Laird did it. Should you? A guide to shooting the pier

The first time I heard about “shooting the pier” was when Laird Hamilton did it in August 2014 on his SUP. I was in Malibu just a few days on a quick visit from San Francisco, and I totally missed it! Let’s talk more about “shooting the pier” today.

When Laird shot the Malibu pier in August 2014, he caught the biggest wave of the day, thanks to Hurricane Marie. People say he didn’t even see the pier. I say: he probably thought the pier would move for him. You can see the footage on YouTube, it looks insane.

‍♂️ Threading the pilings

But what does shooting the pier even mean? It basically means riding a wave from one side of a pier to the other by threading the pilings. Literally surfing through the open spaces underneath the structure without hitting it. Not something that came out of ancient Hawai’i, because no piers.

According to the EOS, shooting the pier is sometimes the most practical surf maneuver, because it’s safer to get through the pilings while riding rather than pulling out before the pier and getting eaten by the next wave.

But who are we kidding? It’s a showmanship move. Immortalized in “Surfing Safari” by Beach Boys in 1962. “At Huntington and Malibu they’re shooting the pier…”

It’s considered high risk, because you’re maneuvering your board and body through a narrow space at high speed. And advanced of course, because it requires precise control, timing, and confidence. But come on, it’s a flex!

Where to flex

Huntington Beach Pier, California
The most iconic pier-surfing location. “Shooting the pier” is almost a rite of passage—especially during the U.S. Open of Surfing.

Scripps Pier, La Jolla, California
Narrow gaps between pilings make this very technical.

Ocean Beach Pier, San Diego
It’s more mellow than Huntington, but still tricky depending on swell direction and tide.

Venice Beach Pier, California
My local. I am yet to see it. It’s short and fast, so timing is everything.

Cocoa Beach Pier, Florida
Home break of Kelly Slater. On the right swell, surfers attempt to shoot here, though East Coast piers tend to be lower and sometimes trickier.

Manly Wharf or Cronulla, Australia
Some Aussie piers/wharves have narrow structures where daring surfers occasionally shoot through—but it’s less common and more tide-dependent.

Durban Piers, South Africa
Known for their concrete piers and localized vibes. Some surfers thread these during big swells, but it’s risky due to the layout.

The Dark side of the flex

Just don’t end up like Pete Syracusa, a Huntington Beach local! He described his pier shooting in the 1964 issue of Surf Guide:

“We were out on a six-foot day, and I was getting a little cocky. I went through the pier on the nose, caught a rail, and knocked out two teeth. Ended up with 40 stitches in my face.”

If that doesn’t scare you, two people died while shooting the pier. A Santa Monica City College student died after hitting the Malibu Pier in 1951, and 16-year-old surfer died at Huntington in 1997.