Hang Loose Pro

ASP 6-Star Prime Men's WQS event
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
2 - 7 February 2010

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Raoni Monteiro makes his third final in a row   |  Portuguese

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 6 February, 2010 : - - Fernando de Noronha Brazil -- 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.

CJ Hobgood : photo Daniel Smorigo

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.

FINAL
Hobgood,C.J. USA 1
Monteiro,Raoni BRA 2

SEMI 1              
Hobgood,C.J. USA 1     
Muniz,Alejo BRA 2     

SEMI 2
Monteiro,Raoni BRA 1
Dantas,Wiggolly BRA 2

Check the Full Results 

Current One World Ratings (Top 45 not shown)

Hobgood,C.J.	USA
Muniz,Alejo	BRA
Monteiro,Raoni	BRA
Dantas,Wiggolly	BRA
Bettero,Hizunome	BRA
Alves,Heitor	BRA
Simpson,Brett	USA
Duru,Joan	FRA
Cardoso,Willian	BRA
Neves,Leonardo	BRA
Fernandes,Gustavo	BRA
Nicol,Yadin	AUS
Collazo,Hodei	EUK
Farney,Marcio	BRA
Zietz,Sebastien	HAW
Jhones,Alan	BRA
Palmboom,Rudy	ZAF
Atkinson,Dion	AUS
Rosa,Peterson	BRA
Wilkinson,Matt	AUS
Andre,Jadson	BRA
O'Brien,Jamie	HAW
Picon,Michael	FRA
Henrique,Pedro	BRA
Bastos,Leandro	BRA
Hobgood,Damien	USA
Acero,Eneko	EUK
Batista,Halley	BRA
Rosa,Diego	BRA
Nakagima,Flavio	BRA
Hermes,Tomas	BRA
Paulino,Pablo	BRA
Ware,Austin	USA
Dornelles,Rodrigo	BRA
Meister,Torrey	HAW
Vargas,Jeronimo	BRA
Bryson,Royden	ZAF
Curran,Nathaniel	USA
Toth,Brian	PRI
Belo,Jano	BRA
Tamberg,Patrick	BRA
Graves,Dylan	PRI
Walsh,Anthony	AUS
De Souza,Thiago	BRA
Benson,Tonino	HAW

Check the Full Ratings

Previous reports:
# 1 : Hang Loose Pro starts in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
# 2 : 6-Star Hang Loose Pro gets improved surf for Day #3
# 3 : André and Rosa standouts Day 4 of Hang Loose Pro   

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