
Rob Machado
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.
47 acting credits
Acting · 47

Surf's Up
2007

Mountains of the Moon
2025

Birth of The Endless Summer: Discovery of Cape St. Francis
2023

Shelter
2001

Momentum Generation
2018

Step Into Liquid
2003

The September Sessions
2002

Castles In The Sky
2010

Fish: The Surfboard Documentary
2016
Surfing Your Dreams
2013

Momentum II
1993

Bustin' Down the Door
2008

Campaign
2003

Proximity
2017

Fire On The Mountain
2019

Thicker Than Water
2000

Down the Barrel
2007

Drive Thru Australia
2009

Hit & Run
2000

A Brokedown Melody
2004

The Drifter
2009

Water Man
2008

The Kill 2
1994

Stranger Than Fiction
2007

Fading West
2013

California Soul
2020

Slow Dance
2013

A Common Thread
—

Chasing AdVANture
2017

Compassing
2013

Raw Irons
1998

Loose Change
1999

Drive Thru Japan
2002

Global
2004

Mixed Tape - Bobby: Volume 1
2007

Momentum
1992

Billabong Challenge: The Mystery Left
1995

The Kill
1992

Drifting: Rob Machado Chronicles
1996

The Show
1997

Puerto Underground 4: Alma y Corazón
1998

Riding Waves
2008

Billabong Challenge: Psychedelic Desert Groove
1996

Focus
1994

Moto XXX 4: Up in Flames
2002

Billabong Challenge: Nine 9 Lives
1999

10 Out Of 10
2026