christiansurferstahiti

Name: CJ Hobgood

Birth: July 6 1979

Occupation: Professional surfer

Athlete sports background: Surfing

Sponsors: Rusty, Oakley, Globe, Body Glove, X-Track

Favourite Scripture: Mark 8:36. "What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself?"

Saved:
CJ Hobgood has not attained the whole world, but something that many surfers would find equally satisfying-he won the 2001 ASP World Championships at age 22. This was a meteoric rise after just three years on the tour. While completely stoked on his achievement, CJ is also concentrated on spiritual fulfilment as reflected in his favourite Bible verses. "What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself?"
Mark 8:36.

Clifton James Hobgood was born in Satellite Beach, Florida on July 6, 1979. While the surf there is often small and inconsistent, both CJ and his brother Damien were inspired by the success of former surfing World Champion, Kelly Slater.

The competitive drive brought on by siblings helped to shape both Hobgoods into solid surfers and strong competitors. Even as groms they had a strong win-to-loss ratio. As a kid CJ never thought about anything but surfing, and his entire focus was on getting better, and riding as many waves as possible.

The culmination of his natural ability and disciplined approach let to the ultimate prize in surfing, a World Championship, something that he describes as "one of the most incredible feelings I've ever had." Just last year CJ had another incredible experience, one that anyone can attain. "I accepted Jesus Christ last year at Calvary Chapel in Melbourne. I find that when I know his will is being done in my life, satisfaction is guaranteed." When Interviewed about why he thanked God as the first person acknowledged in his world title, CJ said, "He pretty much is my life, and I try to be on his path. He has given me everything that I have, this has nothing to do with me at all. I'm stoked to be able to thank Jesus Christ for everything. I'm able to enjoy all I have to much more because of that."

While his heroes had always been surfers, CJ now looks up to Jesus Christ and hopes to be more like him as reflected in another on of CJ's favourite verses. "Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey him" Mathew 8:27.

At 23 years old, one of surfing's newest champions isn't that far beyond grommethood, but he has some advice to those coming up-"Love what you do and it will take care of you. Trust in the Lord."

Go see CJ website (www.hobgoods.com)

1989-10 year old CJ enters his first NSSA contest in Satellite Beach and makes the Open Boys final.
1990-CJ makes his first trip to the NSSA Nationals and places 2nd in the Menehuene final.
1991-NSSA National Explorer Menehuene Champion
1994-NSSA Eastern Boys Champion
1995-NSSA Southeast Open Juniors Champion
1995-NSSA National Open Juniors Champion
1997-NSSA Eastern Mens Champion
1998-CJ selected as the surfer for the new NSSA logo
1998-First WQS win at the Buondi Sintra Pro
2000-First WCT win at the Hossegor Rip Curl Pro
2001-ASP World Champion
2002 WCT EVENT RESULTS

17th-Quiksilver Pro (Aus); 9th-Rip Curl Pro (Aus); 5th-Billabong Pro Teahupoo (Tah); 3rd-Quiksilver Pro (Fiji); 17th-Billabong Pro (SAfr); 17th-Boost Mobile Pro presented by Billabong (USA); 9th-Figueira Pro (Port); 9th-Quiksilver Pro (Fra); 17th-Billabong Pro (Spn); 17th-Mundial Coca-Cola de Surf (Brz); 33rd-Rip Curl Cup (Haw); 25th-Xbox Gerry Lopez Pipeline Masters (Haw)
Events Missed: 0

Name: Tim Curran

Occupation: Professional surfer

Testimony:
Tim Curran is by far one of the most innovative surfers to come along in many years. His ability to perform aerial maneuvers on command, has made him a stand out on the world tour of surfing. "Surfing to me is my life. After the many years of surfing, I just have a love for it. Now I get paid to travel the world and have fun seeing what God has created.

When was your first aerial? "The first aerial off the lip I did is when I was 12 years old. Going down the line, I had more speed than I ever had, and it just so happen that the backwash hit the wave right as I hit the lip…. And it threw me so high! I don’t know how, it just launched me way up I the air."

"I remember being in the air, looking down, going, 'Oh my gosh, I am in the air and my feet are perfectly on the board!' And I’m flying looking down, thinking I am going to eat it! I remember coming up, just going, 'That is the best feeling in surfing!' I was like… 'That’s it!'

Tim had the most supportive family any surfer could ask for. They not only introduced him to the ocean, but also to the maker of the waves.

"I accepted Jesus into my heart when I was 5 years old. Basically it was mom and dad sitting down with me one night on the couch. Just telling me all that God had to offer, and that how he loved me so much. And if I accept him into my heart that I would go to heaven… and every thing would be fine, ya know."

"When you’re a little kid, you’re just like, 'that sounds cool!' I remember they said, 'We don’t want to force it upon you, so go and you know, come back, think about it.' So I went into my room for about 5 minutes. I went like, 'It’s too easy!' So after considering the offer in my room, I went out and prayed with them and accepted Jesus in my heart. Every since then I’ve just tried to be the best I can and live for God."

"Surfing, money, everything comes nowhere close to the feeling that God gives me when I’m right on with him. And so… It’s awesome!" "If you get the opportunity to feel something that’s better than anything out there, you might as well try it. You know, see for your self." "He’ll do things in your life, that you’ll know He’s real. So many things."

Greetings
Tim Curran

Name: Shannon McIntyre

Birth: 7/19/1974

Occupation: Artist check out www.shannonsurf.com / surfer / filmographer, and co-host for “On Surfari” / soon to be Mom

Athlete sports background: 15 years surfing. Competed on College surf team and in specialty PRO/AM events. Extensive surf travels to: Mexico, Hawaii, Indonesia, Sultanate of Oman (first woman to surf Oman), Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Australia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Peru, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominican Rep., Japan, India, France, Panama, Mauritius and Reunion. 3years scuba .

Sponsors: Roxy, FCS, and John Fluevog shoes

Word of wisdom: Always live with a thankful spirit in all situations.

Favourite Scripture : Psalm 93:3-4 ”the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea the Lord on high is mighty.”

Favourite band: I really love Chad Farran’s music - he does all the music for our TV show “on Surfari”. It’s culturally diverse, with tunes created by various instruments he’s collected from around the world. Check it at www.crowdedtrain.com

Saved: Maybe in 1978 when I was a small child 4-7 years old

Testimony:
I was raised in a loving Christian home with both Parents and 3 younger Brothers in the desert town of Santee, CA. The first time I remember saying the “sinner’s prayer” to accept Jesus in to my life was with a baby sitter at McDonalds before I dove into my happy meal. I have been supernaturally blessed ever since. Throughout my life growing up the Lord protected me from all kinds of harm, and the temptation of drugs and alcohol. I always wanted to save sex for marriage and God gave me the will to. He’s given me all my needs. I feel like I’ve always had the Holy Spirit leading me through life. I believe that my family’s prayers for safety have been answered on all our crazy adventures. I’m a living miracle, God took this inland raised little girl and blessed me with gifts of the sea

I met my husband, Shayne, at a surfers Bible study called “Pizza and Prayer” lead by Peter King when I was only 19. Two years later he proposed to me with his hand-carved coconut shell ring on the island of Bawa in Indonesia after being lost at sea in a tiny fishing boat for 3 days. We have been married for 8 years now and have had many beautiful adventures, many blissful times and a few major trials that in the end made our marriage even stronger. The trials that we went through in our marriage really tested my faith in love and God. It was in this time I distanced myself from God and tasted hell. I realized then that that’s what hell is, separation from God. Through prayer and a commitment to stay together we could see that Satan was really trying to win in our marriage. We ultimately wanted God to be glorified in our marriage. With God’s healing and forgiveness our relationship is 200% better. The Lord has blessed Shayne and I with enchanted lives of world travel, careers as artists, surfers, and TV show producers, and our home little beach bungalow and after wanting children for the last 3 years we are pregnant with our first boy! God is so awesome!

Jesus taught me to have faith to walk on water and to love people of all cultures. He paid the ultimate price for my sins so that I can live a life of forgiveness and have a personal relationship with God. Jesus has given me true freedom, and taught me the meaning of true unconditional love. The Bible promises that if we delight ourselves in the Lord that he will give us the desires of our heart. Jesus daily encourages me to use my talents to glorify him and bless others. I try to put Jesus first in my everyday life and career. In the morning Shayne and I read the Bible together to grow closer to God. In my artwork I use symbols and Bible verses to send the positive message. In our surfing we get to be a part of and feel the power of Gods amazing creation. Surfing is a perfect time to worship and talk to God.

I guess if there were anything I can say to encourage you, it would have to be that God truly loves you and knows you better than you know yourself. His desire is to have a relationship with you. He has the unlimited abilities and wants to bless you in supernatural ways. I know that God is the one who blesses me because I have given my life to him, and there is no way that I could have accomplished all that I have on my own.

Go see Shannon website: (www.shannonsurf.com)

Name: Madeleine Taylor

Birth: October 24, 1980

Occupation: many different things: surfer/ surf coach/ student (studying language and theology)/ youth worker.

Athlete sports background: Since I was really little its been a bit of everything; swimming, athletics, basketball, netball, soccer, surf life saving. But the best has been surfing!

Sponsors: Ripcurl, Reef, Oakley, Dragon fly Blue, Glen Johnson surfboards

Word of wisdom: Find your love, worth and acceptance in Jesus and you’ll be free to be yourself! God’s made all of us different for His good purposes and He loves us!

Favourite Scripture: Romans 13:8-10 :
Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God’s law. For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting and any other commandment, are all summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself” Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God’s requirements. (New Living Translation)

Favourite bands: Supertones, United (Hillsong youth), Black eyed peas, Third day.

Saved: July 2000

Testimony:
I grew up in one of the worlds best surfing places, the Gold coast, Australia, where I learnt to surf on some of the worlds most famous surf breaks, like Snapper Rocks, Burleigh, Duranbah, Kirra and Straddie. I was raised in a Christian/Catholic home, and went to Catholic schools, where I learnt a lot about Jesus and the bible. I always had a strong belief in God, I never doubted that he existed and I called myself a Christian, but never knew about having a relationship with Jesus. To be quite honest I thought it was kind of dorky and boring going to church and I could never understand why these Christians made such a fuss about God and other people. I thought I’d never be like that, and besides, I was a surfer, and I was cool (or so I thought)!! On school holidays I’d go along to Christian camps where we got to do heaps cool activities, and I met someone who invited me along to a “Christian surfers” competition. I went along and met a group of Christians who surfed, and they were cool too (like me)! These competitions lead me to surf and compete firstly in local contests, then on the Australian junior series, to Australian & world grommet titles (where I placed 2 nd and 3 rd respectively) and onto the WQS (world qualifying series). It was on the first year of the WQS that I had my first real encounter with God. Our first stop was South Africa, and being my first real trip overseas, I started to feel emptiness and loneliness, and realized I really had nothing! In a worldly sense, I had it all, I couldn’t have wanted anything more. I had finished university, I’d won contests, I had a wonderful boyfriend, I had a wonderful family, I had lots of friends, I had sponsors who provided all my clothes, accessories, surfboards and money, and I was getting paid to travel around the world and surf! But there was still something missing. The whole time, God was there, just longing for me to come to Him, so that he could fulfill that empty spot inside. I soon realized that I was completely surrounded by other Christians. It was freaky; everyone I met was a Christian. The guys from Christian surfers South Africa invited us along to church, and I decided to go. I was skeptical at first, having been to church hundreds of times before, but this time, I asked God to talk to me, and to show me if He was real. I’d called myself a Christian for long enough, and it was time to decide, if God was real, then the words of His bible were true, and I should follow! That night God spoke directly to me, overcoming my biggest obstacle to following him, that I couldn’t be a ‘good enough’ Christian. God revealed to me that Jesus died for me, before I came to God. He didn’t wait for me to come to him first, and he didn’t wait for me to be ‘good’ enough first (if there even is such a thing). He died knowing that I was not ‘good’, but oh so loved by Him anyway. That it didn’t matter the things I’d done, or not done, but that I was created to love and be loved by God, and the only way for my relationship with God to be restored was through Jesus, the perfect offering. At last, I could stop trying to fill my emptiness up with things. People try drugs, alcohol, relationships, busyness, everything to fill this spot, which only Jesus can fill. Its not about rules or even religion, but about a God who loves us so much, He gave his life for us, and just wants us to love him back. At times it’s not easy being a Christian, and I still don’t know ALL the answers, but I know to whom I belong, I have power in Christ, and I know I’m loved and worthy. I’m no longer searching, because I have found the way. And God wants to show you the way too!

Name: Daize Shayne

Birth: 4-25-1977

Occupation: pro-surfer/ musician / singer / songwriter

Athlete sports background: Grew up in the ocean- love all water activities.

Sponsors: Vans shoes, in between clothing sponsors and of course I’m sponsored by Jesus

Word of wisdom: "sing like no ones listening, love like you've never been hurt, work like you don’t need the money, dance like no ones watching and live like He’s coming tomorrow"

Favourite Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light if this world, a city which is on a hill can not be hidden nor do they place a lamp under a basket, but on a table so the whole house can see. The same is with you, let them see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven".

Favourite band: love all music... from Metallica to Bob Marley... Ella Fitzgerald to Techno... most worship music... love hip-hop and classical too.

Saved: Saved Oct. 2001

Testimony:
Grew up in a small town on Oahu in a broken home. Saw a lot of things kids shouldn't be exposed to at a very young age. Had a crazy stepmother who tried to kill herself in front of me, my moms boyfriend was an alcoholic and took out verbal and physical abuse on my mom. He was not very nice to my siblings and I either. My sister pretty much raised me and she liked to party... so I learned quick how to do that. By the time I was in sixth grade I was stealing alcohol from the fridge, sneaking out and I also got really good at lying... In 7th grade I started to smoke cigarettes and pot. 8th grade I started to try out Acid, got caught stealing cigarettes and also started to carve in my skin and tattoo myself. By the time 14 rolled around I was in complete rebellion with my mother and my self. I ran away, got kicked out of the all-girls school I was attending and lost my virginity to a pro surfer who was 11 years older than me. I was desperately trying to fill this emptiness that only God could. When I was 16 I found surfing and music... even though I was still getting stoned every day, smoking cigarettes and partying on the weekends, I wasn't doing coke, getting knocked up or smoking ice like the rest of my friends.

Surfing became my new hole filler and so did the guitar. Now that I look back I think that anything I could get my hands on -as long as it wasn't killing me right then and there was what Id use. God is so amazing too, how He will use what we see as a weakness and turn it into something for His greatness. I moved to San Diego Ca. when I was 19. I moved with my boyfriend at the time and I was living the life - or so we thought. We got paid to surf all over the world, smoke pot all day, have as much sex as we wanted
and even cheat on each other as long as the other didn't find out about it. It was one of the most unfulfilled times in my life. We were together living like we were married in a complete lie for 5 years. He put down my dreams, told me no one would ever listen to my music and I believed him. We fought all the time and called each other every name in the book. It was a very destructive relationship. About half way through I wanted more... I wasn't satisfied with the meagre drugs and surf parties. I wanted more excitement, more power and more high. Then I found ecstasy! This became my new thing and even though I still enjoyed doing acid and mushrooms, ecstasy could take all
the pain of my reality away... at least until the next morning when I would never feel more depleted and empty. My friends and I would fly to the south of France to stay up partying for a week straight, no sleep, and just ecstasy for food. We would then go to Amsterdam for a few days to come down and do mushrooms and smoke enough pot to keep any normal person high for a lifetime. I was out of control and on a road to death.
I decided to break up with my boyfriend of five years not to long after that and move to Hollywood in search of a bigger filler- Fame. I knew that my lifestyle was fast and crazy and when you live that certain life you need more all the time. Once I moved to Hollywood it got really bad. I was going out 5-7 nights a week and sleeping all day.

I would get so drunk sometimes I would end up making out with girls in front of people. I partied w/ the stars. I did their drugs, ate with them, danced with them and even slept next to a few of them. The crazy thing that I started to notice is the closer I got to these people, the more empty I noticed they were... and the truth was so was I. After a few months of this I broke. I realized for the last 11 years of my life I was living completely deceived. I was living out a lie, bouncing from one wall to the next in a room that seemed to get smaller and smaller. I felt cheated and raped- except in wasn't by any body else but myself that was to blame. I had been blaming my childhood and my circumstances forever, and it didn't work- it just made it worse. I was a role model to the next generation in my sport, but had no integrity and no purpose. All I had was a book of lies that I had told and a hole that over took my heart and my life.

So I cried out to God. I'll never forget that day. I had just done a week of staying up and was taking a bath when it just hit me like a ton of bricks. My friends were down stairs getting ready to go do another all nighter and I just lost it. I couldn't control the tears or the pain my soul felt at that moment- it was like an earthquake was shattering my brain and my insides. I remember praying for Gods forgiveness and I explained how sorry I was and how I needed Him. I promised that I couldn't do it on my own. I told Him didn't know how to cope with reality, I didn't know how to love myself or how to trust anyone. The miracle of the story is that as the water drained out of that tub, so did all the sin, all the confusion and all the deceit. My tears didn't stop for a few days and my friends thought I was literally going crazy. Even though they didn't bat an eye to it, I knew that they felt the same emptiness. It didn't take God and I even three months before I had quit the drugs, cigarettes, partying, lying, and I even made a vow to not have sex until marriage. It reminds me of how Paul was so passionate about the life he lived before he found Christ and then once he was touched, the passion changed for the better. That was my life. I can say I’ve been washed clean and want to tell everyone. I have found the love, the peace and fulfillment I have been searching for my whole life. This experience, it wasn't packaged and pretty, sees through and above me the way I had always seen Christianity... it was real and comforting. It was like I had a heart transplant. I could go on and on but the truth is Jesus came and didn't judge me or condemn me, He loved and accepted me where I was at and He still does. I am not perfect and I will never be, but now I've got a purpose. I don't need money, attention, drugs or fame to make me feel complete. It is truly a miracle!!!!

As I said before God takes our weakness and makes it His strength. I can now take the pain of my past and help those who need it. People are able to find healing in my wounds. I just love that and have committed my life to this, particularly to reach the next generation. Maybe because this is where most of my pain began to be suppressed... I want teenagers to know they don't have to make the same journey I did. I also feel led to teach other believers how to love the lost. I know it is not easy to not judge, but I also know this is the reason a lot more people don't open the door when our Father knocks. People need to know love not condemnation. They need to know its ok that they have a past and its ok to make mistakes- its the whole reason behind Jesus. I am going wherever our Lord takes me. I just want to live for Him and bring people who were feeling like I was to know His great love. I am not trying to sound holy or godly, this is my heart because I've been there in the bottom of the pit. I know what it is to be scared and confused, unsure and unfulfilled- but isn't that the greatness of God- He will take all the lies and instil hope, faith, love and truth into your heart and life.