Surf Forecast  Pipeline & Backdoor

Pipeline & Backdoor surfspot characteristics

More about Pipeline & Backdoor surfspot

The most famous and infamous peak on the planet explodes onto an uneven, lava-slab reef a scant 80m offshore, forming the benchmark by which all other waves are measured. The left at Pipe is best awakened by swells with a generous helping of W in them, as too much N will cause a grisly shutdown over the dangerous, cave-pocked section of the reef. Outer reefs filter, bend and reform arriving swells, focusing energy and extra height on the peak, before abruptly releasing a lip that guillotines mercilessly along the first section until the explosion of spit heralds the shoulder and room for a turn or two. When the swell direction heads beyond NW, Backdoor swings open and welcomes the best tube-jockeys to an expansive room, but the door often slams shut across this expanse of ultra-shallow, incongruous reef. Air drops are the only way in if you want the inside at Backdoor and ideal conditions include mid tide, ESE wind and headhigh to double-overhead faces (3-6ft Hawaiian). The lack of a paddling channel means it's often better to take the rip north and utilise the more defined access to the left, but expect serious beatings from the steroidal lips and whitewash. The legion of hazards is eclipsed by one defining factor - the crowd. This is the most sought after ride on the planet and normal rules don't apply. Avoid speculation, hesitation, lip-launches, trips over the falls and eye contact with the crew who will burn you into the pit of Pipeline purgatory. Forget it during summer, yet even when it's barely breaking there will be a pack ticking the Pipeline box, despite better waves at some of the nearby spots.

General: The most famous surf spot in the world, Pipe is capable of pulling the most incredible disappearing acts. During times of minor or no swell (such as summer), the casual observer rolling up to Ehukai Beach Park and gazing west wouldn't have any idea it was there.</br></br>Pipeline benefits from an outer reef refraction effect, which with the ideal swell direction (WNW-NW) and size will focus an abundance of waves into this zone. When such a swell hits the North Shore, suddenly the wave that wasn't there before comes roaring back with all the energy and beauty that has drawn surfers for generations. Depending on the direction, size, and period, this wave will become peakier with a dual option. In addition to the Pipeline Left, a super-hollow right known as Backdoor will open up and funnel across the shallow reef toward its close neighbor of Off-The-Wall.</br></br>Classic Pipe (the left) relies on two outer reefs -- Outer Log Cabins and Third Reef -- to refract an approaching WNW-NW swell into a long wall finishing with a tapered peak that hits the inside reef, known as First Reef, about 60 to 80 yards offshore. First Reef is mostly flat solid lava with a few small caves under the takeoff zone, which will create distinct boils on the wave face. Even when it's small, a WNW-NW swell at First Reef is always tremendously powerful, breaking hard on the reef and holding a lot of energy in the lip. When in the two-to-three feet overhead zone, it's an exciting left barrel that almost looks user friendly. Around the double overhead mark, it's arguably at its most dangerous, sucking brutally hard off the shallowest patch of reef. From double to triple overhead, it opens up a little more, with some waves breaking on another slab of the inside reef about 10-15 yards outside the main zone, allowing a little easier entry (relatively speaking). At around 4 times overhead-plus, waves begin breaking in big, foamy lumps on Second Reef, another 80 yards or so outside. Then, Pipe itself becomes a second reform section - sometimes a steep walled, close-out; other times a mad belching pit; and other times it is simply washed out by an avalanche of white-wash rolling through from Second Reef.</br></br>The wave is prone to sand build up along the inside reef, especially along the fringe near the Ehukai Channel, which occurs during north to northeast swells and the current sweeping from Rocky Point toward Pipe -- this scenario is common through the Summer months and shoulder seasons. When sand is packed tight along this reef line, Pipe becomes a hideous closeout, particularly with swells slightly north of west. Depending on just how much sand is built-up, it usually takes a solid WNW-NW swell or two to clear it out. Tides: When its on, it it can fire on pretty much all tides, but generally best between the peak low and peak high. Size: A few feet overhead-3X overhead Wind: Calm or light E to S is best overall, but the typical ENE trades are OK too if not too strong. Swell: WNW to NW Bottom: Reef Paddling: Not a far paddle out, but there can be a lot of water moving around during solid swells, a lot of jockeying for position, and simply trying to get into the wave itself (turn and burn). Spot Rating: One of the best waves on the planet.

When its pumping, then advanced level only. Intermediates can dabble when it's small.

Easy: Ehukai Beach Park is right there with a parking lot, but will max out quickly when the surf is good.

Winter

Crowd Factor: Extremely heavy when its on Local Vibe: Humility and respect a must.

Just in front of the grom factory Sunset Beach Elementary.

Clean. Beautiful, clear, blue water.

Reef, the wave, and the locals.