What surfing means when it says ‘Backdoor’
Update: 2025-09-22
Description
Ah yes—Backdoor. Not that Backdoor, you filthy animal. And not just Pipeline’s famous right, either.
This episode breaks down what it means to “backdoor” a wave, how it’s connected to the fabled North Shore break, and why it’s not for the faint of heart. We paddle into the history of the Backdoor Shootout—Da Hui’s infamous (and independently wild) surf contest that’s given us everything from no-jersey judging to slogans about rumbling surf gangs.
You'll meet the Rothmans—yes, those Rothmans—father-son surf enforcers turned prize-money titans. We talk Jason Momoa, Da Hui’s black trunks, and the moment when Pipeline became a two-way street: left for Pipe, right for Backdoor, and both barreling toward surf legend.
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