Rob Machado: By Design

Press play above to watch 𝗥𝗼𝗯 𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗱𝗼: 𝗕𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻, a short film created by David Malcom (@poorolddave) exploring the Pipe Master, free surfer, and world-class shaper’s story.

Diving into Rob Machado's competitive background and early equipment choices, this short film brings you inside the head of the California style icon, and what pushes him to design the shapes we all love. From his best-selling Seaside in Helium Technology, to his Too Fish, Mashup, all-new Machadocado and more, Rob shares his journey and some of the pivotal moments that has brought his surfboard label, Rob Machado Surfboards, to where it is today.

While surfboards in the 90s were "virtually impossible to ride," much of the magic came from the attention to detail Al Merrick at Channel Islands Surfboards put into the individual customization for each and every one of his riders. They had to take it to the extremes to learn—going way thinner, rails pulled down, rocker pushed to the farthest place. Rob Machado riding various boards circa 1990: an early Channel Islands shape from 'Momentum,' and another early CI shape from 'Drifting.'

The 5'10" Channel Islands shaped by Al Merrick for Kelly Slater, that Rob loved so much he "borrowed" it forever.

Young Rob Machado riding Kelly Slater's 5'10" shaped by Al Merrick, the board that prompted him to request his own custom from Channel Islands.

We all start somewhere. Something about DIY that makes it that much better. Have a look at Rob Machado's first-ever handshape, and despite it working amazing for himself, his buddies may have had other words to describe it.

Paying homage to those who came before him. From Skip Frye to the Campbell Brothers, Rob Machado's exploration in surfboard design has been vast—he was sure to catch up on the eras of surfcraft that came before him. Through this discovery, he learned bits and pieces of what worked and why from historical designs to pull forward into his modern day shapes for his label, Rob Machado Surfboards.

The shape that changed it all. Surfing and hanging around Cardiff-by-the-Sea more often, Rob's goal became unlocking fun in small waves—the more speed you can get without using a ton of effort, the better. This is why Rob's shapes are ones that can go fast, are loose, fun and free, starting with the Go Fish, then Midas, then his best-selling Seaside in Helium Technology. The Seaside became Rob's one-board-quiver: the one board he'd bring on a surf trip to anywhere in the world and be stoked.

Written by Peter Shu