Pop the Prosecco!
One of the most well-loved surfers in the entire world, and 2001’s champion, CJ Hobgood has led a storied life. Born a twin, becoming the model for the NSSA logo, Rookie of the Year on the 1999 Association of Surfing Professional’s main tour then winning it all in 2001, Clifton James has lived, lived and lived again.
And now, in mere days, he is set to join brother Damien in the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame. A party will fete his induction January 5th at 5:00pm at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando as part of the famed Surf Expo (tickets here).
In case you are a younger girl an ill-informed, you can learn all about his accomplishments and travails in the award-winning documentary And Two if by Sea.
Or you can listen to CJ shine on Dirty Water.
Florida Today describes CJ’s journey thusly:
Swaying palm trees in Bali, thunderous waves in Oahu and Champagne toasts off the coast of France. It was all part of the jet-setting lifestyle for professional surfers CJ Hobgood and Danny Melhado.
Of course, along with the glamor, there were bumps, bruises and broken bones, not to mention the thousands of miles and hundreds of days spent away from home, hauling a quiver of surfboards through airports, and eating exotic, yet strange-looking, foods.
Now, oceans apart, their legacy connects again Wednesday evening when both South Brevard legends are inducted into the 25th edition of the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame.
CJ adds, “I don’t know if this ever pops up on your radar when you’re growing up. I think surfing was still kind of counter-culture back then; maybe you’d get like one mention on ‘SportsCenter,’ but I couldn’t imagine (what it became).”
The greatest show ever.
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Take that Kelly
Who the fuck is Danny Melhado?
Shredder from back in the day. FL used to pump out legitimate contest talent in the 80s and 90s and lots of guys who could go big, too (remember Morcom owning early Puerto Escondido, and Baron Knowlton Pipe?).
What I wanna know is: is he going in the surfival league again?
How does one watch that documentary?
Five dollars on ITunes
5 bucks isnt enough to pay me to watch that crap, world title*
Took any wave I wanted of CJ at sunset beach the year he won it and I am not Gary Elkerton
Yea I’d watch it for free. I liked his post heat interviews while on tour not the usual “one heat at a time I’m over the moon stuff. Fellow fisherman also.
I figured there’d be a lot of religious stuff in the movie though. Wonder why there haven’t been any pros coming out of the east coast for so long.
Waves aren’t as consistent as they used to be. Cost money to live at the coast, so trust fund kids who aren’t as hungry to make it as back in the day. Lack of opps to compete and build up points. Less of an industry to sponsor young shredders to travel and get experience.
I guess one of the premier breeding grounds for future pro’s, Sebastian Inlet got all screwed up as well.
Strong coffee and matchsticks in your eyelids.
With the sound off.
It used to be on Amazon prime for free I think. Maybe still is. I was drinking heavily at the time. I remember it was about twins who surf.