Surfer Rob Machado Interviewed

FUEL.TV caught up with surfer Rob Machado for an interview.

FTV: You haven’t really surfed contests in the last few years but recently you popped up at the US Open in Huntington Beach. How did that go?
RM: It was pretty good. I made it through a couple heats. Ended up getting ninth. I hadn’t competed in over a year so I wasn’t that bummed to not be battling it out at the end. It was a really good event and we had that really good swell. It was fun to surf.
FTV: Is that the biggest you have ever surfed HB for a contest?
RM: Yeah, I would say that’s the biggest I have ever surfed that in Huntington for a contest.
FTV: You’ve spent a lot of time in Indo in the past few years so you are pretty used to heavy solid waves these days…headed back there soon?
RM: I spent most of the year in Bali and throughout Indo working on the movie. This year I have only been back once. I miss it. It’s been good finishing the movie and wrapping it so we can get it out there.
FTV: Why are you living in Bali?
RM: It’s a really good place to be based out of. My whole deal is to try and get good waves in Indonesia and it’s a good place to base yourself and then move out from there.
FTV: So are you still competing or are you retired and just soul surfing?
RM: No, I am not competing anymore. I will probably do a few events a year like the US Open. I’ll do the Hurley Pro in September. I will always try to get into Pipeline in Hawaii. Those are the three events I will surf for sure.
FTV: What do you think about the rumors of a new surf tour. Would that get you competing again?
RM: I have heard about that. I was asked if I would be interested in participating. You hear that a lot and I am always like “sure” but a lot of them never happen. This one sounds more serious, but you never know.
FTV: Getting into any big wave surfing?
RM: Nah, I surf two foot Cardiff [Ed note: Rob laughs. This is his home break that he grew up on and he’s known for really supporting the break.]
FTV: How’s the body holding up these days?
RM:  Physically good. I had a broken ankle but that healed up. Last year I survived being in Indo most of the year with just a little bit of scratches here and there so that was cool.
FTV: Where are you off to next?
RM: Once movie is done I will be moving around and doing premieres, then hopefully back to Bali. It’s been a year since I was there. Hard to believe.
FTV: Tell us about the movie. What’s the story?
RM: It was about my journey through Indo and traveling around pushing myself beyond my every day of travel that I normally do. We went into villages and I camped alone and just really got dropped off in places and surfed. This one I really pushed myself to go beyond and strip myself of the basics.
FTV: But didn’t you have a film crew with you?
RM: I did. I had a couple of filmers and a photographer. But they would head back to a hotel and download and charge batteries. There were times when I was on my own. Those guys had cameras and all of that so they would leave me just out there and I would camp for a few weeks at a time. I was with them but I could break away…that’s different then most trips I am on.
FTV: So you liked the alone time?
RM: It was great. There was a lot of days where we were all together and it’s slow and everyone wants to do this or that. To have those moments where it was like you guys go I’ll be fine right here. I have my tent and water and noodles. They would go and just leave me.
FTV: Did you touch on any environmental stuff in the movie?
RM: When I was in Sumba I was staying in the village. The Sumba Foundation has a program where they are digging wells for villages, so when I went back the second time I camped and I was out in the boonies. I got Bob Hurley to sponsor one of the well project so I figured let’s go check it out. I went out and got into it and dug some wells and helped them out. They were laughing and like who is this skinny white guy digging wells?
FTV: So you have a lot of eco products coming out from your sponsors too right?
RM: I do. It’s super cool and it’s kind of something I have done with all of my sponsors. I have an eco sunglass from Dragon made from recycled plastic and a sandal out with Reef . My line is the more eco friendly sandal with tire bottoms. With the sunglasses there was a challenge I presented to them because sunglasses are all plastic. So I said, “hey let’s try and do something more environmentally friendly since sunglasses are plastic.” They took it and went for it with packaging and everything. It’s really cool to see companies doing that.
FTV: Do you think you have influenced other surfers to do the same with their brands.
RM: I haven’t seen any direct influence. I am pretty true believer and you can’t force people to do things but you can inspire them and if they are inspire it’s awesome.
FTV: Seems like surfing is everywhere now. Did you think this would ever be a career for you?
RM: It’s crazy I have watched it go through the roof. The companies are giant businesses it has given me a job and allowed me to do what I love. I never thought this would be my life. It’s just something I loved to do. I am pretty thankful.
FTV: So you grew up a bit in Australia?
RM: Dad is American and Mom is British. They had been traveling around the world and they hung out in Australia for a bit and they wanted to live there. For 15 years they were there then they moved to California when I was 4.
FTV: Growing up in Cali in Cardiff, easy to see why you became a surfer. Did your family surf?
RM: Yeah my dad and older brother did. Also my uncle and aunt so it was always around me.
FTV: Did  you take trips to Baja?
RM: I went down there with my dad when I was 13 to Scorpion Bay. The whole drive down there it was pretty wild.
FTV: Are you excited about the movie coming out?
RM: We finished filming almost a year ago and it has been a year of editing and reediting. It’s cool to see it finally have it’s own life. It will be cool to get it out there. It just played at the Ombak Film Festival and won for best film of 2009.
FTV: Very cool. Well we look forward to seeing it. Thanks for your time and we’ll see you at Trestles in September.