Page 4 - MidWeek Windward - 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, direc- tion and conditions have been perfect.
BY GARY KEWLEY
Pipeline Packs A Particularly Perfect, Potent Punch
Mason Ho was the winner of the 2022 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout on Jan 16. PHOTO COURTESY DA HUI
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-perfor- mance wave in the world.
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.
It all came to the grand fina- le on Jan. 16, in pumping 5-8- foot surf almost all day. Win- ning it all was none other than Mason Ho — the legendary
I’ve got all the rest at snn- hawaii.com. I’m so stoked to be sharing paradise with you in MidWeek’s Windward O‘ahu Voice. Thank you for being here. Aloha.
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-
Da Hui also has a women’s
I’m sure my friend and surf reportingpartnerBanzaiBetty Depolito is feeling some vali- dation. She’s more than paid
I personally have never seenawomanpackingsucha heavy and heaving wave. The barrel could fit a truck inside.
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.
her dues trying to open the door for women’s 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.
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. Then, she turned the rescue jet ski away, pad- dling with one arm back into the line for more! Hamilton won the Hard Chargers Award — another unique part of this classic contest.
Michael Ho’s son and Coco’s bro — just in case you didn’t know. So, the Ho dynasty is alive and well.
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 con- test jerseys, you can get more points than a perfect 10-point ride. Yes, they give 12 point- ers! There are individual and team events happening simul- taneously. In other words, the teams tally the points of the individual members and use those numbers for overall first, second, third, etc. It’s such a simple, cool idea.
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.
Congrats also to team win- ner: Snapt4, stand-up paddle- boarding winner Zane Kekoa Schweitzer and long boarder victor Kaniela Stewart.
division now — just like the World Championship Tour — as the pro surfing realm finally is coming around to equality. It’s taken decades.
GQ, droppin’ in 4 U!
gary@surfnewsnetwork.com
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