The Box Ain’t A Bad Way To Prep For Backdoor

BettyLou Sakura Johnson has had a lot tossed on her shoulders at an early age. 

She won the 2021 Haleiwa Challenger, in a final against Carissa Moore, at age 16. She lives in the late Eddie Aikau’s house. John Florence claimed that she will be a world champion someday. And it seemed as though she was destined to take the CT by storm in her rookie season.

Alas, the universe had other plans.

After falling victim to the mid-year cut in Margaret River, BettyLou felt unsteady. After a consolatory cuddle from Uncle Kelly, BLJ decided that surfing a certain death-defying reef break might help her feel more at ease. Naturally.

“I was confused, kinda angry,” she says in our profile video above. “My mom told me, ‘Do something that makes you happy.’ She convinced me to go surf The Box and get barreled. That’s exactly what I did.”

Currently sitting in fourth on the Challenger Series, BettyLou hasn’t technically requalified for the 2023 CT yet, but she’s damn close. The Haleiwa local just needs a decent result at her home break later this month, which should be no problem for the defending champ.

Shortly after she regains CT status, Bettylou will be one of 20 women competing in the Vans Pipe Masters, which runs from December 8-20. You’ll know her by the yellow Gath helmet.