On This Day: AI Wins The Quik Pro France
11th October, 2003
"I'm my own worst enemy," says Andy Irons after a Round 1 implosion, before recovering and setting up a run through the draw and a likely showdown with his arch-enemy.
Though it's thirty minutes long, shot in an old style screen ratio, and tops out at a bandwidth snatching 480 pixels resolution, this comp recap from 2003 is worth a squiz.
The sponsors look all endemic, ain't a Bailey Ladder or Bonsoy Brew Break to be seen. Kelly is fresh back from retirement as a six-time world champion. He's fighting one last battle with his hair line yet letting it all hang out in a floppy brown jacket. A reference to "Kelly's new board" is made but not followed through. It looks wider than the rest, though not as wide as the Wizard Sleeve - perhaps the shift in thinking was just taking root?
When it was filmed, AI was the new world champ though surfing as mercurial as ever: blitzing one comp, fritzing the next. A finals match with Slater was imminent - between Slater and Irons they won nine of the twelve contests in 2003 - though Phil Macca got in the middle of that rendezvous, recording his equal best result.
Comments
Hows the curve on the boards :)
Sick
We miss you Andy!
I reckon Andy spent a lot of himself in being the one to end Kelly's domination of the sport . He had the skillset but perhaps needed better mentors to help him in that quest .
Knowing the strategies Kelly used to be the best, it would have been daunting .
To get to the top with KS on the comeback and get two more titles , only AI could do it . So sad he didn't get a handle on the drugs earlier .
Even though Kelly didn't win some how quiksilver made it all about him.....
Not sure how this fits
Yet it's kinda awkward to watch at points , yet awesome at others.
The era were an Aus pro would start a sentence with "awww fuck mate........ you know".
Pivotal time in surf history.
It kinda explains Kelly's annoying persona on social media.
Quik execs should hang your/ their heads in shame.......
Ahhhh... the Dream Tour!
Do you know if you watch the Duranbah Cam a white car will drive past
Epic footage and even better soundtrack!
awesome. Andy