C.J. Hobgood rips in heavy waves. That’s the deal. Big bottom turns, insane barrel navigation system, and a seemingly endless bag of aerial lip tricks makes him nothing but bad news for any surfer who draws him in a heat.

Launching from Satellite Beach, Florida as Eastern Surfing Association menehune masters and then crushing all comers in the NSSA ranks and punctuated that with solid international performances before he even graduated high school. In 1998, C.J. attacked the Association of Surfing Professional (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) with full carving fire.

He qualified at the end of the first year and won Rookie of the Year.That year he made the finals of the Gotcha Pro in Tahiti, meeting his idol Occy in the final. The next year during a season cut short by the 9/11 attacks, C.J. won the World Title in 2001. Although he earned the title that year, many (including C.J.) see his title during the abbreviated season as dubious.

But there is little doubt that C.J. is dangerous in any condition and on any stop on the tour.