Red Eye: Rob Machado

Within “you never know until you go” is lucidity: In culture, waves, people and hardship. Whether you’re onboard a 36-hour mission to the far reaches of Africa or gassing up the car north of the Tijuana border, one thing’s for certain: The future is unclear... and that's just fine. Welcome to Stab and Reef’s contemporary travel series, Red Eye, in which we pry the wisdom of the polished nomad and leave it here for you to dine on.
Who better to feature in a series about nomadic travel than a man who’s been known as The Drifter for nearly a decade? Rob Machado breezes through airports, drizzling his silky waveriding approach at beaches all over the world. Here, the goofyfooter (who came painfully close to being a world champ when he was still competing) lights up some French beachbreaks with fellow Momentum icon Taylor Knox. Things to note? At 43, Rob still absolutely rips, and looks more electrified on that Firewire twin fish than ever. Stab suggests that he'd still fare very, very well on the World Tour. And, Taylor is surfing better now than when he was competing. As Taj Burrow told Stab when he retired, “Surfing so many years on tour, you adapt to the judging criteria. I want to do something different to three, quick, straight up and down hooks in the pocket. I want to race down the line and skip a few sections but then do a huge roundhouse re-bound.” It seems that Taylor has come to enjoy this approach in his post-tour years.
You watching yet?

[@andyhoms2001]

Best goofy style of all time. He's like an accessory, which compliments the wave. Most modern surfers attack a wave. He harmonizes with it. It's beautiful!

[@joejoecap.181]

This vid is a perfect example of why this cat is my favorite surfer ever... Pure soul...

[@bobby9476]

Yay no awkward looking airs - just beautiful surfing!!

[@crocodilesosa7198]

It's what surf is all about

[@spacecoastshredcrew576]

You probably don’t understand how hard they are

[@bobby9476]

@@spacecoastshredcrew576 Don't get me wrong, I can only wish that I could do airs - but I don't enjoy watching :-)

[@scottiheadsa1709]

Rail to rail and full of smiling. How surfing should be. Thanks for the morning bliss. Real stoke for my day. Chur Rob and the lads

[@marconeill3875]

Taylor on an absolute tear in this edit!

[@momentum1208]

Taylor is one of the best surfers ever. That style. So smooth.

[@SevenFootPelican]

This is one of my favorite surf videos! I always go back to it in order to get psyched for surfing. Both of their styles capture the beauty of loose and stylish and tight and powerful surfing

[@markdluzniewski6631]

Rob knows how to read a wave better than anybody!!!! True master

[@esnyder77]

The world could learn a lot from Rob

[@coulterthekook0113]

Es Es couldn’t agree more

[@maccasnz3436]

The Clean! Great old school kiwi band. Yeow

[@JanjayTrollface]

Chur my Bro!

[@chrisvardanega829]

the go fish looks like so much fun!

[@ianredlinger9908]

Currently riding an 8’6 and will be getting a 5’8-5’10 seaside at Christmas. I use salt creek, trestles, t street etc as my main breaks. As a fellow goofy fella I hope I can flow with the wave like Rob once I’m on a smaller board. The dude is just so pure. If I could ever be out there when he is surfing I’d be so stoked.

[@joemeeker5211]

Hey Rob, it’s like a gathering of tribes man!

[@sebastienlesourd6979]

I really enjoyed Watching Rob ...what à style...flow and fluid. ..no efforts...I love him much than all agressives ôthers ...

[@GlideMaster78]

Greetings to My friend Rob! Great Surfer and Artist!

[@brynlewis7175]

The surfing and quality filming & editing of this is brilliant - so much better than a huge proportion of YT content! and one of the best parts if this the choice of music you're using! so great.

[@yepyepyep170]

That carve at 4:28 by Taylor is a thing of beauty

[@timayers44]

He would be winning on tour still best style!!

[@osielmaldonado7198]

And this just inspired me to go surf

[@KallyJones]

Rob Machado is my spirit animal!

[@Singledaddy734]

Rob needs to be given wild cards to some locations.....smh....his flow and style is one of the best in the word!!!!

[@firewiresurfboards]

@kaaimea mckee Good observation - both of these guys longevity is due in part to how refined their technique is. It's not rambunctious or aggressive, it's refined, with a rhythm and a beat to it. and much of the way they're able to place their boards on critical parts of the wave is in how their shoulders direct their movements.

[@AriseRoots]

Firewire Surfboards don't forget a heavy dose of style!

[@donpablo5484]

not saying their surfing isn't all that but it probably has a lot to do with their attitudes, lifestyles, marketing and business skills as well as luck having never busted a knee or something. probably can attribute some of that to a healthy lifestyle. but many talented athletes would still be here tearing it up if that one incident didn't happen.

[@braxtonvillagran2664]

And hips, hips are very important too

[@chaiguy_nz9064]

@@donpablo5484 dont know taylors story?

[@cocochanel7136]

Trop fort ce Rob de loin le plus grand surfer au monde. Bravo, belle technique.

[@glywnniswells9480]

Rob is the surfer that always has the most fun... U can see it in his playful style.

[@AndreaMace]

Love rob such good style

[@hman7236]

One of my favorite people to watch Surf total flow

[@teamglobalalohatrainingwit4067]

such smooth style

[@leitecondensadoclash3946]

LEGENDS!!!

[@shannonyoung5382]

That OAM U.S. flag track-top was sick TK!!! You guy’s were ripping the hinges off of it!!!

[@peacepuffz]

Highly Enjoyable!

[@JosefFitzGeraldPatrick]

That floater at 3:16 :o

[@mahalobalisurfschool7618]

You’re my favorite surfer forever

[@jasencordiero5366]

Awesome!

[@SurfTherapyFuerteventura]

Great video!

[@Musiquedecor]

beautifully filmed, im curious what camera and lenses were used in this

[@rstats2127]

I surf the same local break as him, he flows like no other and generates speed with ease

[@tideslider664]

one of my favorite goofers

[@Strafer66]

Cool. Black Mountain 👍

[@sushiemtuacasa-porto2751]

grande Rob

[@Pepperman86]

Knoxs a legend!

[@Meteores7]

Whats the squash tail? Which board is it? Looks pretty hp

[@ForgivenbyHim]

nice seeing taylor knox rippin it up.

[@danaminyip]

the clean!

[@oldschoolwaverider]

Two. very different surfing styles. Almost like Parko and Sunny Garcia travelling together haha I dunno just an amateur observation. Good to see complimentary styles together!

[@madkyrbi2556]

So beautiful

[@osielmaldonado7198]

I’m not a surfer but looking forward to trying it

[@robashton5254]

Become a surfer... it'll change your life for the better

[@chadkelly3215]

I am going to take all this Stoke and draw some long lines

[@DavidSmith-ke1xb]

so cool dude

[@stu8506]

Rob is rad.

[@korocam9137]

Flying nun NZ 1980s!!

[@dudleyserious1]

San Diego County baby.

[@dildofaggins731]

damn France is looking primo

[@Meteores7]

Sweet France

[@chasingwaves11]

YEWWW !

[@mohdhafizhzar6099]

what surfboard and size did rob hold on his left arm at 3.46?

[@jackjohnson9335]

I'd like to say the Almond Butter

[@corrzz13th]

could anybody tell me what board Rob is riding on the first wave? thanks.

[@headspace3296]

A Surfboard.

[@happypants303]

Hey Stab, add Taylor Knox's name to this. It seems like he's in the same video! : |

[@rayvelasco2059]

Most Excellent ¿

[@heiariiburori137]

Biarritz ;)

[@bonsummers2657]

Slice-o-Rama

[@dirquedalle]

this is jesus on the water!

[@lukekeene22]

These boards are so f-ing fast

[@shaheena.3803]

Luke Keene I'm sure he can make any board look fast

[@captcav767]

Soul surfer

[@MichelleZhou]

HE CAME TO MY SCHOOL’S HOMECOMING

[@tonyjaii]

who saw the fish at 7:35

[@MiguelSilva-ws7kv]

not me but nice 1 ;D

[@bagbee_ogakiyo]

Tayler Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoooooo!!!!!!!

[@surftheday6151]

I pray for SURF THE DAY for you....

[@dingocapo2087]

was that a sweet machado man bun??????? yeeeewww!!!!!!!!

[@esnyder77]

Dingo Capo yep, he invented the man bun-beard combo that we see everywhere lately.

[@frankiematos9159]

What’s the first song

[@markbanjodaniel]

what firewire model thruster is Machado riding ?

[@jackfaulkner136]

Mark Daniel midas

[@markbanjodaniel]

thank you !

[@glengoodwin]

Are you sure it's a Midas? I thought it had a swallow tail, not a squash?

[@firewiresurfboards]

Good eye Glen. The squash you're seeing is The Melted Butter. It's in surf shops now in very limited numbers. The winged swallow tail you're seeing IS The Midas, and the other board is, of course, the Go Fish.

[@firewiresurfboards]

That is The Melted Butter. It's in shops now, but in very limited numbers. Rob's favorites are The Midas and The Go Fish, so those are the boards we're getting behind the most.

[@adolfomigueldoradojodar3601]

Eso es lo que yo digo disfrutar como un niño en el agua haciendo surf que sensación mas placentera

[@williamwoody7607]

The first song sounds an awful lot like “It’s a gas” by Alfred E Neumann.

[@georger3633]

Where in France is this??

[@mounproject]

Rob have his go fish or midas and an other board. What is the other board the one with the squash tail? Please

[@mounproject]

I got it skx

[@Bodhioc]

mounproject nope! It’s actually a melted butter

[@tideslider664]

im goofy too

[@sessionsinparadise7357]

studying the game. watch his shoulders on turns. his arms shoulders then bottom half follows.

[@jordangoetz7777]

Wherever you are looking is the direction your body will try to follow

[@alainperrin4005]

French summer

[@dalienrivera6093]

going with the flow the other guy looksss that is trying a little to hard, but over all good surf good vibe good vide, second dude I would put some medium fins :) form you know more loose at the top.

[@brandonbauman8813]

other guy?? thats taylor knox bro...

[@chrisleng3721]

Are you trying to tell Taylor Knox that he’s trying too hard and what fins to use?? 😂hahaha!!!

[@cassianobiagi2259]

deslike just for Stab, but Machado surfs nice

[@chaiguy_nz9064]

those songs are the reason i will never sell my vinyl

[@dudleyserious1]

They both still rip.

[@sushiemtuacasa-porto2751]

e nos frança?

[@domlagesse9111]

Knox Rips

[@leonguiol8918]

What is the model of the squash tail board please ?

[@paulbaker7675]

It's a Machado Melted butter, i have one in a 5'5. Firewire only made a few for some reason. Shame as it's a great board.

[@leonguiol8918]

@@paulbaker7675 ok thank you really much ! This board look amazing

[@paulbaker7675]

@@leonguiol8918 Sorry typo, it's the melted butter 👍

[@leonguiol8918]

@@paulbaker7675 yes ok it seemed better

[@inkydinx2663]

turtle at 5:09

[@aapopow]

You didn't think of including the other guys name in this..? Seems odd.

[@paulbaker7675]

aapopow - Damm right they should cause thats Taylor Knox.

[@donpablo5484]

i mean its stab... what do you expect?

[@gabsurfff]

moustache and cutbacks, its Taylor knox

[@dumptrump8636]

Knox, and also Ross Williams.

[@jonathanguyant4952]

It’s in the description

[@FRAK18unic]

NAME OF THE FIRST MUSIC?

[@rstudio5293]

the clean beatnik from dunedin nz

[@FRAK18unic]

THANKS BRO!! :D

[@jeffg4686]

pressed ham I say we need some Rob style surfing on tour. He's holding down the fort on the old school. He flows with the likes of curren, derek ho, gerry, ronnie burns, sunny, rabbit (so many) - it was a generation thing. It's just not out there anymore. It go away. It's like how Napster killed music and AI will continue that trend. The surfers are different now. We attracted the athletic types - surfers were always rebels, stoners, or loners, not athletes. I partially blame Kelly. He was always the clean cut rebel. I think it's all about the wsl judging, but I dont blame them. It was just an artifact of what they feel viewers would want, or the WSL was just following Kelly. Maybe we need another tour. The evolution of surfboards went too far. Baaack up. Baaaaaaaaaaaaccccccckkkkkk up, please... Possible names: The Vibe Tour The Flowmasters Tour The Soul Tour Have to be over 40 These younger crew need to train on a funboard or longboard so that they "feel" the wave> I guess the ones that truly get it can join even if under 40. They just have to surf like the above list of surfers. They have to learn to hold a stable rail, in general - not just during a maneuver. One single turn at the bottom. I just had an epiphany (spelling chsck). Kelly got to surf Sebastian Inlet a lot when he was younger. Back when it was good, which was from 1970-2002. they could easily restore it... Anyways, his style of surfing reflects the waves at the inlet. I see Kelly as a major influence in the way that surfing "progressed", and that influence was driven by Sebastian Inlet. So, I guess you could say Sebastian got his revenge (for not being stood up for - enough). "navigation issues" ... yeah, right. The fisherman didn't like the surfers. Plain and simple. they figured out a way... Don't tell me "navigation issues" didn't come from the fishermen... It took them a while to figure out and execute a plan, bu that is what made it not obvious. I say we have John Futch light the sticks of dynamite to remove the cage/fishing platform. #FIRE-SITD

[@elisabetenunes2714]

RAFAEL THIAGO NUNES. ASSISTINDO CANAL OFF. ;) FORÇA

[@brockpaperscissors7003]

I know his daughter Rose

[@hineskittvelvett198]

Is it just me or does Rob kinda look like Ving Rhames?

[@ApriliaRacer14]

Can we now admit airs were just a phase that we are happy to move on from?

[@matt1271]

Ducati Drew no

[@robashton5254]

Hell no!

[@eddiemorris8581]

hi

[@stunterstyle]

Cool Video. I only have two gripes. 1. This dude only goes front side. 2. His board is made in China.

[@maxst415]

biarritz?

[@codymaverick5510]

Yes definitely Biarritz

[@Ninja-iw5zp]

et les Landes :)

[@olafhenke5654]

Taylor rips! His board looks so fine tuned, amazing. Not sure about Roberto. Poppy poppy.

[@prypiat27]

2:16 disrespectful

[@brinkgct7875]

967th like

[@BangTaoBeach]

Why no mention that the other North County SD surfer is Taylor Knox? Rob is a great surfer but Taylor is so much better, more power, tighter harder turns. Rob is a down the line surfer. Watch his take offs, he drops into the wave horizontally. Taylor drops in straight down the wave face then proceeds to rip it apart with power and style. Two different styles...but Taylor Knox is the better surfer between the two of them. They are both great surfers Sad that Stab left his Taylor's name out.

[@22adaynoway92]

Watch. 22adaynoway