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Rob Machado

Rob Machado

Acting

Biography

Robert Edward Machado (better known simply as Rob Machado) (born October 16, 1973, Sydney, Australia) is an Australian-born American professional surfer from Cardiff-by-the-Sea, a community in Encinitas (San Diego County), California. Machado attended San Dieguito High School, and is known for his casual, "laid-back" style both in and out of the water taught. Though he rides a modern tri-fin shortboard, he is still considered a "soul-surfer" largely because of his soft-spoken, humble personality and his disinterest in the spotlight, along with his fluid surfing style, which has earned him the nickname "Mr. Smoothy." He is one of the best-known goofy-foot surfers in the world today. His style influences include Gerry Lopez, California's masters of style duo Oliver Lobdell and Taylor Lobdell, who he saw surfing on soft tops at River Jetties in 1990 and has tried to emulate their styles ever since.Rob has won many of pro surfing's most prestigious contests, including Hawaii's Pipeline Masters (Triple Crown of Surfing), and the U.S. Open of Surfing, the largest surfing event held on the U.S. mainland.

Known For

Surf's Up
6.5

With a documentary crew in tow, Cody Maverick—a young surfer from Antarctica—travels to the pacific for his first professional competition. Determined to earn respect and live up to his idol, Big Z, Cody pushes himself to the limit. But all that changes when an encounter with a laid-back local forces him to rethink his values.

Surf's Up

2007
Momentum Generation
6.9

In the 1990s, a motley band of teen surfers from the north shore of Oahu brought professional surfing to new heights. But as their stars rose, the competition threatened to tear their group apart.

Momentum Generation

2018
Mountains of the Moon
N/A

In Mountains of the Moon, world renowned artist and skier, Chris Benchetler explores the unseen connections between sport, life, music, and the living earth—set to the timeless tunes of the Grateful Dead.

Mountains of the Moon

2025
Birth of The Endless Summer: Discovery of Cape St. Francis
N/A

The documentary "Birth of The Endless Summer: Discovery of Cape St. Francis" reveals the untold story behind Bruce Brown's iconic film "The Endless Summer." It follows the journey of Dick Metz, a California surf pioneer, as he travels the world from 1958 to 1961. Metz's adventures lead him to discover the "perfect wave" at Cape St. Francis in South Africa, which inspires Bruce Brown to create "The Endless Summer" and revolutionize the sport of surfing. The film also documents Metz's return to South Africa at the age of 90 to retrace his original journey. It features interviews with influential figures in the surfing world, including Metz, Bruce Brown, and other surfers. The premiere of the film at the Newport Beach Film Festival is particularly special for director Richard Yelland, as it tells a personal story rooted in his hometown.

Birth of The Endless Summer: Discovery of Cape St. Francis

2023
Step Into Liquid
7.2

No special effects. No stuntmen. No stereotypes. No other feeling comes close. Surfers and secret spots from around the world are profiled in this documentary.

Step Into Liquid

2003
Shelter
5.8

In 2001 Woodshed Films released their third Moonshine Experiment surf movie entitled “Shelter.” With a similar style and feel to the first two Moonshine Experiments, “Thicker Than Water” and “September Sessions”, “Shelter” is one of Taylor Steele and Chris Malloy’s best productions. This surf movie does a great job of staying far away from the politics of surfing and focuses more on soul surfing. However, don’t think that there aren’t any surfers worth watching in this movie because there are plenty. “Shelter” is jam packed with professional and well-known surfers such as Rob Machado, Taylor Knox, Joel Tudor, Mick Fanning, Dean Morrison, Jack Johnson, The Malloy’s, Kelly Slater, Nat Young, Donavon Frankenreiter, Shane Dorian, Jon Swift and many more. The soundtrack for “Shelter” is similar to “Thicker Than Water” and “September Sessions”. It has a slower and mellower feel, featuring artists such as Mason Jennings, The Shins, White Buffalo and even surfers Jon Swift and Rob Machado.

Shelter

2001
A Brokedown Melody
7.4

A Brokedown Melody explores the times, travels and experiences of a tribe of surfers who search for the spark of life and look to pass it on to the younger generation. The film follows swell through South America, Polynesia and Jamaica documenting the surfing and times of Kelly Slater, Jack Johnson, Gerry Lopez, Rob Machado and the Malloys.

A Brokedown Melody

2004
Thicker Than Water
6.6

Chris Malloy, Emmett Malloy, and Jack Johnson got together to document the life and times of a pro surfer. Shot all on 16mm Film "Thicker Than Water" follows Rob Machado, Kelly Slater, Brad Gerlach, Shane Dorian, and others on a 18 month journey through the North Atlantic, South Pacific, and the Bay of Bengal.

Thicker Than Water

2000
No image
10.0

Two best friends, Javier and Lucio, decide to take a trip to the best surf beaches in Mexico.

Surfing Your Dreams

2013
The September Sessions
8.5

Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, and others take a trip to the coast of Sumatra, where they find themselves surfing beautiful waves, and lose the urgency they have come to live with being professionals. September Sessions documents this trip with interviews and 16mm footage of life on a once in a lifetime surftrip.

The September Sessions

2002
Fish: The Surfboard Documentary
N/A

The fish brand of surfboards has had a huge impact on surf culture in the 30 years since its launch. Learn about the origins of the surfboard’s innovative design, and hear from some of the pioneers who changed the sport of surfing forever.

Fish: The Surfboard Documentary

2016
Down the Barrel
8.0

The essence of surfing is an elusive ideal. Part sport, part state-of-mind; an avenue for self-expression, a metaphor for freedom; a ritual, a competitive event, a dangerous journey, a dance. Nature supplies the power, and with the proper balance of respect and resistance, we enjoy the ride. From the North Shore of Oahu, to the end of the road in Tahiti. From Australia to California, from Florida to France, the world's greatest surfers share their insights, and show us how - and why -- it's done. Their skill, and the thrill of the experience, are captured as never before in this documentary. What is the secret to surfing's global appeal? The answer is revealed by Florida's Kelly Slater, California's Rob Machado, Hawaii's Kalani Robb and Australia's Joel Parkinson, through their own voices, in DOWN THE BARREL. The sport of Surfing is displayed for what it is. WITHOUT SCRIPT. WITHOUT ANIMATION. WITHOUT HYPE.

Down the Barrel

2007
Momentum II
N/A

After Momentum I... the next logical step? MOMENTUM II. More polish. More production. More ripping. But the formula remains the same. Sick sections from the next generation of rising talents. Kelly Slater. Rob Machado. Shane Dorian. Taylor Knox. Kalani Robb. Benji Weatherly. And more. No one could have predicted the success of the first Momentum. And Taylor's immediate response -- even before it's success -- was to keep doing what he was doing: documenting a new generation of rising talent.

Momentum II

1993
Campaign
N/A

Pro surfers are the solution in coorporate marketing. As they say in the ad game, Surfing sells. Campaign is a comedy that mocks corporate America combined with the most mind blowing surfing of today.

Campaign

2003
Castles In The Sky
7.3

Filmed in five countries over three years, the documentary delves into the heart of the locations while the surfers travel through them with a sense of open-minded awe. With never-before seen waves and some of the best surfers in the world contributing their art, passion and athleticism, this is as close to the experience of pioneering new coastlines as you can get without getting on a plane. Written by Anonymous

Castles In The Sky

2010
Hit & Run
8.5

After year's of silly stunts and goofy skits, HIT & RUN (2000) takes a more serious look at what makes these top pros tick through a series of intimate interviews paired with the cutting edge of performance surfing. Great sections from the Bruce Irons, Andy Irons, The Hobgoods, Donavon Frankenreiter, Shane Dorian, Rob Machado, Kelly Slater and more.

Hit & Run

2000
Momentum
N/A

MOMENTUM marks the beginning of a new era in surfing. Featuring some of the first sections of New School surfers Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Ross Williams, Benji Weatherly, Kalani Robb and more, Taylor Steele's 1991 breakout VHS release changed the way surf movies were made for the next decade and became the namesake for The Momentum Generation of surfers. In 2007, Momentum was listed as #3 on Surfing Magazine's "Greatest Surf Movies of All Time."

Momentum

1992
Proximity
4.0

Eight of the world's best surfers—four legends and four rising stars—search for new waves and deeper understanding in exotic destinations.

Proximity

2017
Water Man
N/A

'Water Man' takes you on an intimate boat trip with some of the most influential surfers of our time as they bodysurf, paddle surf, hydrofoil, stand up surf and tow surf in the Indian Ocean.

Water Man

2008
Loose Change
N/A

With a decidedly comedic approach Loose Change takes on the age old question "what would a pro surfer be doing if he didn't surf?" In between the surfing segments, viewers follow Rob Machado as "the slacker" traveling around his home town looking for work. On his way, he meets up with today's best surfers as their non- surfing counterparts. The acting is hilarious and the surfing is off the scale.

Loose Change

1999