There are few things more Hawaiian than being a water man - and the Backdoor Shootout Surf Contest at Ehukai Beach Park (also known as The Banzai Pipeline) celebrates one of Hawaii’s most famous water man, Duke Kahanamoku.
The Backdoor Shootout is more than just a surfing competition. It’s a four-man-team competition where the competitors are jersey-less (not sponsored) and the entire competition is run by Da Hui, the surf brotherhood that became a locally grown surf company. The contest is divided into bodysurfing, bodyboarding, longboarding, SUPing, and short boarding.
 Billy Kemper surfing Backdoor - North Shore, Oahu. |  Kainoa McGee surfing in the Backdoor Shootout SUP Division. |
Teams run the gamut of styles and display their competitive spirit at three of the most famous surf breaks on the North Shore of Oahu - Backdoor, Pipeline, and Off the Wall. The waves and styles are ever changing when this contest runs. Contestants can score a perfect 12-point ride - somethng that doesn’t happen in any other contest. This contest doesn’t run on World Surf League rules and teams are surfing for themselves - not some brand. Another unique feature of this competition is that the surfers decide when the contest is on - not the judges or the WSL.
 Tyler Newton surfing the Banzai Pipeline. |  2019 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout Winner - Tyler Newton |
This competition happens in mid-January over four days in a two week window. There is no other contest like this - the commentators and announcers glory in speaking pidgin (Hawaiian Creole) to da max and every surfer taking part seems to be fearless. The Da Hui Backdoor Shootout holding period for 2020 is January 4-16.
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