Three World Championships — the most naturally gifted surfer of his generation and a tragically short career.
Andrew Doan Irons was born in Kauai, Hawaii in 1978. He won three consecutive World Surf League Championship titles from 2002 to 2004 — defeating Kelly Slater in the final each time. His surfing in large Hawaiian surf was universally considered the finest of his era. He died in November 2010 aged 32 from a cardiac event in a Dallas hotel room — later revealed to be related to bipolar disorder, drug dependency and painkiller complications. He was posthumously found to have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. His death generated discussion in surfing about mental health and the pressures on elite athletes.
WSL World Champion 3x (2002,2003,2004)
Career Honours
- WSL World Champion 3x (2002,2003,2004)
- Triple Crown of Surfing multiple