Promptly after announcing his own retirement from the World Championship Tour, DC’s Bruce Irons has earned his first-ever WCT win by taking the Rip Curl Search in Bali.
It was a contest of early upsets and variable wave conditions… a perfect result for a contest like the Search, that switches locations every year (first Mexico, then Chile, now Bali) to keep surfers on their toes to mix things up.
Bruce, after surfing all week like we know he can in competition (but never does), went against Fred Pattachia in the finals where the duo was forced to battle in lackluster crumbly conditions at Ulu’s. Late in the final Bruce dropped into a bomb at the outside corner takeoff, slotted himself deep in one of the day’s rare barrels, and charged over the shallow section. A 9.33, and just a couple wave later Bruce had his first ‘CT victory.
So, given the win, is Bruce still retiring from competition? "I'm so stoked to win this thing, so thankful to be here, and to the Indonesian's for putting up with 44 egos and have us over running their home. But it hasn't changed anything - I stick to what I say."
Congrats Bruce. Go here for the full story at www.surfingthemag.com.