“Andy Irons, to me, was my older brother, my hero. He’s the person I wanted to be like no matter what.” Who better to give us all a candid look at one of the greatest surfers ever, who also happened to be the center of one of the sport’s more tragic stories, than the 3-time world champion’s brother, Bruce?
It will never be overstated how gifted Andy Irons was with a surfboard under his feet. He was fearless, he was intense, he was angry and graceful all at once. He was also reckless and calculated all at once. We loved him for all of it because somehow all the contradicting ways we can describe the way Andy Irons surfed made you feel like you knew who he was as a man. I’d like to think that was what made his ability to ride a wave stand out – the fact that you could see his aggression, his joy, his demons and his strengths all on display with every wave.
In just a matter of weeks we’ll reach the six year anniversary of the day Andy Irons passed away, alone in a Dallas hotel room, with no family or friends able to say good bye. You probably still remember exactly where you were the moment you heard he was gone and to this day most aren’t 100% sure what exactly took his life.
I don’t think the dust has ever settled on Andy’s passing. That’s a pretty safe assumption, which is why Teton Gravity Research’s Andy: The Untold Story of Andy Irons, has turned into a project surrounded by a lot of anticipation. Would it critically examine his death, celebrate his life, or both? Well today the first trailer of the film has been released with the launch of TGR’s Kickstarter campaign and here’s what the promotion has to say about their project:
The intent of the film is to show the unfiltered life of Andy Irons, one that was filled with energy, passion, success, and challenges. Challenges that pushed Andy to the brink and were both the best parts of Andy and the hardest to handle. The filmmakers, Steve and Todd Jones, wanted to create a film that captured the true essence of Andy Irons – his family, his friends, and those who later realized a friendship that at times was hard to understand.
Helping them tell that story will be Andy’s brother, Bruce, his wife Lyndie and several other friends and family members including familiar faces like Kelly Slater and Joel Parkinson. Based on the trailer alone, it at least looks like it will be filled with some candid, teary eyed interviews. Seeing Bruce in tears is powerful, as is watching the same response from Kelly, Lyndie and a number of other people sharing stories of Andy’s complicated friendships, his drive, his impact, and his struggles. “Even if I just change one kid’s life.” Slater says, quoting something Andy told him when he’d asked his biggest rival to make a movie with him. “Even if I can just change one kids life, I’ll feel like I’m a success in my life.”
“This project is the hardest thing I have ever done,” Bruce said. “We wanted to shine an honest light on the truth—both the struggles and the triumphs—and tell an accurate story of who Andy truly was.”
A longer version of the film’s first trailer can be viewed here.
