A Sun Optics Lesson In Ageing Gracefully - Stab Mag

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

303 Views

A Sun Optics Lesson In Ageing Gracefully

Rob Machado’s eternal cool.

elsewhere // Sep 27, 2023
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Cool’s a unicorn.

Especially when your needle starts to dip below halfway on the years-left-ometer. However, we’re fortunate enough to be blessed with a colourful array of ageing groovers in our hallowed surfing midsts. So when it comes to style crises, middle-aged or otherwise, they’re a handy resource.

Of that human Pinterest board of effortless cool, one Robert Edward Machado ultimately, still, reigns supreme. And he’s got some new Dragon frames out, if you’re in the market for some shades.

Nothing ruins an outfit quicker than a shit pair of sunnies. And it only gets harder to pick ’em as you get older. When you’re young, whatever, wear your mum’s frames with whatever space-age get up’s trending. But when you reach the age where you need to cut a more refined figure on the boardwalk, then you just need a silhouette that’s flattering, durable, and doesn’t burn a $500 hole in your pocket when you inevitably lose them. Like the pair perched on the beak of the ever-stylish Mr Machado up top.

Now we’ve already given Dragon their flowers for sheer persistence, so let’s dive into the details of Mob’s frame. Starting with the fact that it’s not actually “a frame”, more a whole collection, with Roberto having the luxury of more than a pair for every day, in a whole range of timeless silhouettes, decorated with his musings. Musings that have largely been inspired from the fascinating goop that is resin. In fact, while we’re on the subject, has there ever been a surfboard craftsman (like Rob) who hasn’t, at some stage, become enamoured by the creeping drip of resin and inspired to art? We digress.

Rob Machado teaches effortless style on the track 101.

Not only does Bobby’s range feature designs based on some of his more successful drips, but they also tread light(ish) on planet thanks to a, wait for it, castor bean construction. Mind, blown; what will they think of next etc.

Turns out that not only are castor beans full of ricin (which’ll give you a moderate case of death if you eat enough of ’em) but they also mould nicely into a signature Mob frame.

In all seriousness though, picking a pair of sunnies from racks littered with goggles of every shape, size and price point imaginable is a stress your life doesn’t need. If all you ask is to keep the sun outta your peepers and look like an grown-ass adult-up who cares about how they look (but not too much) then trust Mob. And trust Dragon.

Get some timeless Machado on your beak.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Correction: J-Bay All Foreplay, No Climax

Slim pickings on Day 1 of the Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025.

Jul 11, 2025

What Do Hollywood, Surf Lessons, Michael Jackson And Traction Pads Have In Common?

A Stab Interview with Teva Dexter, the man behind surfing's hardest new hardware brand —…

Jul 10, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 10, 2025

How Josh Ku Nearly Died Trying To Cross From Ulus to G Land by Hydrofoil

“If someone finds me dead at least they can find my phone and know what…

Jul 10, 2025

Expect No Kiss, All Climax At The “World’s Most Perfect Pointbreak”

A Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025 preview.

Jul 9, 2025

SEOTY: Liam O’Brien stars in ‘Friction of Perception’

"Hopefully I don’t come across like too much of a peanut."

Jul 8, 2025

10 Shapers To Watch In The Next 10 Years — Part One

“It’s like a drug empire, man. Cut the head off the snakes, and more will…

Jul 7, 2025

Mason Ho Joins Ritual Vision, Releases Remix Of Greatest Hits

Dion Agius riffs on the eyewear brand’s U.S. expansion, Ritualistic Tendencies, and the new stars…

Jul 7, 2025

Is It Time For A New Judging Format?

We have a modest proposal — a WSL head judge disagrees.

Jul 7, 2025

Luke Thompson Turns Last Year’s Priority Disaster Into Ballito Gold

+ earns himself a wildcard into Jbay.

Jul 7, 2025

Fiji Has Its First Professional Surfer, And He’s Unbelievable

16-year-old James Kusitino’s incomprehensible tube lounging leads to a deal with Former.

Jul 6, 2025

Laird Hamilton on The Limitations of Being a Purist, Invention vs. Ownership + Why He Never Had a Sticker Deal 

Untold stories from his How Surfers Get Paid interview.

Jul 4, 2025

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025
Advertisement