Stab Magazine | Mason Ho's North Shore, Honolua Dreams, And Why Sandals Inside Equals Suicide

Live Now... Stab Highway East Coast (USA) Presented By Monster Energy, Episode 3

112 Views

Mason Ho’s North Shore, Honolua Dreams, And Why Sandals Inside Equals Suicide

No Contest rolls into the Seven Mile Miracle!

cinema // Dec 22, 2018
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

“I was going to call it the “No Contest” cut, but I guess, technically, it’s the Pipe Masters cut!” Mason Ho tells us, as his old pal Martin tightens up his handsome dome, in the driveway beneath his childhood home. 

Mason Ho, getting trimmed up beneath his legendary Backyards abode. Photo by Sam Moody.

With the Vans Triple Crown in full swing, and the whole international circus in town for the Pipe Masters, Mason was kind enough to toss us in his under the radar Audi, and give us a look at his daily December routine: a drive-by of his beloved Pupukea Grill, where “the sweetest ladies in the world” sling fresh food to the world’s finest at a truly impressive pace; a thorough survey of the myriad food trucks that are always shuffling locations between Kahuku and Haleiwa; and to his favorite neighborhood haunt since boyhood, Ted’s Bakery, forsaking the chicken katsu or kahlua pork plate lunches, in favor of some sweet relief. 

“I eat this pretty much before and after every surf,” Mason jokes, popping open a half-dozen pillow-soft donuts, half dusted with cinnamon and sugar, the other thoroughly glazed. 

Thirty minutes later, after a brief communion with some resident birds, Mason was back in the pack at Backdoor, picking off beauties on his fish, with a belly full of sugar and chocolate milk—forever a Surf Rat, and thank goodness for that.

Italo Ferreira, Off The Wall. Photo by Trevor Moran.

Michel Bourez, Backdoor. What’s a rule Michel always remembers in Hawaii? “Aloha also means goodbye, you know?” Photo by Trevor Moran.

Also, for this episode of No Contest, our ongoing series with our friends at Red Bull, we survey the international cast of characters, Seabass and Dusty Payne, Carissa and Caroline, Ace and Sage: Is there any wave scarier than Pipe? What’s the most important unwritten law in Hawaii? Maui or Oahu?

While their answers vary as surely as their nationalities, Filipe Toledo nailed one of the North Shore Commandments on the head. “No sandals in the house!” he told us, “I think that might be heavier than burning someone at Pipe.” 

After a classic Pipe highlight reel, and a Day at the Bay, we leave Waimea and the North Shore, and island hop to Maui, a trip local stud, Rat Pack veteran, and 2018 HIC Champ, Kiron Jabor likens to “taking the bus.”

“Some people have to drive further just to go surfing in California, than I do to get to Jaws,” Kiron says.

We hear a first-hand account of Kai Lenny’s very exciting 48-hours during the Pe’ahi Challenge, and the Tow Session Seen ‘Round The World, perhaps the most impressive live streamed contest cancellation since the Fijo Pro SNAFU in 2012. 

A short drive down the road, we close out this episode, and the year, with a gorgeous send off at Honolua Bay, with Sage Erickson, Caroline Marks, Carissa Moore, Alana Blanchard, and an all-female constellation light Maui up. 

And with that, No Contest 2018 is a wrap. We’ll see you at Snapper. 

Honolua’s Queen, Carissa Moore. Photo by Ryan Miller.

Hawaii’s winter don’t really start til the Bay sees a day. Three gunslingers shooting for the Waimea shoulder. Photo by Trevor Moran

Kolohe Andino, drawing lines on his backyard playground. Photo by Trevor Moran.

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

Stab Highway East Coast (USA) Presented By Monster Energy, Episode 3

Waffle House meltdowns, OBX secret sessions, and the worst way to try an air reverse.

Feb 7, 2025

International Crime Syndicate Steals Millions From California Surfers, Gets Caught By Local Vigilantes

Victims include: Taro Watanabe, Reef McIntosh, Tyler Gunter, and 'Snapt' creator Logan Dulien.

Feb 6, 2025

Attrition at Pipe: Six Specialists Eliminated After Grueling Day At Lexus Pipe Pro

Moana Jones-Wong, Erin Brooks, Vahine Fierro + other big names axed.

Feb 6, 2025

Big Idea, Small Budget, And A High Level Of Danger?

Who’s Stab gonna call: Miles Pitt.

Feb 5, 2025

The Story Behind Sammy Pupo’s Backdoor-Inflicted Shiner

“Everything went blurry and for 15 minutes, I was stumbling around, barely able to walk…

Feb 5, 2025

Once A Pipe Master, Always A Pipe Master

Robbie Page stars in Oxbow's 'Walkabout'.

Feb 4, 2025

Born or Built? The Psychology of Confronting Heavy Waves

Nurture in nature with Shane Dorian, Carissa Moore, Al Cleland, and CJ Hobgood.

Feb 3, 2025

SEOTY: Albee Layer Stars In ‘Pure’, Rants A Little, And Reveals His Post-Surfing Career Path

Plus, the one that got away.

Feb 2, 2025

Jah Bless: More Rasta Freesurfing Clips

Point break porn ft. two Dead Kooks ‘Yin Yangs’.

Feb 2, 2025

The 2024 Eddie Winner On Addiction, Jail Time, And His Long Road To Glory

The Stab interview with Landon McNamara.

Jan 31, 2025

Watch: Postcards From Motel Hell Pt 3 – The Ireland Section

Wade gets stuck in another cave, Craig breaks his hoof, Haz and Lowe get minced…

Jan 31, 2025

Stab Highway East Coast (USA) Presented By Monster Energy, Episode 2

Strip club weddings, phallic haircuts, Gorkin flips, and cavorting with sharks.

Jan 31, 2025

The First Score Of The 2025 Championship Tour Was A Tube… By Edgard Groggia

Not as good as it gets, but much better than we deserve.

Jan 30, 2025

“The Machine Makes The World Spin. Rage, Fear, Oppose – We’re All A Part Of It.”

Lucas 'Skywalka' Godfrey stars in 'Fear The Machine'

Jan 29, 2025

It’s Time For A New Rivalry In Surfing

Can the next-gen of women deliver the conflict every sport needs?

Jan 28, 2025

Three Weeks On: The Aftermath of the LA Wildfires

An ode to a city that won't stay down.

Jan 28, 2025

How Surfers Get Paid: Season 2, Episode 6

The high price of authenticity — Craig Anderson’s knee doesn’t bend.

Jan 27, 2025

Dave Wassel’s Pipeline Secrets Every Surf Investor Should Know

How to make money on betonline.ag.

Jan 27, 2025
Advertisement