Located on the North Shore of Oahu, Backdoor is the often overlooked little brother of the Pipeline peak. This right-hand reef set-up comes to life on the swells that tend to shut down Pipe, creating speeding, ultra-hollow, supersonic barrels that end with a detonating closeout. The reef is from old lava flow, and on this side, it is exceptionally shallow which makes for a deep cylindrical barrel but also dishes out punishment. There is no paddling channel on this side, many choose to head out on the Pipe side to avoid a beating. On top of it all, this is one of the most crowded peaks on the planet. It can be nearly impossible to catch a wave off the insanely competitive international crowd as well as the locals that run the lineup. These waves are very heavy, breaking for up to 100 meters over that shallow lava shelf. Pros have gotten very seriously injured here, make sure you know what you’re getting into.
What are the best surf conditions for Backdoor?
Gets good between head high and triple overhead. We recommend riding a shortboard or a step-up as the size increases. This break is suitable for advanced surfers. The surf here usually has something to ride in winter (5/10) and will get insanely crowded (10/10). The best winds are from the Southeast. The best swells are from the North and Northwest, but the more North the better. Works on a mid-tide best.
We recommend wearing board shorts or a bikini year-round. Water temperatures range between 27 and 24. See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
