Rob Machado
Birth nameRobert Edward Machado
Birth dateOctober 16, 1973 (age 53)
Birth placeSydney, New South Wales, Australia
SportSurfing
Weight150 lb (68 kg)
Height5 ft
Height in10

Robert Edward Machado (born October 16, 1973) is an Australian born American professional surfer.[1][2] Rob competed on the World Surf League Championship Tour from 1993-2001. Since then he has become a professional free surfer.[3]

Rob Machado is known for his casual, laid-back style both in and out of the water. Along with his fluid surfing style, which has earned him the nickname “Mr. Smoothy”. he is regarded as one of the best-known goofy-foot surfers in the world today.[4]

Early life

Machado attended San Dieguito High School. He describes himself in interviews, vlogs, and social media as a "soul surfer," or freesurfer.[5] He was largely active in the competitive surfing scene from 1993 to 2000, and was still competing in World Surf League events until 2012.[6]

Career

Machado hosts and participates in an annual event held at his home reef called the Rob Machado Surf Classic and Beach Fair, which is an amateur competition for the locals of all ages, and it includes demo sessions with Machado and other pros.[citation needed]

Machado portrayed "himself" in the 2007 animated picture, Surf's Up, as well as playing himself in the art film Kingshighway - Rob Machado and Joel Tudor by Paulo Carvalho (Kid Rio) and Danny Camp.[7] Machado also starred in his own feature film released in the late 90s titled Drifting. Additionally, Rob wrote and starred in the 2009 film, The Drifter.[8]

Machado is a 2011 inductee into the Surfing Walk of Fame in Huntington Beach, California, in the surf champion category.[9]

On December 31, 2019, Machado announced he would no longer be associated with Hurley International after having been sponsored by the surf company for nearly 20 years, due to the new ownership group's desire to cut spending.[10] He is now sponsored by Vuori, Reef, Dragon and Firewire.[citation needed] He regularly surfs in San Diego, where he has gained prominence.[11][12][13]

Environmental activism

Machado formed the Rob Machado Foundation, an organization focused on environmental causes.[14][15]

Career highlights

Machado has won the Hawaii's Pipeline Masters (Triple Crown of Surfing),[16] and the U.S. Open of Surfing,[17] the largest surfing event held on the U.S. mainland.

References

  1. ^ "Rob Machado |". Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
  2. ^ "Rob Machado Foundation". Rob Machado Foundation. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
  3. ^ "Rob Machado". July 2018.
  4. ^ Wilson, David. "The Best Of The Surfer’s Hall of Fame". www.theadrenalist.com. Retrieved 2025-11-28.
  5. ^ Saatsaz, Cyrus (3 September 2011). "An Interview with Rob Machado". The Inertia. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
  6. ^ "Rob Machado Surfer Bio | Age, Height, Videos & Results". 6 April 2020.
  7. ^ MrSurfanturf (2013-11-15). Kingshighway - Rob Machado and Joel Tudor. Retrieved 2025-12-23. – via YouTube.
  8. ^ "The Drifter (2009)". IMDb.com. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 2015-10-04.
  9. ^ Carroll, Corky (June 9, 2011). "Walk of Fame inductee list one of the best ever". The Orange County Register
  10. ^ Heyden, Dylan (2 January 2020). "Rob Machado and Hurley Part Ways After Nearly 20 Years". The Inertia. Retrieved 2020-01-06.
  11. ^ Howell, August (December 13, 2024). "What’s in Rob Machado’s Winter Quiver?". www.surfer.com. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  12. ^ Service • •, City News (2024-02-15). "San Diego celebs in the lineup for Padres Fanfest softball game". NBC 7 San Diego. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  13. ^ "Photos: A Morning With Rob Machado". www.surfer.com. 2014-02-05. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  14. ^ Tucker, Kelly (6 November 2015). "Rob Machado Foundation Works to Protect the Environment - The Surfers View". thesurfersview.com. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
  15. ^ Varga, George (8 November 2013). "Rob Machado rides waves of change". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
  16. ^ Arritt, Dan (2003-08-01). "Machado Is Left With Nowhere to Look but Up". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  17. ^ Thomas, Pete (2006-07-31). "Machado Rules Pier – and Peers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-09-04.