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.