Gallery: In the Water (and the Tube) at the Backdoor Shootout
Ryan Craig
·3 min read
Every year the Da Hui Backdoor Shootout seems to be blessed with some of the best conditions of the Hawaii winter season. This year's event kicked off with a growing northwest swell and ideal southeast winds for the first three rounds of competition.
After completing the longboard, SUP, and bodysurf rounds, the shortboard competition took place in some of the best moments of the swell. Some of the world’s best surfers competed jersey-free in everyone's favorite local surf contest of the year. Unfortunately, at the moment, the forecast for the rest of the waiting period is looking grim.
Depending on contest directors, the event will run one more day before the end of the waiting period (Dec 16th) and if conditions don’t allow for more competition, the event will tally the surfers' best waves of the first three days. Here are some of the best moments from the first three days of competition, as seen from the water.
Team Peru has been in rhythm with some of the best windows of surf during the first three days of competition. If you’ve watched the event in years past, you’ve likely noticed that Team Peru has a history of scoring some of the best moments during the event. Pictured here is Cristobal De Col during round 1
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
There’s lots of sand built up at Gum–the patch of beach directly to the right of Pipeline (if you're looking at the wave straight on)–and this causes a lot of imperfections in the waves. Here, Eala Stewart navigates the airdrop as the wave lurches up on the first reef of Pipeline.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
Ivan Florence, looking ultra casual while exiting the barrel to the cheers on the beach.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
On of the event's most-loved surfers, Mason Ho is always a standout.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
The ever-impressive Off The Wall left. While in the channel, us photographers get to enjoy some really impressive empty waves that explode on the OTW reef just south of Pipeline. Some waves like the one pictured look like an absolute dream.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
Balaram Stack, finding a gem on day 1 of competition
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
Makai McNamara on a critical wave during day 1.
Early-morning scene from the Da Hui Backdoor Shootout before the crowd started to fill-in.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
Fresh off a second-place finish at this year's Pipeline Masters, Makana Pang was one of the standouts from the first few days of competition.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
To make it out to the lineup at Pipeline, surfers and photographers had to swim through the sandbar at Gums. Sometimes that task is super easy, but on swells like this past one, lots of energy focuses right there and timing your paddle out is crucial.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
Sebastian Correa, getting expertly barreled during round 1 of competition.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
Sitting in the channel, I love photographing empty waves at Pipeline. With a bit of north in the swell, there was lots of backwash from the sand still left on the reef.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
Brothers Seth and Josh Moniz, all smiles after their heat.
The queen of Pipeline, Moana Jones Wong, sets up for a Pipeline tube on day 3 of completion.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
Lucas Silveira, driving through a backdoor tunnel.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
Makua Rothman, picking off a perfect Pipeline wave.
Jake Maki, one of the event's youngest competitors, already has years of experience surfing heavy waves and shines out at big and unruly Pipeline.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
Team Volcom, waiting for their heat to begin.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
The early afternoon light at Pipeline sparkles with bright blues as Josh Moniz searches for the exit.
Ryan "Chachi" Craig
Day three of competition had clean waves on offer at Backdoor and Noa Deane was able to find quite a few gems.
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