20 Aug 2011

Sport: Andy Irons remembered at Teahupoo, Tahiti

11:14 am on 20 August 2011

The ASP World Surfing Tour returns to Tahiti this weekend but missing will be the defending champion, Andy Irons, who passed away last year of a heart attack.

The Billabong Pro at Teahupoo was the last tour event won by the three time world champion.

A spokesperson for the event, Jonathan Jenkins, says despite his absence, Irons is at the forefront of everyone's minds.

"He actually won the first one in the 90s when it was a qualifying event. He won the last one and he obviously wont be back here but his memory lives on. Bruce, his brother, he surfed in the trials the other days. He came from Hawaii for that event and he was riding one of Andy's boards, so that was pretty cool, and a lot of people are really happy to see him here so that was pretty nice."

Jonathan Jenkins.

Weather permitting the Billabong Pro is set to get underway on Sunday.