American · Melbourne, Florida, USA · Born 6 July 1979American surfer from Florida and a 14-year World Championship Tour veteran, twin brother of 2001 world champion C.J. Hobgood, who reached a career-high ranking of world number four.
Born in Melbourne, Florida, alongside identical twin brother C.J., Damien Hobgood began bodyboarding at age five and stand-up surfing at six. The brothers rose through the Eastern Surfing Association and National Scholastic Surfing Association ranks together, turning professional straight out of high school and drawing national media attention in outlets including USA Today and Rolling Stone. Damien was named the Association of Surfing Professionals' 2000 Rookie of the Year after finishing his debut season ranked 25th. He became the first brothers, alongside C.J., to simultaneously rank in the World Championship Tour's top 10 in 2000, and reached his career-high ranking of world number four in 2005. Hobgood built a reputation as one of the tour's finest performers in powerful, left-breaking reef passes, winning the Quiksilver Pro Fiji in 2004, the Nova Schin WCT Brazil in 2005, the Globe WCT Fiji in 2006, and the Billabong Pro Teahupoo in 2007. His 2004 Fiji victory included one of the highest two-wave heat scores in the sport's history, a 19.9 out of a possible 20, in a win over Andy Irons. Damien remained on tour for 14 years before later competing on the WSL Big Wave Tour. He continues to work with clothing brand Salty Crew and, with C.J., mentors young surfers through Camp Hobgood.
A 14-year World Championship Tour career and multiple wins in heavy reef-pass waves like Fiji and Teahupoo
How They Played
Powerful, versatile goofyfoot excelling in heavy left-breaking reef passes
Lasting Impact
One half of one of surfing's most successful twin duos, alongside brother C.J. Hobgood
American Athletes