Life After Pro Surfing: How CJ Hobgood Mastered the Pivot to Business

The 2001 World Champion competed at the elite level for nearly two decades before recognizing that his competitive surfing career was nearing its conclusion. Rather than facing financial instability or burnout, Hobgood built a post-surfing foundation by co-founding the apparel brand Salty Crew in 2013 while still actively competing on the Championship Tour. Balancing Pro Surfing and Business Ventures

During the final stages of his surfing career, Hobgood split his focus between major competitions and establishing his brand. According to Hobgood’s interview with Surfer, he was booking appointments for Salty Crew at Surf Expo in Florida just days before competing in heats at The Pipeline Masters.

The day before my heat at The Pipeline Masters was a layday, so I was calling around and booking appointments for Salty Crew at Surf Expo in Florida the next month,

CJ Hobgood

Surfing taught Hobgood self-discipline and an understanding of work ethic, traits he later applied to business disciplines. He noted that the independence required of a professional surfer prepared him to structure his days without direct supervision.

Transitioning Into Real Estate Sales in Florida

Following his involvement with Salty Crew, Hobgood shifted his professional focus to real estate sales in Florida, where he lives with his wife, Cortney. The career change was sparked during the COVID-19 pandemic when housing market activity surged.

Cortney encouraged Hobgood to enter the real estate industry, offering to teach him the business. By applying the same steady work ethic he learned in surfing—repeating tasks until they become familiar—Hobgood spent his first year stacking work days before feeling comfortable in the role. Five years into his real estate career, he operates in the market without needing to overthink daily procedures.

Leveraging Past Recognition and Trust in Sales

Hobgood’s background as a world champion surfer has impacted his real estate career. Rather than chasing clients, his recognizable profile allows him to attract buyers and clients who were fans of his surfing career.

According to Hobgood, establishing trust is the biggest hurdle in sales, but his athletic background helps clients feel that they already know him within minutes of meeting. Despite the advantage of brand familiarity, he treats every real estate deal as a challenge, emphasizing the importance of developing resilience against market ups and downs.

Managing Work-Life Balance and Rediscovering Surfing

A major challenge in real estate sales for Hobgood is maintaining a healthy work-life balance, as the industry rewards constant drive. He and his wife manage this by adjusting their schedules based on market activity—working intensively when the market heats up and taking trips when business slows.

Stepping away from daily surfing also shifted his relationship with the ocean. After letting go of the constant demands of the Championship Tour, Hobgood states that he fell back in love with surfing, approaching it with the enthusiasm of a beginner during his free time.