Encounters with Rob Machado and MGMT
By Travis Ferré
This is weird. It’s 2:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon in New York City. Gotham. The greatest congregation of humanity in all the world. It’s nice outside. 72 degrees. I love it here.
I’m the editor of a big fancy surf magazine. I’ve been scheduled for a field trip of the city with The Drifter himself, Rob Machado. We’re going to stroll through the new High Line Park. A skyscraper lookout. An interview. Perhaps a piece of pizza with the lead singer of MGMT. PR, baby.
“Who are all these people?” Rob’s handlers ask me. They’re constantly shuffling Rob around and looking nervously at their watches. A member of his entourage bluntly informs my friends that they aren’t invited any further than this. Sorry guys. Keep drifting. Now it’s just me and photog Tom Carey. After a few nervous minutes, Tom and I get chance to say hello to Rob as we power walk to the pizza shop.
Read more about Rob and MGMT on SurfingMagazine.com
ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND – OCTOBER 05: Simon Dyson of England and his playing partner Kelly Slater holding their trophy at the The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at The Old Course on October 5, 2009 in St.Andrews, Scotland.
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Pictured:Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 23, moved up one spot from No. 5 to No. 4 on the ASP WQS this past week for his runner-up performance at the ASP 6-Star Local Motion Guaruja Surf Pro.
HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Monday, October 5, 2009) – Patrick Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 23, nearly claimed the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6- Star Local Motion Guaruja Surf Pro, earning a second place finish behind Brazilian talent Renato Galvao (BRA). The impressive result by Gudauskas moves him up one notch on The Grind from No. 5 to No. 4 overall.
Gudauskas, who is currently the second alternate on the ASP World Tour, has been one of the most consistent surfers on this year’s Grind and has been hunting down an ASP WQS victory throughout the year. Unfortunately, Gudauskas fell just short of a win in Brazil, but his solid performances allowed him to nab the extremely valuable ratings points on offer at the premier event, significantly helping his cause towards qualification for next year’s ASP Dream Tour
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Behind the scenes in Tavarua.
The latitude is deep south, two of the best lefts in the world are exclusively yours for the duration of your stay, and everything else? Everything else is like a fantasy camp for surf monkeys—and it’s all only an eight-hour flight from Los Angeles. Tavarua. Good, old Tavarua.
Tom Servais is an old hand when it comes to time spent on the Fijian island. He’s been on trips there with just about anybody who’s anybody, and a lot of people who are nobody’s, but just love to surf perfect waves. He probably couldn’t tell you how many times he’s been there with Kelly Slater. Actually, knowing Tom, he probably could, but that’s not the point. The point is that him and Kelly have been going there together for years.
This summer the two were back on the island again. Kelly’s better half, Kalani, was in tow, as was Pat O’Connell, Sal Masekela, Saxon Boucher, Bob Hurley, and a motley crew of friends with names like Dozer, Lego, and Vava.
“Is there anything special you want me to ask him?” Tom asked me before leaving on the trip. He’d agreed to gather a few photos for us, and said if he had the time he’d do an interview with Kelly.
Read the rest of the article on ESPN.
Much was said about Rob Machado a number of years ago when photos of him golfing first started surfacing. Some lauded him for bringing so much style to the course, others just wondered why a surfer was playing golf.
Shortly thereafter, Kelly got into chasing a little white ball around with a stick, and Rob’s mystique on the course was overshadowed. Much like the plot to his new film, The Drifter, Rob retreated.
He sought out the seldom played public courses. He indulged in twighlight specials, whittled his own clubs out of eucalyptus, and got back to basics, back to “soul golf.” But not one to drop off the radar completely, for eight years running now he’s played host to his own tournament, an affair that benefits the Rob Machado Foundation, which over the years has helped support everything from Boarding For Breast Cancer to the Cardiff Education Foundation to 1% For The Planet.
Keep reading on ESPN here.
Synopsis:
The future is now: A collective of six surfers set out on a voyage to alter one’s perception of modern day surfing.
Forget pre-dawn charging. Forget golden lighting. Forget glassy waters. They ignore perfect point breaks in favor of chunky onshore wedges. This is about high performance, state of the art, modern as hell.. Onshore=keepers,
Follow these vogue individuals and obtain a candid look at what a session is actually like with the world’s best. The future has already happened you will just be watching the replay.
Starring Dane Reynolds, Dion Agius, Yadin Nicol, Mitch Coleborn, Dusty Payne and Jordy Smith.
Directed By Kai Neville
Produced by: Poor Specimen Productions
Available from Koastal Media: November 10, 2009
US tour starts: October 29, 2009
