The professional surfing world is mourning the mysterious death of three-time world champion surfer Andy Irons, after the 32-year-old was found dead in his hotel room in Dallas on Tuesday.
Irons was on his way home to Kauai, Hawaii, from Puerto Rico, where he was supposed to compete in the 2010 Rip Curl Pro Search. He didn't show up for the first round of the competition on Saturday and by Sunday he had withdrawn altogether, citing illness.
Irons had reportedly been suffering from dengue fever, a potentially fatal tropical disease spread by mosquitoes, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Fellow surfer and friend Owen Wright told The Australian that several people on the tour had gotten sick during an event in Portugal last month.
Along with his three world championships, Irons had won 20 Association of Surfing Professionals world titles and the Triple Crown four times. He was respected in the surfing world as the only one who could challenge nine-time world champion Kelly Slater, and their intense professional rivalry was infamous.
When I was young and I surfed, I surfed because Kelly Slater did it, Irons says in a short video posted on his sponsor Billabong's website. Surfing's the reason that keeps me going in a normal state. It keeps my life at even keel. Without it, it would just tip into oblivion.
Irons is survived by his wife Lyndie, who is seven months pregnant with their first child. His brother Bruce is also a professional surfer.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uwtqRBE4Kk&feature=player_embedded[/media]
Story link: http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/surfing-world-champion-andy-irons-dead-at-32/19701263
Irons was on his way home to Kauai, Hawaii, from Puerto Rico, where he was supposed to compete in the 2010 Rip Curl Pro Search. He didn't show up for the first round of the competition on Saturday and by Sunday he had withdrawn altogether, citing illness.
Irons had reportedly been suffering from dengue fever, a potentially fatal tropical disease spread by mosquitoes, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Fellow surfer and friend Owen Wright told The Australian that several people on the tour had gotten sick during an event in Portugal last month.
Along with his three world championships, Irons had won 20 Association of Surfing Professionals world titles and the Triple Crown four times. He was respected in the surfing world as the only one who could challenge nine-time world champion Kelly Slater, and their intense professional rivalry was infamous.
When I was young and I surfed, I surfed because Kelly Slater did it, Irons says in a short video posted on his sponsor Billabong's website. Surfing's the reason that keeps me going in a normal state. It keeps my life at even keel. Without it, it would just tip into oblivion.
Irons is survived by his wife Lyndie, who is seven months pregnant with their first child. His brother Bruce is also a professional surfer.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uwtqRBE4Kk&feature=player_embedded[/media]
Story link: http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/surfing-world-champion-andy-irons-dead-at-32/19701263
