Is This The Best Backdoor Pit Ever Caught On Camera? - Stab Mag

EAST with Harry Bryant coming August 18...

2131 Views
No matter how many times we watch, it keeps getting better. Frame: Kuio Young

Is This The Best Backdoor Pit Ever Caught On Camera?

Watch Kainehe Hunt’s 8-second tube from Pipe to OTW today. 

news // Dec 7, 2023
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Clickbait not included.

Backdoor saw a handful of crazy tubes today, however there was one clear standout. 

A lot of locals with credibility at waves like Pipe and Backdoor are claiming 21-year-old Kainehe Hunt from Kauai got the best Backdoor wave they’ve ever seen.

From a takeoff spot more typical for Pipe, the 6’5” surfer from Kauai threaded a long, tall tube across 450 ft (137 m) of reef, eventually stepping off on the Insanities side of Off The Wall in front of the old Rip Curl-cum-Quiksilver house to a beach-full of whistles. 

Two time World Champ Tom Carroll caught this iphone clip from the second-storey.

JOB, Nathan Florence, Jack Robinson, Dustin Barca, Noa Deane, Balaram Stack and countless others Banzai specialists sang the Kauaians praise on social media.  

Filmer, editor and producer Kuio Yong wrote:

“Brah… my Hoa Pili @kainehe_hunt just got the best Backdoor wave I’ve even seen in my life. Fuckin incredible this guy! FUNNY STORY: 28 minutes before he caught this wave I called him up to see what he was doing. He answers and goes hooo I’m resting, I might wash my truck 😂 I go u faka, I’m filming and it’s getting good, you better paddle out. Sure enough he paddles out at the gums sand pile, 2 minutes later this wave comes straight to him, deepest guy out and HO-ing guys off the wave 🤣 Faka wrangled that thing from Deep in the pipe channel, all the way to the end of OTW. They say Pipeline chooses you and that wahine must love him because she gave him one mean blessing today 🙏 Came a long way from da house in poipu beach, couldn’t be more stoked for you brother❤️ 🤝 @blakbearsurfclub He ready for direct deposit already 😂 #slabofseason

Was this the best-ever tube at Backdoor? We went back and reviewed some favorites of old — Kelly, Curren, Laurie Towner, JOB and John. For us, nothing came close.

Disqus below.

PS — kudos to all the filmers who didn’t stop recording. And our sincere condolences to those who did.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Tosh Tudor on Foamball Spirituality, Giving Up Weed, And Learnings From His Father

Veteran surf journo Matt George caught up with Tosh in between Indonesian sessions.

Aug 1, 2026

Watch: Ryan Callinan in ‘Interim’ 

What has your favorite surfer’s favorite goofyfoot been up to?

Jul 31, 2026

Can Karma Decide Who Wins A Surf Contest?

If last year's Rip Curl Padang Cup is anything to go by, don't rule it…

Jul 30, 2026

Surf100 Changed My Mind About Zeke Lau

How does our production team really feel about the 6'2 Hawaiian?

Jul 29, 2026

Why CT Surfers Threatened To Boycott The ISA World Games

And how it will affect the level of surfing in the 2028 Olympics.

Jul 29, 2026

What’s Coming To Stab Premium 

The hard drive-release pipeline for the next five months.

Jul 28, 2026

2026 Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico, Episode 05

As cold and as perfect as waves in the US get.

Jul 27, 2026

From The Championship Tour To Louis Vuitton | Mikey February | StabMic Ep. 24

Did LV rip off Vans?

Jul 27, 2026

The Great Shark Debate: To Cull or Not to Cull? 

Dr Michael Mehmet vs Fred Pawle.

Jul 26, 2026

Rasta’s Shark Theory

Return to your animal, trust your instincts.

Jul 25, 2026

How To Shark-Proof Your Next Surf*

Shark policy aside, what tech, gadgets and gear can actually keep you safe?

Jul 25, 2026

Good Luck Killing The US Open

A preview of the 2026 US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.

Jul 24, 2026

Mateus Herdy Heads Home

A profile on the Florianopolin CT rookie, his rich orbit of influences, and Yago Dora’s…

Jul 24, 2026

Response: A Shark Cull Won’t Make Our Beaches Safer

Science over sensationalism.

Jul 23, 2026

Op-ed: Why Australia Needs More Shark Nets

An unapologetic take on the need for safer lineups.

Jul 23, 2026

How Reunion Island Survived Shark Purgatory

With more shark attacks per capita than anywhere else on Earth, it's taken millions to…

Jul 22, 2026

Introducing EAST’s First Goofyfoot Test Pilot: Harry Bryant

“My life’s already a board test.”

Jul 22, 2026

The Trauma Gap: Surviving vs Seeing Shark Attacks

Three witnesses recall the incidents that changed them.

Jul 21, 2026
Advertisement