has been honored, according to a story on KITV.com.

In December, a Texas judge granted a request from Irons’ wife to delay releasing the report for six months. That order expires Friday. . . A judge granted another family request Thursday that the report be released first to Irons’ wife, who would have 30 days to review the report with her experts.

Each time the results are delayed we feel that the story gets even more tragic than it already is. If that is possible. Irons was found dead in his Dallas, Texas hotel room on November 2, 2010 while traveling home to Hawaii after competing in the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico. The new date for the public release of the toxicology report is June 20, 2011. For more details check the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

[Link: Honolulu Star Advertiser, Khon2.com and KITV.com]

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Aside from waves at were all over the place at the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio today, Round 3 was what message boards were built for. From the first heat when Taj Burrow turned past a barrel hogging Cory Lopez, to Bobby Martinez backside airing past Kelly Slater’s barrel, and Josh Kerr boosting past Jordy Smith it was the day of fallen favorites and derogatory discussions about the venue, the scoring, and the waves.

Comments on the event website’s heats on demand were especially telling. Of the Burrow vs. Lopez heat one commenter said:

“Bullshit! Lopez’s tube rides are worth more than Burrows turns…”

One industry head we spoke to today didn’t like the results of the Matinez vs. Slater heat much, either:

I can’t believe Bobby’s no turn, one air scored better than Kelly’s long barrel,” he said. “Bobby was clearly over-scored and Kelly underscored.”

But the comment that most perfectly reflected what many have been thinking all week was posted by Andy Bragwin:

Barrels vs turns aside, why are the world’s best surfers competing for half a million dollars in prizes and the WCT trophy in three-foot, onshore slop? Why are we debating scores on two turn waves? Brazil is not a world class surf destination. South America has many world class waves, just not in Brazil. Sure the big crowds enable the big money, but it’s making the sport look pretty boring.

And, it’s hard to argue with that. For the official word, and results, follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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Don’t mean to harsh on the rest of the hard charging ASP Elite Tour professionals in the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio, but all we really cared about today was whether Jordy Smith, Joel “Police Escort” Parkinson, Bobby Martinez, and CJ Hobgood would make it through their Round 2 heats because we’re “that kind” of surf fan. Guess what? They did.

Jordy slipped through even though he wasn’t all that stoked on his performance.

“I don’t know what was going on, usually I kind of go out there and let loose and I was nursing everything,” Smith said. “I was surfing really careful because I didn’t want to blow the waves I got but I ended up blowing them anyway. I’m happy that I made the heat though.”

For the full results and tomorrow’s Round 3 heat match-ups, follow the jump. And remember, show starts at 3:30 AM PST (6:30 EST). [click to continue…]

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After days of waiting, the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio finally shuffled through Round 1 in what the ASP described as “consistently changing conditions” (whatever that means). Kelly Slater’s fans can rejoice in the comfort that he; one, is still in it, and two, snapped in the highest score of the day with a 9.0 (pictured above) to win his heat against Julian Wilson and Brazilian Peterson Crisanto.

“That 9 felt good,” Slater said. “I went down to grab my jersey and there was some confusion. By the time I got out, the heat had already started and Julian got that first one. It wasn’t a good start. I knew there were going to be some good ones and I just had to be patient. That one good wave actually let me bottom turn and hit the lip, most of the waves were soft and had a lot of horizontals.”

The only other real news from the day was that Patrick Gudauskas edged Jordy Smith by .06 in Heat 5, and Taylor Knox stuffed Joel Parkinson 15.03 to 8.34 in Heat 12 to sending two of the world’s best surfers into the second round. Maybe the practice will help keep them lose.

It would also appear that the contest will continue tomorrow May 18, 2011. We’ve just got to figure out a way to get up in time to watch it. Sometimes 4 AM is just too early. Follow the jump for the full results. [click to continue…]

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