This shape still has the hybrid DNA Rob's known for, but it's the closest thing to a high-performance shortboard Rob's ever created. The Groove's rocker and tail template bring this shape back into the world of being able to come square off the bottom and go square off the lip, what everyone calls 'high-performance surfing.' Rob added in more rocker than his typical shapes, with a tail rocker that puts you tight in the pocket and elevated nose rocker to help you come down tight off the lip without catching your nose. As Rob explains, "all surfboards have a balance of speed and control, and the Groove is all about controlling the speed a good wave gives you. It's the most responsive, high-performance board I've ever designed."

Rob continues, "I feel like my designs are slowly moving in the direction of being more and more performance driven. After stopping the tour, I went as far away from high-performance as I could. I wanted to feel what all these different designs had to offer out there in the world. Twins, single fins, bonzers…and beyond.

The Groove is an exploration back into the world of a high-performance thruster but with an outline twist, giving you some width and thickness up front for extra paddle-ability but giving you a nice pulled in squash tail for high-performance shred-ability.

I designed it for waves with a bit of push and power. Probably waist-high to overhead. But it goes great in weak waves too, I just wouldn’t go as far as calling it a groveler.

Wave Type

This shape excels in just about everything. It'll work if you take it on a boat trip. "I build versatility into every design he shapes," says Rob Machado. "I build speed and ease-of-use in every surfboard I make.

Board Features