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FERNANDO DE NORONHA, Pernambuco, BRAZIL (Saturday, February 06) – North American C. J. Hobgood confirmed his top seed 1 level of the 2010 Hang Loose Pro Contest and won the first "prime location" of the year in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. Raoni Monteiro made his third final in a row in Cacimba do Padre waves, but as last year, didn’t find the barrels to win.
“I’m stoked. Last year I put too much pressure on myself and it didn’t paid off. It was amazing to win right now in the beginning of the season. I was lucky all day long finding those left barrels and I’m glad to be here in this amazing place”, said former World Tour Campion.
C.J. walked away with U$ 20.000 winner’s prize money and 6.500 points to take the lead of the ASP One Ranking. Raoni pocketed U$ 10.000 and 4.875 points to place himself two steps below C.J. in the Ranking where young Brazilian Alejo Muniz is current runner-up. Here in Noronha Alejo and fellow coutryman Wiggolly Dantas was equal 3rd.
With the forecast showing a decline in the swell contest organizers decided to run the finals on Saturday even with the window going till Sunday. C.J. was on fire since his first heat of this Saturday. In the Round of 16, C.J got barreled twice to post a new record of two-wave total of 17.17 points (out of a possible 20). He smoked both Brazilians Gustavo Fernandes in quarter-finals and Alejo Muniz in the semifinal.
There were no more waves in the right side of the beach due the low tide. In the final heat, C.J. and Raoni were searching for the lefthanders in the Cacimba’s left side. Raoni caught the first wave but it didn’t worth. C.J was in the right place to get barreled and than smashed the wave to the end with a powerful forehand attack to post the highest score of the final (8.0). And it was done when he did it again in the next set registering 6.33.
With few waves in offer, there was no way for Raoni to fight back. “Raoni is a great surfer and a great guy. I know him from the ASP Tour and I knew it would be very tough to beat him here in Noronha. I hope to see him back in the WT. I want to congratulate Hang Loose to run that great event here and support surfing in Brazil as well”, said C. J. Hobgood.
Raoni Monteiro was happy with the great result: “Even loosing twice, the second final in a row, I’m definitely happy. C.J. is a great surfer, Top seeded, always making to the finals so it’s ok. It’s nice to be in the final three times in a row here, so I’m stoked and now I Just need a new sponsor to keep going”, declared Raoni.
C.J. was alone in the semifinals heats against Brazilian crew. He made it through with a solid win over Gustavo Fernandes. North American Brett Simpson was dismissed by Alejo Muniz while Wiggolly Dantas overtook Frenchman Joan Duru in the quarters. In the last quarter-finals heat was Raoni Monteiro and fellow coutryman Hizunome Bettero.
In equal 3rd both semifinalists are from the new Brazilian generation, Alejo and Wiggolly were competing under Brazilian and South American flag in the last ASP World Pro Junior in Austrália. Alejo is current National and South American Champion under-20 and runner-up in the last 6-star WQS Event at Paracuru. |
