This Is What Andy Irons (Free)Surfed Like In The Year Of His First World Title

Let’s go back to the year 2002. 

A time when gas cost $1.61, airports adopted an unapologetic foot fetish, and “Sk8r Boi” was blaring through your gen-1 iPod. 

Also, Andy Irons was about to win his first title, but not before the release of Snapt—a film he starred in alongside his brother Bruce, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, and other early-millennium stars. 

While the footage is grainier than an aged orange (hello, 480p!), Andy’s surfing manages to radiate through the digital fog. See above.

But we’re not here just to talk about the late, great Kauaian prince. We also want to discuss this Snapt film, which for surfers of a certain bent (mostly those who like it raw and fast—not dissimilar to …Lost’s early disciples), was pivotal in their awakening. 

As you may or may not know, Snapt4 is scheduled for release this summer. For this reason, the man behind the film franchise, Logan Dulien, has decided to release Snapt and Snapt2 online for the first time ever. So if you’re anything like me (a later millennial), who was too young to appreciate these films in their heyday, now’s your chance to get acquainted. And for those who mortally wounded their Snapt DVD when using it as a cutting board for some odd narcotic, allow this to serve as a cybernated embalmment of your youth.

We also reached out to Logan Dulien to hear about the inspiration behind Snapt:

“Basically, I was friends with a mix of guys from the Irons bros, Hobgoods, and Mick, to less profiled guys like Gorkin and complete unknowns like Asher Pacey. In my eyes, these guys were right on the verge of dominating surfing and would make for a good surf movie.”

Logan was right about that. 

“As far as filmmaking goes,” he continued, “I was definitely inspired by Taylor Steele and his group of friends. Mine were just a bit more rowdy and chaotic!”

No question about that, either. 

Enjoy the film above, and Snapt2 will drop on Stab tomorrow.