North Shore traffic was severely disrupted yesterday following a serious accident involving Dakota Briley, the son of renowned Pipeline surfing legend Shawn Briley. The incident occurred near Chun’s, a popular surf spot located between Waimea Bay and Haleiwa, as Briley was loading surfboards by the roadside.
Eyewitnesses report that Briley was pinned between vehicles while standing on the side of the road at Chun’s. Longtime North Shore local and longboard competitor Rosie Jaffurs, who frequents the area, shared her distress on social media:
“He was standing where I usually park and got trapped between cars while loading his boards. I’m always cautious in that spot because of the traffic — it’s devastating that this happened. Please stay strong and recover fully, Dakota.”
Chun’s is a well-known soft, right-hand reef break, visible from Kam Highway, and a hub for local surf schools operated by figures such as Brian Surrat and Dakota’s uncle, Kalani Chapman.
On Monday morning, Dakota’s brother Ryder Briley posted a heartfelt update on Instagram, detailing the extent of Dakota’s injuries:
“He’s in really rough shape and needs a miracle. His ribs have been crushed, his spine severed and broken in multiple places, the back of his skull fractured in eight places, and from the hips down, his legs are severely crushed. Please keep him in your prayers for a full recovery.”
Following in the footsteps of his father, Shawn Briley, Dakota has rapidly gained recognition as one of the North Shore’s most promising young surfers, making his mark on Pipeline and other local breaks. Like his father, he frequently rides custom guns shaped by family friend and surfboard shaper Brett Marumoto, as well as boards crafted by his Uncle Owl Chapman.
The surfing community and fans alike are sending their thoughts and well-wishes to Dakota Briley and his family during this difficult time.
