This Is How You Win The Backdoor Shootout

As you may have heard, the waves at the 2022 Backdoor Da Hui Shootout were good. Like, really, really good. And you also may have heard Mason Ho consistently puts out some of the most entertaining surf vids on the internet. (That’s what the Stab Premium members said.)

Much like the format of the North Shore’s most unorthodox contest, it’s a formula that’s too big to fail. The latest treat from the Mason x Rory Pringle collab is a highlight reel for the ages in the form of Snapt4’s victory after a four-day event in some of the best conditions in recent memory. Pipe, Backdoor, spitting tubes, slams, Mason’s signature rail grab technique, it’s all here. Shoutout to the filmers Erik Ippel and Larry Haynes​​for the excellent water angles. 

The Shootout is unique because of its team format, where surfers use the heats to post the highest aggregate score, as opposed to outmaneuvering your competitor in a jersey. On paper, it made sense the team took home the bacon. Let’s count the weapons in that arsenal: Mason Ho (event winner), Barron Mamiya, (Snapt4’s unofficial winner), Benji Brand (Snapt4’s best barrel winner, as voted by Stab staff), and Parker Coffin (Don’t count him out in the heavy stuff). Ultimately, the Snapt4 crew got the win over Team Volcom and Team Florence.

Being the savvy director that he is, Logan “Chucky” Dulien smartly assembled a crew that showcased a variety of styles and approaches. Consider the array of waves this team handled: Mason opted for the biggest board of the event, a 7’6′ ode to his lineage that carried him over foamballs and that cartoonish chop-hop. Barron showed textbook pigdog form on his 6’2 Sharp Eye. In the goofy realm, Benji subtly fades his takeoff to maximize his time in the shade, while Parker takes advantage of every inch of foam on that 7’3” to roll in from the outside. 

Watch the clip above and see if it doesn’t put a smile on your face.