Double-barrel ride spurs Sullivan to Backdoor win

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

World champion Andy Irons of Kaua'i made the most of inconsistent waves to place second in Da Hui Backdoor Shootout. Bernie Baker photo

Sullivan won Da Hui Backdoor Shootout yesterday at the Banzai Pipeline. It was his second professional victory in the past 12 days.

"I'm just feeling really blessed right now," said Sullivan, who is from Sunset Beach. "I'm really focused, and I'm always confident when the contest is here on the North Shore."

Unlike most surfing contests, the Backdoor Shootout uses a no-elimination format. Each surfer got to compete in three separate rounds over the course of two days. Each surfer's top three waves from any of those three rounds were counted toward the final score.

"Personally, I think this is the best format for a contest," Sullivan said. "Because no one's eliminated, the only way to win is to get exceptional rides."

The final two rounds were held yesterday in 4-to 6-foot waves.

Sullivan was in the lead after Wednesday's first round. Yesterday, he all but clinched the victory in the second round.

On his best wave, he rode through a 6-foot barrel, made it out, then got barreled again at the end of the wave. The judges rewarded him with a better-than-perfect score of 45.

In another concept unique to the Shootout, the judges are allowed to award "bonus points" for rides that are thought to be better than perfect. A perfect score was 40 (10.0 from each of the four judges).

"I came out of the first section and the second section was iffy," said Sullivan, 30. "But this contest forces you to go for broke. Fortunately, I had enough speed to make it out of that second barrel."

Last week, Sullivan beat six-time former world champion Kelly Slater to win the Ezekiel Faith Riding Pro at Sunset Beach. Yesterday, he topped current world champ Andy Irons of Kaua'i.

As his reward yesterday, he received $40,000 — a first-place prize larger than any contest on the world tour.

"I'm just trying to provide for my family," said Sullivan, who got married last October, and is expecting a baby with his wife, Haunani, this summer.

Irons received $20,000 for second place, even though the waves were inconsistent during his two heats yesterday.

"I like the format," he said. "But I only got one wave in my heats. Other guys were getting three or four waves in their heats."

Shane Dorian was third, followed by Kalani Robb, Bruce Irons and Jamie O'Brien.

"All the guys in this contest are the best surfers at Pipe," Irons said. "And Pancho's been an amazing surfer for a long time. It's a well-deserved win for him."

The surfers in the contest were also separated into four-man teams based on their primary sponsors. Led by Sullivan and Robb, Da Boys won the team title.

Final results

Individual

1, Pancho Sullivan (Da Boys), $40,000. 2, Andy Irons (Billabong), $20,000. 3, Shane Dorian (Billabong), $10,000. 4, Kalani Robb (Da Boys), $6,000. 5, Bruce Irons (Volcom), $5,000. 6, Jamie O'Brien (Red Bull), $4,000. 7, Myles Padaca (Da Hui). 8, Kolea Fukumitsu (Hurley-2). 9, Mark Healey (Quiksilver). 10, Brian Pacheco (Billabong).

Team

1, Da Boys, 392.2 points. 2, Billabong, 339.2. 3, Quiksilver, 314.0. 4, Volcom, 292.2. 5, Hurley-1, 283.3. 6, Da Hui, 282.7. 7, Hurley-2, 275.2. 8, Red Bull, 272.2.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.