1. Bruce Irons' moving speech at the Surfer Poll.
Along with SURFER's amazing new video tribute to Andy (see below) Bruce's on-stage appearance was the most compelling moment of this year's prestigious awards show. It was his first public address to fans and the media since his Andy's untimely death in November. Luckily this year's Surfer Poll and Video Awards Show took place in Hawaii, where he was surrounded by an intimate crowd of friends and loved ones. A teary-eyed Bruce offered some moving words about his big brother.

"My brother loved surfing more than anyone I know...and all of you in this room...a lot of you guys getting awards, my brother idolized you..." To see more of Bruce's moving speech click here.

Just in case you missed it, here's Surfer Magazine's tribute video, which was narrated by show host Sal Masakela and edited by Andy's good friend Matt Beauchesne.

2. Andy's final interview in STAB Magazine.
Two weeks before Andy died he was on the phone with Stab Magazine editor Derek Rielly, in very good spirits. The interview was supposed to be for an upcoming book, but Rielly decided to release it early in the wake of his loss. Among the subjects they talk about was failure, success, life...and death.

Have you ever truly believed you were about to die? Fuck, yeah! I've had some moments, even turbulence in an airplane, where I felt f'sure the plane might crash. I've even had planes crashing in my dreams and woken up on a plane. The other nightmare I have is, I'm on a plane and the bottom's made of glass and it starts cracking. But, fuck, that wave in Tahiti where I got stuck in the lip and froze with fear and just made it? I really felt like I might be physically hurt then. That wave was, literally, a major moment in my life...

For the rest of this bittersweet interview visit Stab.

3. Kelly Slater vs. John John Florence at Pipeline.
This hasn't happened yet, and you may not want to miss it. Slater and Florence are due for a head-to-head matchup as soon as the Billabong Pipeline Masters resumes. Now consider this. Slater earned his first world title months after John John was born in 1992. Slater may have even changed a few of John John's diapers back in the day. But today, 18-years later, the two will clash at a spot where Florence -- if all goes as planned -- is likely to be crowned king some day. Let's hope the conditions are decent for this one. Hey Billabong and Triple Crown dudes!...Wait for it!

4.Julian Wilson is headed to the big leagues.
Make no mistake. By this time next week (after the Pipe Masters) we'll all be wondering who will and won't be headed back on tour in 2011 Is Kelly headed for the golf course? Is Dane going to retire to Oxnard and take up farming? The rumors are all out there. But Julian Wilson doesn't seem to care either way, because he has his mind squarely set on a world title. And given how he qualified during his first real attempt I wouldn't put it past the young Aussie to make a run. He's the number one headliner of those who threaded the needle this year (Josh Kerr, Alejo Muniz, Heitor Alvez and Raoni Monteiro also made the cut). I smell a Julian vs. Jordy rivalry ahead. And it might easily last until John John arrives.

5. Teahupoo is getting its ass kicked in the Billabong XXL.
So what's the most remarkable thing about the early-season entries to this year's Billabong XXL awards? Well, as far as we can tell it's that Teahupoo -- one of the event's biggest staples for "Ride of the Year" and "Best Tube," has barely registered on the radar. "It just goes to show you no two waves, swells or seasons are ever alike," said XXL director Bill Sharp. The big surprise is the massive stuff from Tavarua, Fiji, and some more ridiculousness from Shipsterns' Bluff in Tasmania.

For pro surfers who don't spend their year chasing points on the WQS or WCT, securing good video parts is basically their job. And for these free-surfers, winning best performance may as well be the world title. This year's nominees for best performance are: Julian Wilson - Scratching the Surface, Jordy Smith - Modern Collective, Jamie O'brien - Who is JOB, Andy Irons - High 5, Dane Reynolds for Seen/Unseen.



Julian Wilson's biopic Scratching the Surface was a much hyped and much anticipated film this year. With huge financial backing from Red Bull and Quiksilver, exotic locations and incredible photography were on display throughout the film. This being Julian's first film about himself, and with million dollar cameras rolling, one could expect some jitters, but Julian truly shows his bag of tricks in this movie, from slabs to jaws, power hacks and the most technical aerial trickery.



Few would argue that Kai Neville's Modern Collective set the bar for performance this past year. The cast was hand picked to be the most progressive and stylish aerial pilots in the sea, the likes of Dusty Payne, Yadin Nicol, Dane Reynolds, Mitch Coleborn all showed up in front of Neville's lens to stomp some of the biggest and most technical airs ever caught on film. And Jordy Smith steals the movie. His amplitude, style, and consistency is absolutely mind blowing.



Who is J.O.B.? Well more than any of his other videos about himself, that question is answered in this film. Up to this point most would consider Jamie's previous work as "videos", but with Red Bull's backing, Dayton Likeness editing, and Stab's Charlie Smith directing, this project certainly makes the leap into the "film" category. More than anything else, this film shows how dominant Jamie is in big scary tubes. toying with them like nobody else. Someone needs to put a tube second counter on this thing, he seriously spends half the movie hidden from view in a giant barrel.



Andy Iron High 5 Part 2 from Blake Kueny on Vimeo.

Andy Irons earned himself the closing section in Transworlds newest surf video release High-5, which was no easy feat considering the star studded cast. Sadly it would turn out to be his final curtain call. AI will be remebered for his critical approach and a style that oozed confidence in the heaviest waves. His part in this video is a fitting finale to his final year with us, laden with explosive hacks and some of the longest deepest tubes ever seen.



Seen Unseen - The best of Marine Layer from STAB on Vimeo.

Dane Reynolds in typical Dane Reynolds fashion, has put forth a minimalist, seemingly effortless compilation labeled Seen/Unseen. His personal filmer mini edits the shorts for their blog, Marinelayerproductions, and they decided to compile their favorites and viola! Its refreshing that Dane, who gets his leg humped by the surf media 24 hours a day, always leaves in the waves that he totally kooks. What is startling is what he is able to do on the waves he doesnt blow. His consistency with landing enormous maneuvers on generally crummy waves is absurd. His shuvit to switch-stance top turn almost made me quit surfing forever.

It's been a couple weeks since Andy Irons' memorial gathering on Kauai, and images are still trickling out. While there are hundreds of beautiful shots from that very emotional day, the magnitude of this single shot taken at sundown is tough to match.

We're not sure who snapped this photo of the sunset that day, but the cloud photographed looks a lot like a surfer soul-arching his way through the sky, baggy shorts and all, as if waving goodbye.

The image was posted by Sunny Garcia on his twitter account with the tease, "Check out this photo taken on the day of Andy's service."

As you'd expect, the overwhelming response was one of total amazement. Goosebumps have been rising as word of this has spread. Those who find comfort in "coincidences" like this are sure Andy -- wherever he is -- is riding well.

So is it real? We don't know. But let's hope so.

But more incredible images of Andy's remarkable journey can be found in this amazing photo flip book put together by the lensmen at SURFING Magazine.

An incredible life captured in gorgeous detail by the lensmen at SURFING Magazine. Click here.

The past year hasn't been an easy one for Joel Parkinson.

About this time last year we learned the ankle injury he incurred in August of 2009 was far worse than even he wanted to admit.

After a stellar beginning to the 2009 season his first ASP world championship looked all but locked up. Then his huge lead vanished after the injury. As Fanning went on a tear through California and Europe Parko tried to put on a brave face and mount a defense...but to no avail. In the final event of the year he handed the championship to his buddy. That he handled it with incredible class didn't ease the pain.

Then any shot he had at redemption this year was cut short--literally--when he filleted his foot back home in Australia just as the season was getting underway.

Of course, those blows look trivial now. They pale in comparison to the one that hit Parko in the gut on November 2. The loss of his dear friend Andy Irons was something he had to deal with while back at home, removed from his family mates on tour, who (at the very least) were able to mourn together. When he got the call, Parko had to slip away from his kids so he could weep without them seeing him.

He needed his trip to Hawaii this year--probably more than ever. He knew it'd be therapeutic.

On Kauai last week he rejoined his tour mates along with thousands of Andy's friends and loved ones to say goodbye. And Hawaiians sure know how to say goodbye. In the heavenly setting of Hanalei Bay the outpouring of love was astounding. The energy is still permeating the islands, and will be for weeks if not months. Parko, a man as close to Andy as anyone, was undoubtedly filling up on the vital energy source. Emotionally, he was mending as well as can be expected.

Parko is also back in the water. His physical therapy is coming along nicely too. Not surprisingly, his return became the immediate storyline of the Reef Hawaiian Pro. What was surprising though, was that his first ride, of his first heat back in months, was a perfect 10.

Honestly, the contest was over at that point.

Granted, there was plenty of work left. But right then, right there, in that moment-- of this year-- well, you could tell there was something bigger at work. Parko was tapping into something other worldly. He looked as fresh as ever despite having just been out of the water for months.

In the dying moments of the final he seemed to acknowledge that force. Kicking out of his heat-winning wave Parko made a gesture that might have easily been mistaken for a claim, only it didn't look self congratulatory, and it certainly wasn't aimed at the judges. To me, it looked like it was directed at somebody else, somewhere else. And to me, well, it looked a lot like a thank you...

"Andy's part of the ocean forever now," Parko said on the podium.

'Nuff said.