Meet Damien Hobgood, the Man Behind the Iconic Backside Snap
AthleteMeet Damien Hobgood, the Man Behind the Iconic Backside Snap
Damien Hobgood grew up traveling the world as a professional surfer with his twin brother CJ. Together, they pushed the limits of progressive surfing as part of the infamous “momentum generation”, which included legendary surfers like Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Kalani Rob, and many more. Damien has continued to give back throughout his career and he considers helping others as one of his core life purposes. We chatted with Damien to learn more about the man behind that iconic backside snap. – KH
Tell us about yourself – who is Damien Hobgood?
This is always a hard one and I would prefer to just ask others, but I think of myself as a man of God, a family man who loves others.
You’ve had an exciting life traveling the world as a professional surfer – what’s kept you grounded and able to continue giving throughout?
My brother has been a huge help in this, but also my faith and family.
What organizations do you support and feel the most passionate about?
Boys 2 Men and Surfaid are two of my favorites.
What do you like to do in your free time when you’re not working?
I like to surf, dive, fish, and play tennis.
What does kindness mean to you and how do you show it?
Kindness can be shown in so many ways. I just view myself as no greater than anyone else and I remember that we are all going through things. I try to have a servant mind and to have compassion and empathy for all.
What was the biggest impact of growing up with a twin brother who you competed against in professional surfing?
Having a twin brother is a major accountability partner so I felt that not only was I representing myself, but also my twin brother. If I did something lame, he could be blamed for it so I held myself to a very high standard.
If you could spend time with any kind human in history, who would that be and what would you do together?
Jesus. I would just listen and learn.
What’s on the horizon for Damien Hobgood – any upcoming trips or projects you’d like to share with us?
I just love standing beside people and being there for them. With that, who knows what will happen or where I will be.
