On Friday, the 2017 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout ran in 15-20 foot conditions, creating an IMAX-like arena full of high, exciting drama with deep barrels and heavy, cringeworthy wipeouts. One of those wipeouts nearly turned tragic. The North Shore’s own Kalani Chapman pulled into a second reef wave, and moments later fell in a thick barrel.
He didn’t surface.
Seth Moniz, Nathan Florence and the Hawaiian Water Patrol’s Terry Ahue were in the vicinity to Kalani. He was pulled to shore, where he was resuscitated and taken to the hospital.
“Praying for a speedy recovery for Kalani,” said Torrey Meister. “It’s heavy when someone you consider a superhero goes through something like that. It can really happen to anyone and life is so precious. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have Kalani still with us. That was just frightening and I know the Lord had His hand on Kalani. Thank you Lifeguards and Hawaiian water patrol, you guys are the true heroes without you guys we could not be doing what we love. Seth Moniz and Nathan Florence too, for jumping right on it and helping get Kalani to the beach. Please send out healing prayers and good vibes to Kalani and his family.”
“I watched this guy grow up on the North Shore from a little kid at Val’s reef at Sunset Beach with his mom and brother to one of the best Pipeline surfers in the world,” said Johnnyboy Gomes. “He had a bad wipeout and hit his head and got seriously injured…Please let’s send our Braddah a lot of prayer and love.”
Kalani is now in stable condition at the hospital, and we’ll provide updates as soon as they come out.