A-frame

Aaberg, Denny

Aaberg, Kemp

Abberton, Koby

Abbruzzi, Sid

Abellira, Reno

Abubo, Megan

academia and surfing

Adler, Tom

advertising and surfing

Aeder, Erik

aerial

Aguerre, Fernando

Aichner, Scott

Aikau, Clyde

Aikau, Eddie

Aipa, Ben

air-drop

airbrush

Airshow

Ala Moana

Alabama

alaia board

Alaska

alcohol and surfing

Alexander, Kala

Alexandre, João (Dapin)

Allen, Chuck

Alms, Paige

aloha shirt

Alter, Hobie

Alvarez, Pepe

Ancell, Kevin

Andaman Islands

Andersen, Lisa

Anderson, Craig

Anderson, Simon

Andino, Kolohe

Angel, Jose

angle

Angola

Angourie

Antarctica

Apocalypse Now

Arabian Sea

Aragon, Janice

Arakawa, Eric

Archbold, Matt

Arena, Eduardo

Ashton, Juan

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP)

Atlantic Ocean

August, Robert

Aurness, Rolf

Auster, Ken

Australia

Avalon, Frankie

Azores

backdoor

backside

backside attack, Pipeline

backwash

bail out

Bain, Rob

Baja California

Baker, Bernie

Baker, Grant “Twiggy”

Baker, Tim

Bali

Ball, John “Doc”

Ballard, Bill

Ballard, Rochelle

balsa

Baltic Sea

Banks, Jim

Barbados

Barilotti, Steve

Barland, Michel

Barreda, Sergio “Gordo”

Barry, Michael

Bartholomew, Wayne

Baxter, Jackie

Bay of Bengal

Beach Boys, The

Beacham, Debbie

beachboys

beachbreak

Beachcomber Bills Grand Prix

Beachley, Layne

beavertail

Becker, Phil

Bedford-Brown, Stuart

Belgium

Bells Beach

Bendall, Ma and Pa

Bennett, Barry

Benson, Becky

Benson, Blanche

Benson, Linda

Bermuda

Dynamic goofyfoot pro surfer from Satellite Beach, Florida; world-ranked #4 in 2005; identical twin brother to 2001 world champion CJ Hobgood. Damien was born (1979) in Melbourne Beach, Florida, raised in Satellite Beach, began bodyboarding at age five and stand-up surfing at six.

Damien and CJ both came to the attention of the surf world in 1991 by taking the top two slots in the menehune division of the Eastern Surfing Association Championships (CJ beat Damien). Both were top-rated amateurs over the next several years, with Damien placing second in the boys' division of the 1994 U.S. Championships, winning the 1995 East Coast National Scholastic Surfing Association juniors division ratings, and placing third in the juniors of the 1996 World Surfing Games.

Not surprisingly, the Hobgoods developed similar wave-riding styles, each utilizing a low, spread-out stance, while making a study of all facets of the sport, with an emphasis on aerials, as well as tuberiding in thick, high-risk surf. Both were gently mocked by the surf press for being fans of country-western music, and for their languid, vaguely southern accents.

Damien Hobgood placed fifth in the 1999 World Qualifying Series of the pro tour; the following year he was world-ranked 25th, named rookie of the year, and described by surf journalist Jason Borte as one of five "replacement killers" who might fill in for then-retired six-time world champion Kelly Slater, also of Florida. In 2000, the Hobgoods became the first brothers to place simultaneously in the world tour top 10. Though CJ was the more competitively polished, the Hobgoods' style was as identical as their looks, and until CJ started adding yellow rails to all his surfboards, it was nearly impossible to tell the two apart in the surf.

By the mid-'00s, Damien had established himself as a serious competitive threat in powerful, left-breaking reef passes, winning at Tavarua twice (Quiksilver Pro, 2004; Globe WCT Fiji 2006) and at the Billabong Pro at Teahupoo in 2007 (CJ won Teahupoo in 2004).

Hobgood has appeared in over 20 surf videos, including 

Hobgood, Damien

Subscribe or Login

Encyclopedia of Surfing

History of Surfing

Interviews

Videos

Encyclopedia of Surfing

History of Surfing

Interviews

Videos