DURBAN, South Africa — Bruce Irons took the second consecutive Mr. Price Pro title for the Irons family of Hanalei at Durban’s North Beach, Sunday. Stepping out of his older brother, Andy, the defending Mr. Price Pro Champion, Bruce set
DURBAN, South Africa — Bruce Irons took the second consecutive Mr. Price Pro title for the Irons family of Hanalei at Durban’s North Beach, Sunday.
Stepping out of his older brother, Andy, the defending Mr. Price Pro Champion, Bruce set a comfortable pace to progress through five rounds of competition before landing in the hot seat next to Brazilian Marcondes Rocha.
Answering to the Brazilian’s power-packed back-hand attack, Irons boosted over Rocha’s initial 7.0 ride, landing an aerial reverse 360 to score an 8.0, following that up with a 7.10 to Rocha’s 8.0.
Irons’ aerial affinity had the judges on the edge of their seats, and with 90 seconds remaining on the clock, panic set in for Rocha who left the last set that pulsed through North Beach, unridden. This allowed Irons to step onto the beach as the 2005 Mr. Price Pro Champion.
Amidst a hub of camera crew, photographers, and fans, Irons floated back to the tower to stand in the footprints of his older brother, and drenched in champagne, hoisted this year’s trophy.
“I’ve never done well in this event, although I’ve been competing here for eight years,” said Irons. “My brother was disappointed when he got knocked out earlier in the event, but he’ll be stoked that I took the title, today, and kept it in the family.”
Irons was awarded a check for $15,000, and although comfortably ranked 14th on the ASP World Championship Tour, his win at the Mr. Price Pro six star WQS will significantly boost his WQS rankings — the bottom 16 on the WCT being replaced with the top 16 on the WQS at the end of the year.
“I am very happy with the second place,” Rocha said following his loss to Irons. “It’s the best result of my career and a lot of points which is really good for my WQS rating.” Rocha jumped 50 positions and is now ranked 13th on the ASP WQS.
“Bruce is one of my favorite surfers, so I was happy I came up against him in the final. If I’d found some waves, I might have made it,” Rocha added.
The quarterfinals featured exceptional surfing from Irons and Australian Taj Burrow in what was one of the “hottest” heats of the event.
Opening with a lengthy tube ride, seemingly unimaginable in the onshore conditions, Irons posted a 9.6 out of a possible ten for his first score. Burrow waited to warm up before responding with a 9.0.
Performing under pressure, Irons pulled off a classy critical aerial reverse to seal the deal for another high score.
Over 250 of the world’s elite surfing professionals competed at North Beach in the greatest surfing and beach festival on the African continent.
