Like the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, the Da Hui Backdoor Shootout has weather-dependent standards to meet its prestigious legacy. But unlike The Eddie, this beloved local event has the freedom to improvise and shape-shift on the fly if the waves don’t arrive.
As the surf world collectively celebrates event winners Max Torres (SUP), Pomai Hoapili (Longboard), and Kala Desoto, only 18 (Shortboard), the second and third days of a Da Hui Backdoor Shootout were unlike any other in its 30-year history…