[dan ze'l-ik-man]

A Meeting With the Drifter Himself

Posted on 03. Nov, 2009 by Dan Zelikman in Surfer, Videos

With a laid back demeanor, a full head of wild hair, and the surfing abilities of someone who was indefinitely born to spend his days in the water, Rob Machado epitomizes the concept of a soul surfer. I was lucky enough to be the recipient of some free passes to the Hawaiian International Film Festival, (thanks Kim) to the premier of his new surf flick, “The Drifter.” The film is about Rob’s journey West, as he explores parts of Bali and Indonesia in the pursuit of perfect waves and an exit from the daily grind of being a celebrity athlete. The film showcases a personal side of Rob as well, sharing his insights on philosophy and lifestyle as well as his personal photography, art, and music.

The film awakens your travel bug instantly, and I found myself dreaming of a few destinations I’ve had on the brain for years. The film endures a combination of gorgeous backdrop, glassy empty sets, and the typical perfect complimentary soundtrack you can expect from a Taylor Steele movie.

Although I enjoyed the film a lot and recommend it to anyone who is a lover of surfing or travel, the film itself was not the highlight of my night. We were at a premier party with the type of spread you would expect, drinks, pupus, and few Lost cast members. You know, the uze! What I didn’t expect to see was the star of the film himself, Rob Machado, giving an interview a few feet away from me as I sipped on a beer. Naturally, I had to meet him.

Because of the intimate setting of the lounge, Kim and I were able to meet and chat with Rob briefly. His relaxed personality on film is fully transparent as he was extremely patient and engaging with us as we discussed traveling, surfing, and his movie, “The Drifter.” He later mentioned the difficult balance of taking on such a personal role with video cameras and a production crew surrounding him at all times. I think he pulled it off well. Then, I ruined the moment by awkwardly asking him for a photo. But Rob said yes anyway. Sweet.

Tags: Kim, Rob Machado, surfing