Benny Bourgeois

Birthday: October 30, 1978
Hometown: Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, USA
Stance: Regular
Sponsors: Reef, Spy, DaKine, WRV Surfboards, and Sun Diego surf shop

This quiet, unassuming kid from Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina is the defending champ at this event. He burst onto the professional surfing main stage back in 1996, when he took down the likes of the Hobgood brothers, Taj Burrow and Andy Irons at the ISA World Games. Since then he’s battled in and out of the World Tour through injury and adversity, but has refused to disappear. As the defending 6.0 Lowers Pro champ, you can bet Benny B will be showing up big-time and will not go down without a fight.

Adriano de Souza

Birthday: February 13, 1987
Hometown: Guaruja, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Stance: Regular
Sponsors: Oakley, Pukas Surfboards, Central Surf Shop, FCS Fins, Red Bull, and Gorilla Grip

At 16 years old, Adriano de Souza became the youngest surer ever to win an ASP World Junior Championship. So, in 2006, when he qualified for the Dream Tour, he became the guiding light for Brazil’s tireless pursuit of a world title. In his third season as a pro, Adriano catapulted to seventh in the world and looks to better that in 2009, considering his runner-up finish at the Quik Pro on the Gold Coast. Adriano is a powerful, competitive machine and is always a threat at Lowers.

Dustin Barca

Birthday: February 10, 1982
Hometown: Maui, Hawaii, USA
Stance: Regular
Sponsors: Oakley, Tamba Surf Shop, and Muscle Milk

A perennial Hawaiian talent, Dustin Barca stepped up for the dwindling Island contingent this year on the World Tour, along with fellow rookie Kekoa Bacalso. With his brut determination and knife-edge rail work, look for Barca to reduce Lowers to shards of displaced water with every turn. This will be Barca’s first 6-star of the 2009 season, so you can bet he will not be holding back.

Michel Bourez

Birthday: December 30, 1985
Hometown: Mataiea, Tahiti
Stance: Regular
Sponsors: Nike 6.0, Red Bull, Futures Fins, Kelly Surfboards

Michel stunned the competitive surfing world this past winter by dominating the Reef Hawaiian Pro and effectively securing a seat in the 2009 ASP Elite. He was the first Tahitian to do so since Vetea “Poto” David did way back in 1986. Possessing the same flare of power and a laid-back Tahitian demeanor, Michel “Spartan” Bourez is a quiet warrior when it comes to surfing (and winning) contests. Be sure to check out his 7 Days profile in the July issue of SURFING Magazine.

CJ Hobgood

Birthday: July 6, 1979
Hometown: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Stance: Goofy
Sponsors: Globe, Body Glove, X-Track, Smith, Vestal, FCS, and The Goods Surf & Skate

CJ Hobgood’s filthy backhand approach has always made him the goofyfooter to beat when it comes to right-hand points like Lowers. He’s a refined competitor, 2001 ASP World Champion and two-time Lowers Pro champ (‘02/’07) and is currently sitting at fifth in the world ranks. Needless to say, CJ is a serious threat in any situation. Especially here.

Damien Hobgood

Birthday: July 6, 1979
Hometown: Melbourne, Florida, USA
Stance: Goofy
Sponsors: Globe, Anon Optics, X-Trak, FCS, and The Goods Surf & Skate

Like his twin brother, Damien is one of the deadliest screwfoots to ever grace the skatepark-like walls of Lowers. Since his days as a grom in the NSSA, Damien has gone to battle at Trestles too many times to count and has emerged victorious just as much. As far as excitement and some good quality schooling is concerned, you can’t go wrong when Damo hits the water.

Jadson Andre

Birthday: March, 13, 1990
Hometown: Natal City, Brazil
Stance: Goofy
Sponsors: Oakley

Jadson who? It’s ok, even great things taste funny at first. But you soon learn to love them, right? Like Jadson here. This 19-year-old kid from Natal City, Brazil has done nothing but burst onto the scene over and over again this year. Second at the Billabong World Junior Championships. Second at the Hurley Burleigh Pro Junior. A semi finals berth in the O’Neill Cold Water Classic, Tasmania. Number 9 on Surfer’s Hot 100. And, of course, second at the Oakley Pro Jr. Global Challenge, Australasia Qualifier — which earned him a seed into most lucrative pro junior event in the world. Yeah, that’s a lot of work. Good work. Seems like the only thing missing from this technical young goofyfoot’s resume is a first-place trophy. And you better believe that’s exactly what he’s after at Lowers.

Dane Reynolds

Birthday: September 7, 1985
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Stance: Regular
Sponsors: Quiksilver, DC, Boost Mobile, Channel Islands surfboards, Monster, Komunity Project, and Ventura Surf Shop

Usually, in Dane’s case, it’s not about when will he win as much as when he will win. There is no dispute over his ability to out-freesurf most anyone on tour but, rather, many question his hunger underneath the contest jersey. Make no mistake though, there is a hunger. And this year at the 6.0 Lowers Pro, Dane will be looking to feast more than ever after his rough run on this year’s Australian leg of the tour. He is home, and healthy, and well acquainted with Lowers’ every nuance. Beware.

Dusty Payne

Birthday: December, 27, 1988
Hometown: Lahaina, Maui, USA
Stance: Regular
Sponsors: Volcom, Local Motion surfboards, Dragon, Body Glove, Nike 6.0, Creatures of Leisure, Hi tech

In China, 2009 is the Year of the Ox. Here, in Surf World, it’s the Year of the Dusty Payne. A stretch? Try us: Semi finalist in last years 6.0 Lowers Pro at the tender age of 18; 2008 Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge Champion; 2008 Triple Crown standout; Winner of the 2009 Kustom Air Strike; current no. 3 in Surfer’s Hot 100. This is one busy kid who is turning all of his work in big, clunky trophies and fat paychecks. He is leading the charge of up-and-coming groms that not only display power and poise on the wave, but razor-sharp technique and innovation above it. Look for Dusty to go for broke in every heat — which, in that case, he won’t be so broke.

Kai Barger

Birthday: November 20, 1989
Hometown: Haiku, HI, USA
Stance: Goofy
Sponsors: Hurley, Oakley, DaKine, Nike 6.0, Kazuma Surfboards

Kai is this year’s double-threat. He is the current ASP world junior champion, thus the kid to beat in the Oakley Pro Junior. But in the pro side of the things, he is no child — as far as his surfing is concerned. The 19-year-old Maui kid has no shortage of experience when it comes to competing against the best in the world. He’s a contest machine and already a mainstay on the North Shore winter scene, where a surfer’s worth is sometimes judged on a single wave. He has been judged. And he has worth. Look for Kai to take his amateur success straight through the pro ranks and into the final rounds.