Hanalei native Andy Irons came up one heat short of clinching his third consecutive world title Saturday, finishing equal third with the only surfer still in contention for the title, Australian Joel Parkinson. With a win in the semifinals Saturday
Hanalei native Andy Irons came up one heat short of clinching his third consecutive world title Saturday, finishing equal third with the only surfer still in contention for the title, Australian Joel Parkinson.
With a win in the semifinals Saturday at Billabong Pro Mundaka in Spain, coupled with Parkinson’s loss, Irons would have locked up the World Championship Tour title.
Instead, in front of a large crowd which slopped through the sand in the pouring rain, Australian Luke Egan beat countryman Phil MacDonald the all “down-under” final in good, albeit inconsistent, 4-to-5 foot surf.
“This is crazy,” said Egan on stage, after being carried from Mundaka’s harbor on the shoulders of fellow Australian contestants Parkinson and Troy Brooks. I was “stoked that five Aussies out of eight were in the quarterfinals today. I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.”
MacDonald, who eqauled his best result ever with his win over Irons in the semis, was stuck looking for a seven-point ride in the final after the ocean went flat with 15 minutes remaining.
The tour now moves to Florianapolis, Brazil, where Irons will look to finish off Parkinson.
“I feel pretty good going into Brazil,” Irons said. “Florianopolis should be a great event, so hopefully we get some good waves there and I keep the roll going.”
Irons has been pretty dominant this year, winning twice and securing his third semifinal finish in Spain. He’s only finished lower than fifth once all season, at the Bost Mobile Pro in Trestles last month.
“I’ll be watching to see what Joel does,” Irons added. “I think he’s going to be a threat for many years to come. He’s an awesome surfer and really talented. He’s really cool under pressure, so it’s a dangerous combination.
“Now that it‚s between me and him, hopefully he gets second,” he added.
“Parko” is just looking to extend the race until the WCT gets to Hawaii, where, like last year indicated, anything can happen.
“Game on,” Parkinson said of the next tournament. “I’ll just have to win, and that’s all I can try to do. Hawaii is my goal, so I hope to keep it going until there and have a chance.”
For Egan, the result marks his best result of the season and fourth career WCT win. He moved one spot up the ratings to hold down fifth position, and earned US$30,000.
MacDonald also secured his best result of the year, and equaled his highest ever with the runner-up finish.
Florida-natives Kelly Slater and C.J. Hobgood are thuird and fourth in the standings, respectively, and were mathematically eliminated from the title race earlier in the tournament.
