C.J. Hobgood

American surfer from Florida who won the 2001 ASP World Championship, becoming the second men's world champion from the East Coast, and twin brother of fellow tour professional Damien Hobgood.

Born Clifton James Hobgood in Melbourne, Florida, on 6 July 1979, C.J. Hobgood began surfing with his identical twin brother Damien in 1984. The brothers dominated East Coast amateur ranks through the late 1980s and early 1990s, and C.J. turned professional in 1998, qualifying for the World Championship Tour the following year and winning Rookie of the Year. Hobgood's title-winning 2001 season was compressed by the September 11 attacks, which shortened the year's schedule while he sat atop the rankings; he was ultimately declared World Champion, becoming just the second men's champion from the U.S. East Coast. He went on to win the 2004 Billabong Pro Teahupoo, one of the sport's most demanding waves, and the 2007 U.S. Open at Huntington Beach, and claimed a gold medal at the 2008 ISA World Surfing Games. An all-conditions specialist equally comfortable performing aerials in small surf or riding deep barrels at Pipeline and Teahupoo, Hobgood competed on tour for 17 years. He and Damien have often been mentioned alongside other famous surfing sibling pairs, including Michael and Derek Ho and Andy and Bruce Irons, though few duos have both reached the top level of the World Tour simultaneously the way the Hobgoods did. Since retiring, Hobgood has worked as a sales representative for Salty Crew and, together with Damien, has mentored younger surfers through their 'Camp Hobgood' program and been involved in developing the Palm Springs wave pool resort Desert Surf.

Versatile, all-conditions goofyfooter equally strong in small surf and heavy barrels

One half of one of surfing's most successful twin duos, alongside brother Damien Hobgood