Success may seem to come effortlessly to some people. By looking at them, it would be easy to assume that they were simply bestowed with the talent to take them to the top of their fields. One could also assume that luck played a role in their success and that fate was simply on their side. However, talent needs to be honed through hard work, and rising to the top takes a great deal of persistence, sweat and sacrifice. Such is the case with pro surfer Rob Machado. A look into his early life and career, as well as his rise to the top of professional surfing, illustrates how this popular athlete became a national champion, dedicated family man and serious conservationist.

American pro surfer Robert Edward Machado, nickednamed “Rubber Toe,” was born to parents Jim, and Chris on October 16, 1973 in Sydney, Australia. He grew up in California in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, surrounded by a family in love with surfing. His uncle and his father, who benefited from the lessons of surfing great Ricky Grigg, were seasoned surfers, and his cousin, John Siberell, was a well-respected amateur in the San Diego scene. It wasn’t long before the influence and interest in surfing struck a chord with Machado. In 1985, a preteen Rob Machado entered his first event, a YMCA surf competition at Oceanside. From this contest, the young amateur grew into a successful professional. However, it was not without a great deal of practice and dedication.

During his teen years, Machado entered numerous events, sometimes on a weekly basis. His skill on the board and his developing talents did not go unnoticed as he began walking away with win after win and trophy after trophy. As a 14 year-old, Machado entered a Seaside Reef PSAA competition. Surfing again rising stars, Doug Silva and Jeff Booth, Machado stunned the judges, making the finals. By 16, he was a regular in the amateur scene and made the finals of the domestic pro tour. In the 1990 World Amateur Championship, Machado competed against Kelly Slater, Pat O’Connell and Taylor Knox. Two years later, 18 year-old Machado had a frenzied year of success. First, he took second place to Shane Beschen in the Budweiser Pro Tour. That same year, he qualified for the ASP World Championship Tour, and to solidify his standing as a pro surfer, he began a contract with Gotcha clothing, for which he was paid $75,000 to endorse their line. Having begun to make his mark in pro surfing, Machado became known for his agility on the board, his speed in reacting to the waves and his calm and enduring attitude.

With major wins and a few losses, Machado was now regarded as one of pro surfing’s rising stars. In addition to his time in the water, he also worked on the videos of Taylor Steele, appearing in 1992’s Momentum, 1994’s Focus and 1998’s The Show. 1998 was also the year that he married Patricia Locame. Although he found true love and steadily rose up the ranks of professional surfing, Machado faced some personal difficulties that would result in an all-time career low in the 1999 World Championship Tour, where he ranked 14th. Needing inspiration, he found solace and meaning in the Dalai Lama’s book, The Art of Happiness. After pouring over the pages, Machado found the answer he needed to return to water with a hopeful, more-centered outlook.

By 2000, the World Championship Tour marked the revival of Machado as a serious star in the world of pro surfing. With two wins in Europe and an error-free event at the Pipeline, he finished in 3rd place, which set the scene for upcoming major wins. This three-time champion of the U.S. Open of Surfing, for 1995, 2001 and 2006, and 2000 winner of the Pipeline Masters has built an impressive list of achievements that demonstrate his talent and efforts on the board. As the Monster Energy Pipeline champion of 2006 and the gold medal winner in ESPN X Games for both 2006 and 2007, Machado’s goofy-foot stance on his tri-fin short board have become legendary. By 2007, Machado saw a number of victories that resulted in his second induction in the Surfer’s Hall of Fame. With numerous sponsors, such as Hurley, Dakine, Reef, Bubble Gum Surf Wax and Dragon Optical, Rob Machado is as popular with sponsors as he is with fans. Since 1995, he has continually been voted in the top 10 of Surfer Poll’s most popular surfers.

Now retired from the World Championship Tour, Machado still surfs in selected events, sponsors his own events and puts much energy into his two other passions, his family and his commitment to the environment. As a way to encourage young surfers, he began the Rob Machado Surf Experience, coed contest for athletes 16 and under, which is held in his hometown, Cardiff-by-the Sea. This is not the only contribution he has made to his hometown, however. His foundation, the Rob Machado Foundation also works with the Cardiff Education Foundation to create a more eco-friendly and sustainable approach to managing the local school district. He helps to maintain the Cardiff Elementary School children’s garden, in addition to coordinating the annual school Ocean Week, which involves environmental education programs on recycling and organic gardening.

In 2005, he established the not-for-profit Rob Machado Foundation with a mission of initiating and supporting Southern California environmental programs and environmental educational programs for children. The foundation garners its funds from the annual the Rob Machado Golf Experience in Solana Beach. In addition, he hosts the Rob Machado Surf Classic and Beach Fair, an amateur contest for local surfers, which features demonstrations by Machado and other professionals, a lunchtime session of questions, answers and tips from Machado and the crowning of King and Queen of the Reef for the overall winners. After a four-year absence, the 2009 event was a more low-key, family-friendly event with a larger environmental focus. Applying his green stance to the event, 2009 vendors were required to demonstrate that their products, including surfboards, were environmentally sound and that any food being sold was organic.

His charitable work has taken him across the globe to Indonesia, where he participated in a project with the Sumba Foundation to dig wells, and back to Southern California in response to the water crisis for the Water Innovation Now (WIN) contest for children. 500,000 children entered the WIN contest to showcase their own innovative methods for conserving water in the state. For his environmental activism, Machado was recognized in 2009 with both the Planet Green and Water Council of Brazil’s “One Degree Less Award” and Oceana’s “Project Save our Surf” award.

The Drifter, Machado’s autobiographical film is expected to be released by Warner Brothers’ Records and Hurley in late 2009. With limited play in theaters, the film will be available on DVD. Directed by longtime friend and cohort, Taylor Steele, The Drifter is a much-anticipated view into the life of this living legend. Shot in Indonesia, Machado and co-writer, Nathan Myers, a longtime surf journalist, worked on the dialogue, which was taken from Machado’s personal journals. Although the film has not yet been released to the public, it is already turning heads as The Drifter won Best Film at the 2009 Ombak Bali International Surf Film Festival.

 

As a surfer, Machado had been praised for the way he glides over the surf with ease, taking on the waves as if he was born in the water. His control and grace on the board are an impressive mix of athleticism, experience and skill. Described as breath taking and smooth, Machado’s talents are an inspiration to young surfers everywhere. As a favorite among surfing devotees, Machado is never far from the public eye, with features in surfing magazines, his participation in a variety of films and videos and his environmental work. Macho and his wife, Patricia, have chosen to raise their two daughters, Rose and Macy, in his hometown, where the surf beckons him daily.

 

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