Best Sections of All-Time: "Art and Friends" section in Rob Machado's Drifting

I always struggled putting Rob Machado at the top of my favorite surfer list because I’m not a goofy foot. I alienated myself from his orbit for that reason. I focused on Kelly, Benji, Shane and Ross, etc. It was a me problem and I couldn’t attach myself to his aesthetic because his right foot was forward. The only exception was his Taylor Steele directed signature film Drifting. And that’s because Drifting is flawless.

Each section is choreographed to the perfect song. His interviews capture mysterious, alluring, mellow but not negative Rob perfectly. He felt tired, but not because he was run down, but because he was so cool. 

I suppose the goal of doing Best Section of All-Time is to pick a section from a film not the whole film, this film has so many good ones. I love the “Home” part set to Unwritten Law. The J-Bay section is one of the best J-Bay sections ever. The ending Reunion part makes me feel warm and psyched to surf and features a wave that went from being a staple stop for filming to being completely avoided altogether because of sharks.

But for the sake of our column’s integrity, we must celebrate two things: Rob setting up every kid for the next two decades who picked up a Super 8 and started filming and then somehow making Pennywise’s ultimate bro anthem “Bro Hym” feel sentimental and nostalgic — like how it did at the time when it was just “ours” as surfers.

Lot of great faces in this section and let’s be honest: That wave of Benji at Backdoor is the craziest thing I’ve maybe ever seen. Let’s watch this part together and then enjoy the full-film below.—Travis Ferré