The Da Hui Backdoor Opening Ceremony marked the opening of the waiting period. Photo: Pedro Gomes
Two days ago, on January 3, the Da Hui Backdoor Shootout Opening Ceremony kicked off the contest waiting period on a muggy Oahu morning. In the foreground, Hawaiian flags could be seen waving in the gentle morning breeze by the many attendees who flocked to Ehukai Beach Park looking out to Backdoor and Pipeline.
Historically, the Da Hui Backdoor Shootout has been one of the most engaging contests during the winter on the North Shore (and they usually get surf). A local event promoting traditional Hawaiian culture, the Da Hui Backdoor Shootout has been running since the mid 1990s, and last year, the contest was held in pumping conditions. Spirits are similarly high for this year’s event – we may get waves again.
Held annually during the peak swell season, the holding period of January 4-16th offers substantial chances for invited surfers (in the past, the shootout has seen the likes of Balaram Stack, Mason Ho, Koa Smith, Bethany Hamilton, and Kala Grace) to compete in a unique and interesting competitive format. With no jerseys in sight and opportunities for both team and individual wins, it’s always a worthy watch.
Yes, you can watch individuals compete but as mentioned, there’s also a team competition. Along with the Da Hui teams, you can root for the Snapt5 team, Volcom team, or the Pipeline Hammerz, or any of the teams from this list. And with Balaram’s recent Pipe Masters win, this year’s Backdoor Shootout promises to be just as — if not more – exciting as ever. Now, we just wait for waves.
The contest is off for today. Get up-to-date info on start heats starts, here.
