Get ready for a wave of excitement—the 2026 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout kicks off today, and it’s shaping up to be unlike any other year! But here’s where it gets controversial: rumors are swirling that organizers might extend the waiting period beyond the usual cutoff, a move almost unheard of in Hawaii. Could this be the game-changer surfers have been waiting for? We’ll keep you posted as the drama unfolds.
elsewhere // Jan 14, 2026
By Holden Trnka
Reading Time: < 1 minute
Conditions are looking promising with an 8-foot northwest swell, light winds, and Backdoor delivering playful waves. Yet, there’s a twist—Pipeline, the star of the show, has been a no-show so far, and it’s unlikely to make an appearance before the waiting period ends on Jan 16th. And this is the part most people miss: an extended waiting period could mean a weekend of epic surfing, but will it happen? Stay tuned.
As always, eight teams of five will battle it out at Pipeline across six rounds, with each surfer’s top three waves counted. Given the sheer intensity of Pipe’s waves, the scoring scale stretches all the way to 12—a testament to the madness that unfolds here. To put it simply, this isn’t your average surf competition; it’s a high-stakes dance with some of the world’s most formidable waves.
Here’s a breakdown of the teams gearing up for the showdown:
SHORTBOARD TEAMS:
TEAM NAVE:
Makai McNamara | Legend Chandler | Kona Oliveira | Guile Johannpeters | Mananalu Chandler
TEAM DA BOYZ:
Billy Kemper | Kala Grace | Sheldon Paishon | Kala DeSoto | Noah Beschen
TEAM PERU:
Alvaro Malpartida | Joaquin Del Castillo | Alonso Correa | Cristobal De Col | Bastian Pierce | Noah De Col
SNAPT 5:
Mason Ho | Benji Brand | Parker Coffin | Seth Moniz | Connor Coffin | Taro Watanabe (Alt)
TEAM JAPAN:
Shinpei Horiguchi | Riaru Ito | Kenshin Matsunaga | Isamu Sumi | Riku Matsumoto | Shogo Harada
VOLCOM:
Makana Pang | Noa Deane | Balaram Stack | Jake Maki | Maikai Burdine | Steve Roberson
A NEW EARTH PROJECT:
Jamie O’Brien | Koa Smith | Moana Jones Wong | Shayden Pacarro | Luke Tema (Alt)
Click above to watch the action live and scroll below to meet the teams. But here’s the burning question: If the waiting period is extended, will it level the playing field or give certain teams an unfair advantage? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is sure to make waves!
