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Koa Rothman

Koa Rothman

Country flag United States

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Born: Honolulu

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Gender: Male

Nationality: American

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Stance: Goofy

Disciplines: Big Wave Surfing

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Koa Rothman and Team Japan Win 2025 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout! The thing about surfing Pipeline — as is the case with many athletic endeavors — is that you can have a team full of all-stars and the waves could be totally all-time, but if you’re not in a rhythm, none of those factors means jack-sh-t. A rhythm, and being in one, is that semi-intangible x-factor that separates the haves from the have-nots in surfing events and Day 4 of Da Hui Backdoor Shootout was no exception. While decent, often well-groomed 6-8-foot-Hawaiian waves graced every single heat from sun up to sun down, it was Team Japan in their second heat of the day who truly caught the beat and tuned into that systematic arrangement of aquatic high notes and found an enviable flow. Sure, the waves absolutely pumped during that heat with surfers like Shogo Harada, Shinpei Horiguchi and Riku Matsumoto bagging bombs that secured scores which may have made up for heats the day or two prior. But as the dust settled from that monumental heat, everyone around the contest zone was whispering to each other: “Did they just get enough waves to win as a team?” Under the This Is LIvin’ tent where Team 96712 sat, Nate Florence shook his head in disbelief and said, “We have to get sets like whatever they just got in our next heat.” They actually would get a few in theirs — but just not quite as many. And besides Koa Rothman, who definitely found his rhythm, the team as a whole couldn’t quite lock into the melody that Team Japan did. “I think we really found a rhythm out there during that heat with the ocean,” said Shinpei Horiguchi. Mind you, this is the same Shinpei that nearly got decapitated in front of our very eyes on Day 1, if you remember that 8-footer that unloaded all of its kilojoules onto his dome. “But that’s really what it was: ocean rhythm,” continued Shinpei. “Once we got that rhythm, then we got plenty of waves. Back-to-back. So, really, all I can thank is the ocean.” Certainly, teams like Team Volcom, Team North Shore Boys and Team New Earth Project had their magic moments. Event runner-up Shayden Pacarro of Team New Earth, who surfed as a replacement for Kelly Slater, was surely in form all six times he surfed in the event, and never more so than today. “Every time I was out there, it felt like it was my first wave again, you know?” said Shayden. “Kelly, maybe next year, brah!” In the end, the whispers and rumors would be realized, both for the Team and individual winners — both entities who very evidently had that flow today. Team Japan had done the impossible, while Pipeline specialist Koa Rothman did the quite-probable. “Winning this for Team Japan is…happy…crazy…amazing…unbelievable,” said Shinpei Horiguchi searching for the right word, with tears in his eyes. “This is history for Team Japan, you know? So, we are very, very, very happy.” Maybe finding that elusive “rhythm” gets somehow easier with reps. If so, the Backdoor Shootout gives you more than a handful of chances to find your footing over the course of 4 days. “This is honestly my favorite event because there’s no other event where you get to surf Pipeline six times with your best friends,” says Koa Rothman. “That’s so crazy that that can actually happen. Then to have my family and Da Hui o Hee Nalu there putting it on, these people that I’ve known since I was a baby…I’m kind of speechless. I just gotta thank Nathan and Ivan Florence for going on the first wave of the set [laughs]. I ended up getting a really good one and Jose Angel helped out with that too. Oh, and thank you to my brother Makua for not showing up those last few heats, so I could get more waves!” Individual Winner: Koa Rothman 2nd Place: Shayden Pacarro 3rd Place: Jamie O’Brien 4th Place: Shogo Harada 5th Place: Nathan Florence Team Winner: Team Japan: Shinpei Horiguchi, Riaru Ito, Riku Matsumoto, Shogo Harada, and Shohei Kato Longboard: Kala DeSoto SUP: Anthony Maltese

15/01/2025   |   video icon

Vans Pipe Masters 2024: Finals Day Headlines Finals Day of the #VansPipeMasters was greeted by pumping Pipeline, including moments of insanity and perfection. Men's Round 3 took the water first in 8 - 12 foot waves. There were massive scores, massive wipeouts, huge shakeups on the leaderboard, and a perfect 30-point ride. Upon completion of the round, the Women's Final and Men's Final played out back-to-back to determine who would earn the coveted title of the 2024 Vans Pipe Master. Congratulations to this years champions, Nathan Florence and Erin Brooks! Subscribe now at: https://www.youtube.com/vans Connect with Vans: http://www.vans.com

19/12/2024   |   video icon

BSTV: Da Hui Backdoor Shootout 2023 On this episode of Board Stories, the waves are pumping at Da Hui Backdoor Shootout. We're going to see the highlights from the event, as well as hear from the athletes and get up close and personal with rising Pipeline star, Kala Grace." https://www.FreesurfMagazine.com Freesurf Magazine is Hawai'i's premiere surf publication, keeping you up-to-date with the latest in beach lifestyle and board sports. Located on the North Shore of Oahu and in conjunction with Board Stories TV, the magazine is directly connected to the source of the action, as well as the athletes and industry players who set the trends.

23/06/2023   |   video icon
 
 

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