Fox Spring Guys by foxhead.com

FOX QUARTERLY | SPRING 2013 FOX QUARTERLY | SPRING 2013

WWW.FOXRACING.COM | ROCZEN_360 KTM 3

“WHEN THE HORIZON TURNS BLACK, I KNOW IT’S GO TIME” IAN WALSH HAS SPENT A LIFETIME DEDICATED TO WHAT HE LOVES. FOX SHARES IN THAT PASSION WITH THERE NEW COLLECTION OF SIGNATURE BOARDSHORTS. WWW.FOXHEAD.COM/IANWALSHJAWS @ianwalsh4 @foxsurf

BEDE DURBIDGE

POWERBAND 05245 FLAME RED | BLUE | $64.50 9

SPIKE FADE 04872 ORANGE FLAME | $89.50

HYPER 04874 BLACK | $64.50

ANY SPORTS STORY WITHOUT A RAW EDGE IS NOT A STORY. IT’S AN ACHIEVEMENT. A GREAT STORY GOES FAR BEYOND RECORDS AND STATISTICS TO ASK QUESTIONS SPAWNED NOT FROM COMPETITIVE RESULTS — BUT FROM AN IMMENSE WORLDWIDE FAN BASE: THE WHO-WHAT-WHEN-WHERE-AND-WHY OF A TRULY GIFTED ATHLETE. THE ANSWERS TO THE BRUCE IRONS STORY ARE COMPLEX, BUT THE PLOT IS SIMPLE: HERE IS A MAN WHO WAS BORN TO SURF. 13

Born on November 16th, 1979 in Kauai and raised in the wild beauty of Hanalei’s treacherous reefbreaks, Bruce’s natural talent made a professional career inevitable. He turned pro immediately upon graduating high school, but was destined for stardom long before that. By the time he was 18 he had mastered and ultimately redefined tuberiding at the deadliest stretch of beach on the planet, the Banzai Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore. Elsewhere, he displayed an uncannily mature style — an anarchic blend of Hawaiian fluidity and post-punk aggression. Even as the sport’s barometer rose to explore terrifying slabs like Teauhpo’o, Bruce remained at the forefront of the movement — using sho rter surfboards, sitting further inside, taking off deeper — all while riding the fence between wild child and prime athlete. Basing himself between Kauai and the Banzai beachfront through his early twenties, Bruce was deemed “Breakthrough Surfer of the Year” at the 1999 Surfer Poll Awards before winning two of the most prestigious contests in surfing: the Billabong Pipeline Masters (2001); and the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau (2004). Despite his brash, expletives-drenched swagger, Bruce was the most photogenic surfer of his generation who saw a bottomless pit of media attention throughout the last two decades. His fame hit a fever pitch with the 2005 documentary The Bruce Movie, which took “Video of the Year” and “Best Performance by a Male” honors at the Surfer Poll Awards. Eventually, rumors of this exceptional athlete transcended surf media conduits, and Bruce found himself gracing the covers of Outside Magazine and Men’s Health. But while Bruce received royal treatment in the press and in the water, the draw of the ASP World Tour, the zenith of competitive surfing where his older brother Andy was sweeping up world titles, proved irresistible. Joining the tour

in 2004, Bruce staged a stunning, near-impossible requalification campaign at Pipeline to remain on tour alongside Andy for the next four years. In 2008, he won an inspirational victory the Rip Curl Pro Search in Bali before hanging up the jersey and diverting his attention once again to professional freesurfing. Now unhindered by the bridles of competition, Bruce did what came naturally: carving like a snowboarder, spinning like a skateboarder and boosting like a motocross rider. He is perhaps the most gifted tuberider that’s ever lived, and easily one of the most intriguing and original athletes the sport has ever produced. But it hasn’t always been easy. The tragic loss of Andy Irons — three-time ASP World Champion and the greatest Hawaiian surfer since the Duke — in 2010 put Bruce at a critical crossroads that inspired a fresh, Zen-like appreciation for riding waves. Disappearing into a metaphysical vortex where he danced with death inside Mexico’s heaviest beachbreaks, Bruce admitted his faults and accepted his humanity on land — and went bigger than ever in the water. This new consciousness has only further added to the mystique of what’s already one of the most intriguing stories in surfing history. While Irons remains a devoted father and godfather, his rebellious spirit of individualism remains, explosively, intact. In the end, the imperfect human is the perfect surfer. The legend of Bruce Irons is not only about where he’s traveled, what he’s achieved, who his brother was, or how he’ll scare the sh*t out of us next: be it a 20-foot detonator or a 10-foot method. The legend of Bruce Irons comes from something much older than him. Something more primal: Raw waterborne instinct. IT’S A STORY YOU CAN’T PUT DOWN. 15

So first things first. Talk about your new sponsor. Yeah, Fox is my new sponsor. I am very happy with that. I was with Volcom for 19 years and uh… yep, it’s time for a change. I am stoked to be with Fox and help them out with their surfing department. They’re a well-established action sport company, like, with motocross. Not to talk sh*t about all the surfing companies, but they’re all the same. They all look to each other for what’s next and they all kinda fight each other’s style. Fox has been number one in moto forever. I think it’s a good time for a company like Fox to revamp their surfing program. So, I’m excited. What about Pipe Masters? It was in memory of Andy. Was it hard for you? How was your head? It’s hard for me every single day. So, it’s no different. Every single day is hard and it will be like that forever. Pipe’s the wave I like surfing the most and that’s the one event I want to win again more than anything. But the last couple of years I haven’t been in a good head space in the winter, especially in the beginning. Now, I got a new sponsor. I am stoked about that. A lot of guys look up to you and Andy as inspirations at Pipe. What’s your take on the new crew out there? Everyone grows up looking up to older people. Me and my brother watched videos of guys like Shane Dorian and Slater and Johnny Boy, all those guys. My brother pushed me and we battled each other. The new guys like John John and Koa Rothman...it’s weird that they’re all grown up now, because I don’t feel like I’m old, but I guess I am. But I still feel young. I still look up to Sunny and all them and I’m still in awe. And then to see guys like John John charging, it’s a trip. But it’s cool. What ways do you still participate in competitions? What made you decide to quit competing? I do the specialty events: the Pipe Masters, Eddie Aikau, the Backdoor Shootout. Umm… because, like I said, I surfed competition because my brother did. And, when my brother won the world title, I was like… I used to beat him! So I needed to get on the tour. That’s how my brother did it, but I was never really like that. I just competed because my brother did it. How has fatherhood affected your motivation and ability to surf? It’s definitely made me think a lot more. Especially when it’s big and heavy, I’ll go out there sometimes

and I won’t be thinking at all. Nothing. And then a couple good poundings, and then I’ll be like, ‘whoa.’ I gotta remember that I got some little kids that I want to see grow up. So it definitely makes me a little more cautious. Who do you think is the most exciting surfer in the world right now? John John, for sure. Dane Reynolds is radical; don’t kid yourself. And Chippa Wilson, he’s f*ckin’ nuts. I can’t even fathom the stuff he does. But John John, on an all-around scale, he’s amazing. And he can skate good, too. I think that’s a big help. Kelly is amazing too. He’s 41, and I’m very fascinated by his drive and where he gets it. Guy’s an amazing athlete, competitor, and he sure knows how to break it down with strategy. I’ve got to hand it to him. He’s a machine. 2011 had a couple serious moments. You surfed the first big Fiji swell (July ) and the Code Red swell (August) in Tahiti. Oh yeah, that was amazing. Fiji, I went last-second. Nathan kept calling me and calling me, but my back hurt and I wasn’t gonna go. But he told me, ‘Trust me, you don’t want to see the photos online knowing you could be there.’ And I was so stoked I ended up going, because those were the most beautiful, biggest, and best waves I’ve ever surfed. Just open-ocean, huge, perfect waves. Barreling. And then Tahiti, I’m scared of that sh*t. But I was there doing the contest and I was gonna go home, but there was

a swell coming. I ended up staying because I did a tribute for my brother between the final and the semifinal. I told Nathan to come down because the swell was going to be big. I remember Nathan caught this incredible wave in Fiji and I got the next wave. But in Tahiti, I caught a wave and got blown through the lagoon. By the time I came back out he was on the next big wave like five minutes later. It was a trip; we both experienced these two amazing things in two different places. But it was really cool. I was really stoked for Nathan. For me, those were the two most outstanding and beautiful waves of my life. What is your biggest challenge this year? The last couple years I’ve had a few personal lifechanging trips. I feel more on track now than I’ve ever been. I got this new start with Fox and I’ve been hanging out at Eddie’s and Makua’s and I just feel like I’ve got this stability that I haven’t had in the past, mentally. I’m starting to get all my sh*t together. Now I’ve got a tighter crew—a lot less, but a lot tighter. Just sticking around people that don’t have any ulterior motives; just bettering myself as a person, surfing, and being healthy and solid. That’s what life is. The decisions you make. If it’s good or bad, you gotta just learn from it and not dwell on it and push forward. It’s life, it’s a journey. I learn a lot from raising my daughter. It’s a trip. Anger management; express your feelings and just move on. Don’t hold it in.

FIND THE GEAR FROM BRUCE’S BOARD BAG AT FOXHEAD.COM.

1. OTTO

04485 CARDINAL | $59.50

2. HYDROSLAMBOZO 04591 BLACK | $56.50

3. STUMPT

04472 BLACK | $34.50

4. FX-DLX RIPPED TANK 04497 BLACK | $36.50

5. STENCIL SNAPBACK 04204 BLACK | $24.50

6. LOCKDOWN

04571 HEATHER GRAPHITE | $49.50

DEREK COOK EVENING SET IN THE CALIFORNIA DELTA @derekcook @foxwake www.foxhead.com/wake

REED HANSEN BACK LIP SHUV IN THE CORRUGATED SPILLWAYS OF FLORIDA @reedahansen @foxwake www.foxhead.com/wake 25

BE READY. the ultimate hybrid short.

1. HYDROSLAMBOZO

2. HYDROESSEX

3. HYDROESSEX

4. HYDROCRACK

04592 MILITARY CAMO | $56.50

04586 CHARCOAL | $46.50

04588 HEATHER GREY | $49.50

04596 DARK BROWN | $64.50 29

TYLER MCCAUL BIG WHIP IN MOSS LANDING, NOR CAL @tylermccaul @fox_bmx www.foxhead.com/bmx

WALKSHORTS (left to right) 22” CARGO | 22” CHINO | 21” CHINO

SLAMBOZO CARGOS

DEREK COOK POTAZIUM PREMIUM TEE 04660 BLACK | $26

CHARCOAL

DARK KHAKI

MILITARY

CHARCOAL CAMO

LIGHT GREY

SLAMBOZO CARGO SHORT 05157 GRAPHITE | $59.50 37

TREY JONES TIRE SLIDE UNDER A BRIDGE IN SAN DIEGO

DEE EYE WHY TANK 04489 CHALK | $34.50

ESSEX SHORT 02770 BLACK | $39.50

@treyjonesucks @fox_bmx www.foxhead.com/bmx

ELLIS KNIT 04492 HEATHER GREY | $36.50

T-REX JEAN 02064 WASHED DOWN | $69.50

CHASE HAWK BIG AIR UNDER A FREEWAY OVERPASS IN NEW ORLEANS @chasehawk512 @fox_bmx www.foxhead.com/bmx

WWW.FOXHEAD.COM/DELUXE

SEAN SEXTON BARLOW JACKET 04498 BLACK | $110 45

INTRODUCING THE CHAD REED SIGNATURE FRAME

THE DECORUM 06309 MATTE BLACK/VIOLET SPARK | $140.00

THE CLARIFY 06308 MATTE BLACK/ORANGE SPARK | $150.00

THE REDEEM 06319 MATTE BLACK/VIOLET SPARK | $130.00

THE MOTER 06327 SATIN GUNMETAL VALKARI/GREY | $160.00

THE SUPER DUNCAN 06315 MATTE BLACK VALKARI/GREY | $130.00

VIEW OUR ENTIRE

HAT COLLECTION FOXHEAD.COM/HATS 51

KEN ROCZEN / MX MOTION ELITE Grey/Orange #01730-230

IAN WALSH / SURF MOTION ELITE Black/White #01730-018

Today’s action sports athletes must be prepared, both physically and mentally, to seize those legendary moments in their respective sports. Whether it’s the last two laps of a grueling 30 minute moto in sweltering heat, or dropping into a 30 foot wave breaking over razor-sharp reef, our athletes rely on their preparation to succeed – and survive. From a heritage deeply rooted in performance products, we strive to build the very best in every category we create. Our dedication to performance and passion for design and engineering excellence drives us to innovate and push beyond the ordinary. This is Fox Training Footwear.

IAN WALSH / SURF

KEN ROCZEN / MX 55

$90.00 | SIZES 7-13 The Motion Elite brings aggressive MX-inspired styling to the best in lightweight training footwear. Motocross heritage and performance driven technology combine to create a visually striking style that performs at the highest levels.

STYLE & COMFORT, TECHNOLOGY & TRADITION You can have it all. Our Lifestyle Collection combines innovative materials and construction techniques with iconic styling and design elements to set a new standard in action sports lifestyle footwear.

GEAR FOR THE LITTLE GUYS

BOYS & KIDS

BOYS: AGES 8-12 | KIDS: AGES 4-7 AVAILABLE AT FOXHEAD.COM