Backdoor

Pipeline and Backdoor, the legendary reef peak at Ehukai Beach Park, detonates over a jagged lava reef some 60 to 80 yards offshore. The left-hander, simply known as Pipeline, barrels with mythical fury, while the right—Backdoor—unloads only when the swell angle aligns just right. This is a world-class, high-performance wave: shallow, cave-pocked takeoff zone, lips of bone-crushing thickness, and consequences that demand absolute respect. It sits in pristine, aquamarine water directly in front of Sunset Beach Elementary, a stunning yet unforgiving arena that defines the pinnacle of North Shore surfing.

Best Surf Season (October - March)

Backdoor sits squarely in the firing line of the North Pacific. As the Aleutian Low deepens in autumn, mid-latitude cyclones begin sending long-period ground swell toward the Hawaiian Islands, and Backdoor's northwest-facing reef suddenly lights up. Average swell heights climb from 2.0m (6.6ft) in October to 2.7m (8.9ft) in December and January, while average periods stretch from 10.7s to 12.8s. The swell rose during this window is loaded with energy from the NNW, NW, and N - exactly the directions that make Backdoor's shallow, barreling reef work. Trade winds still blow frequently from the ENE and E, but ideal offshore wind from the S through W quadrant arrives 21-27% of the time. When that wind window aligns with a solid NNW/NW ground swell, Backdoor is as good as it gets anywhere on earth.