Stab Magazine | The Gorilla in the Room

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

236 Views

The Gorilla in the Room

Last week the 40th Annual Surfer Poll Awards were held at Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu. The ceremony was dedicated to the memory of Andy Irons and it was Bruce’s acceptance speech on behalf of his older brother’s award for 6th male surfer that left the audience breathless. Following a tribute video to AI, Bruce moved onto the stage and talked about his brother’s life, Andy Axel Irons Jr. and killing the gorilla in the room. Here’s a transcription of his touching speech: “Thank you guys very much. I just want to thank the surfing community for being really loving and putting stuff like that (tribute video to AI, check it out here) together. Matt (Beauchesne), thank you. “My brother loved surfing more than anyone I know. All you people in this room, a lot of you guys up here getting awards, my brother idolised you guys, even though he might not have shown that love in the heats, or wanted to kill you, run you over. And Kelly, even though he wanted to chop your head off in the heats, he looked up to you so much, ever since we were kids. He’s looking down and – 10 world titles – he was stoked just to get three on you. Got to give it up for Kelly for those 10 world titles, man. That’s amazing. My brother, he loved your surfing… “And another thing, my brother’s wife, Lyndie, she’s going to be having a baby on the 8th and I’m going home tomorrow to be there for the birth. I’m going to be the father figure in his life and we’re all going to see Andy Axel Jr. soon. Yet grieving, as much as it sucks, we’re going to have to live with it – my brother’s never going to be forgotten – but he’d be wanting you guys to be having a good time, you know my brother, he’d be like “whoop, whoop, whoop.” So, I know it’s hard, but let’s kill that big Gorilla in the room, or something. He’d want everybody to have a good time and enjoy tonight. I just want to thank all you guys again for being so supportive of my brother and his career. I really appreciate it. Thank you guys.” –Simon Nicholas

news // Feb 22, 2016
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Last week the 40th Annual Surfer Poll Awards were held at Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu. The ceremony was dedicated to the memory of Andy Irons and it was Bruce’s acceptance speech on behalf of his older brother’s award for 6th male surfer that left the audience breathless. Following a tribute video to AI, Bruce moved onto the stage and talked about his brother’s life, Andy Axel Irons Jr. and killing the gorilla in the room. Here’s a transcription of his touching speech:

“Thank you guys very much. I just want to thank the surfing community for being really loving and putting stuff like that (tribute video to AI, check it out here) together. Matt (Beauchesne), thank you.

“My brother loved surfing more than anyone I know. All you people in this room, a lot of you guys up here getting awards, my brother idolised you guys, even though he might not have shown that love in the heats, or wanted to kill you, run you over. And Kelly, even though he wanted to chop your head off in the heats, he looked up to you so much, ever since we were kids. He’s looking down and – 10 world titles – he was stoked just to get three on you. Got to give it up for Kelly for those 10 world titles, man. That’s amazing. My brother, he loved your surfing…

“And another thing, my brother’s wife, Lyndie, she’s going to be having a baby on the 8th and I’m going home tomorrow to be there for the birth. I’m going to be the father figure in his life and we’re all going to see Andy Axel Jr. soon. Yet grieving, as much as it sucks, we’re going to have to live with it – my brother’s never going to be forgotten – but he’d be wanting you guys to be having a good time, you know my brother, he’d be like “whoop, whoop, whoop.” So, I know it’s hard, but let’s kill that big Gorilla in the room, or something. He’d want everybody to have a good time and enjoy tonight. I just want to thank all you guys again for being so supportive of my brother and his career. I really appreciate it. Thank you guys.” –Simon Nicholas

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Matty McG Skydives Into CT Heat, But Jordy’s Still The Main Event

A full day of heats at J-Bay, and only one shark warning.

Jul 12, 2025

Correction: J-Bay All Foreplay, No Climax

Slim pickings on Day 1 of the Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025.

Jul 11, 2025

What Do Hollywood, Surf Lessons, Michael Jackson And Traction Pads Have In Common?

A Stab Interview with Teva Dexter, the man behind surfing's hardest new hardware brand —…

Jul 10, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 10, 2025

How Josh Ku Nearly Died Trying To Cross From Ulus to G Land by Hydrofoil

“If someone finds me dead at least they can find my phone and know what…

Jul 10, 2025

Expect No Kiss, All Climax At The “World’s Most Perfect Pointbreak”

A Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025 preview.

Jul 9, 2025

SEOTY: Liam O’Brien stars in ‘Friction of Perception’

"Hopefully I don’t come across like too much of a peanut."

Jul 8, 2025

10 Shapers To Watch In The Next 10 Years — Part One

“It’s like a drug empire, man. Cut the head off the snakes, and more will…

Jul 7, 2025

Mason Ho Joins Ritual Vision, Releases Remix Of Greatest Hits

Dion Agius riffs on the eyewear brand’s U.S. expansion, Ritualistic Tendencies, and the new stars…

Jul 7, 2025

Is It Time For A New Judging Format?

We have a modest proposal — a WSL head judge disagrees.

Jul 7, 2025

Luke Thompson Turns Last Year’s Priority Disaster Into Ballito Gold

+ earns himself a wildcard into Jbay.

Jul 7, 2025

Fiji Has Its First Professional Surfer, And He’s Unbelievable

16-year-old James Kusitino’s incomprehensible tube lounging leads to a deal with Former.

Jul 6, 2025

Laird Hamilton on The Limitations of Being a Purist, Invention vs. Ownership + Why He Never Had a Sticker Deal 

Untold stories from his How Surfers Get Paid interview.

Jul 4, 2025

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025
Advertisement