Page 4 - MidWeek West - Jan 26, 2022

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JANUARY 26, 2022
Aloha surfers and beachgoers,
If you like to charge big perfect waves in paradise, this has been your season. The winter has been one of the most consistent and highest quality in years. There have been tons of days where the size, direction and condi- tions have been perfect.
BY GARY KEWLEY
Hawai‘i Surfers Hamilton, Ho Stand Out At Contest
Mason Ho was the winner of the 2022 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout on Jan 16. PHOTO COURTESY DA HUI
contest jerseys, you can get more points than a perfect 10-point ride. Yes, they give 12 pointers! There are indi- vidual and team events hap- pening simultaneously. In other words, the teams tally the points of the individual
Pipeline in particular has delivered its best for so many days that it’s been rather silly. The Banzai has cemented its legacy as the defining heavy, high-performance wave in the world.
Equality is just as much about the fair chance to push the limits in women’s sports — to see what is possible. Women are not required to surf as good as men overall before they get an equal op- portunity.
It all came to the grand fi- nale on Jan. 16, in pumping 5-8-foot surf almost all day. Winning it all was none oth- er than Mason Ho — the leg- endary Michael Ho’s son and Coco’s bro — just in case you didn’t know. So, the Ho dynasty is alive and well.
All you had to do was watch the Da Hui Backdoor Shootout. It had four days of incredible surf, which ranged from 6 to 12 feet over the period, with amaz- ing death-defying barrels. Honestly, I’ve watched Pipe for decades — especially the gladiators who face the beast — and I’m still not sure why more surfers don’t die in the pursuit of glory.
Just take a look at Bethany Hamilton’s 8-foot Pipeline beast of a wave on Jan. 12. It’s mind blowing. She went for it and was willing to give it her all. Literally — it was death-defying.
Congrats also to team winner: Snapt4, standup paddleboarding winner Zane Kekoa Schweitzer and long boarder victor Kaniela Stew- art.
The Da Hui Backdoor Shootout is easily one of the most entertaining surf con- tests in the world. It’s unique and makes a point to be so. For example, there are no
I’m sure my friend and surf reporting partner Ban- zai Betty Depolito is feeling some validation. She’s more than paid her dues trying to open the door for women’s
gary@surfnewsnetwork.com
members and use those num- bers for overall first, second, third, etc. It’s such a simple, cool idea.
is coming around to equality. It’s taken decades.
GQ, droppin’ in 4 U!
pro surfing at all the men’s big events and venues. She’s had to be tough and fight, far beyond what’s right. Banzai is my hero.
Then, she turned the rescue jet ski away, paddling with one arm back into the line for more! Hamilton won the Hard Chargers Award — an- other unique part of this clas- sic contest.
I personally have never seen a woman packing such a heavy and heaving wave. The barrel could fit a truck inside. The 5-foot-thick lip pitched over her and pounced onto the extremely shallow and hard reef. Somehow, Hamilton — who, by the way, has kids — popped up after getting annihilated.
I’ve got all the rest at snn- hawaii.com. I’m so stoked to be sharing paradise with you in MidWeek’s West O‘ahu Voice. Thank you for being here. Aloha.
Da Hui also has a women’s division now — just like the World Championship Tour — as the pro surfing realm finally
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