Three-time World Champion Andy Irons was ushered out of the Billabong Pro Mundaka in Spain, and likely the 2007 Foster’s ASP World Tour title race, by wildcard Hodei Callazo on Sunday. The loss is Iron’s third exit at the hands
Three-time World Champion Andy Irons was ushered out of the Billabong Pro Mundaka in Spain, and likely the 2007 Foster’s ASP World Tour title race, by wildcard Hodei Callazo on Sunday. The loss is Iron’s third exit at the hands of wildcard this year.
Round 2 of the Billabong Pro Mundaka was held in 3-foot waves at the back-up site of Bakio where Callazo overcame Irons 9.83 to 8.23 in Heat 2 — the lowest scoring heat of the day. Callazo, a local surfer, was given wildcard berths into the event in 2003, 2004 and 2006 as well, but his elimination of the current world No. 5 was by far his best result.
“The feeling is great, I don’t know really how to describe it,” Callazo said in a release. “Andy is the best surfer that I’ve ever beaten.”
Irons’ 33rd place finish over the weekend is his second of the season and when added to the equal 17th places he posted in California and France, virtually removes him from Foster’s ASP World Tour title contention. Irons was world champion in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and runner-up to reigning and 8-time world champion Kelly Slater in 2005 and 2006.
All the other Hawai‘i surfers also went down. Hawai‘i’s Pancho Sullivan was also beat by a wildcard, Tiago Pires.
Fourteen-year veteran Victor Ribas beat Kaua‘i’s Bruce Irons and Fredrick Pattachia lost out to Leonardo Neves.
“The heat wasn’t a very strong heat,” Ribas said in a releas. “In the beginning of the heat I had a little bit of an advantage leading, but then I was having some trouble improving my low score with only eight minutes left in the heat. I finally got another 6.0 and all Bruce needed was a 5.0 something. I think that I deserved to win that heat because I’ve been focusing a lot for the event. I knew I needed to get a good result here if I want to continue to surf on the World Championship Tour.”
