The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is over, but many of the world's best surfers are still riding waves on O'ahu's North Shore.

Many of those surfers are entered in the 7th annual Da Hui Backdoor Shootout, which is expected to start this weekend at the Banzai Pipeline.

Jamie O'Brien of O'ahu's North Shore is expected to defend his title. He won last year's Backdoor Shootout in epic 10- to 15-foot waves.

Other notable surfers in the field include Pancho Sullivan, Bruce Irons, Fred Patacchia Jr., Makuakai Rothman, Mark Healey, Danny Fuller and Kalani Robb.

The Backdoor Shootout has become one of the favorite contests for the professional surfers because of its unique format. No surfers are eliminated, and the scores from every round can count toward the final score.

What's more, each surfer must represent one of his sponsors, and there is a team champion in addition to an individual champion. Teams scheduled to participate this year include Da Hui, Quiksilver, Oakley, Hurley, Red Bull, Billabong and Volcom.

The contest will run only on days when conditions are favorable between today and Jan. 15.

JAQUIAS, OGAWA WIN AT HALE'IWA CONTEST

The 39th annual Hale'iwa International Open was completed this week at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach.

More than 200 surfers, including several from Japan, competed in the four-day event.

Kaua'i's Kaimana Jaquias won the junior men's division, which features many of Hawai'i's soon-to-be professional surfers. Brennan Boudreau of Makakilo placed second, followed by Kylen Yamakawa of Honolulu.

This year's contest also featured a division for the Japan Professional Surfers Association. Naohisa Ogawa won.

Nick Mita and Jason Shibata — Hawai'i surfers who now compete on the JPSA — placed second and third, respectively.

Other division winners were: Sheldon Paishon (boys shortboard), Shinpei Horiguchi (men shortboard), Glenn Matsumoto (masters shortboard), Hiro Aoyama (seniors shortboard), Yukiko Whiteside (women shortboard), Ashley Ahina (women longboard), Nelson Ahina III (men longboard), Fabian Enoria (masters longboard), Dave Sherman (seniors longboard), and Jock Sutherland (grandmasters longboard).

BIG-WAVE CONTESTS STILL AWAITING BIG WAVES

There have been no giant swells yet this winter, so two contests remain on hold.

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational can run only on a day when waves reach at least 20 feet (with 40-foot wave-faces) at Waimea Bay.

The North Shore Tow-In Contest can run only on a day when waves reach at least 25 feet (with 50-foot wave-faces) on O'ahu's outer reefs.

In the Eddie Aikau contest, surfers must paddle themselves into the waves. In the North Shore Tow-In Contest, surfers are pulled into the waves via personal watercraft.

Some surfers are entered in both events, including Makuakai Rothman, Jamie Sterling, Brock Little and Jamie O'Brien.

The Eddie Aikau contest can wait until the end of February to run; the Tow-In contest can wait until the end of March.