Bobby Martinez – The Underground Legend
“Precision Power from Point A to Point Break”
🌊 Basic Info
Full Name: Bobby Martinez
Nickname: Bobby
Born: May 26, 1982 – Santa Barbara, California, USA
Nationality: American (Mexican-American heritage)
Surfing Stance: Goofy
Favorite Surf Spots: Rincon, Lowers, Puerto Escondido, Snapper Rocks
🏆 Career Highlights
Championships & Titles:
Multiple CT event wins, including Teahupo’o (twice), Billabong Pro Mundaka, and Rip Curl Pro Search
Reached Top 5 in the world in 2006 and 2007
Regarded as one of the most technically perfect surfers of his era
Notable Competitions:
Teahupo’o Pro, Mundaka Pro, U.S. Open, Quiksilver Pro
Retired early from the CT after his legendary and controversial rant against the ASP's scoring system in 2011
Best Performances:
2006 Teahupo’o – surgical tube riding under heavy pressure
2007 Mundaka – flawless backhand performance in long, hollow lefts
Even as a wildcard or freesurfer, Bobby consistently laid down some of the most stylish surfing ever captured
Signature Moves:
Unmatched backhand hooks—tight, fast, and brutal
One of the most technical goofy-footers in history, with surgical wave reading and perfect execution
Known for drawing clean lines with no wasted movement—pure surfing, no fluff
🏄♂️ Surfing Style & Equipment
Board Preferences:
Longtime rider of Channel Islands Surfboards, particularly the Flyer and Proton models
Custom shortboards with low rocker and sharp rails for maximum responsiveness
Wetsuit & Gear:
Formerly sponsored by Quiksilver, now rides with Vissla, Monster Energy, and Rebel Surfboards
His personal style is understated, letting the surfing do all the talking
Training & Fitness:
Trains mostly through surfing and ocean time—no-nonsense routine
Keeps a tight diet, stays surf-ready year-round, and rarely takes time off the water
Wave Preferences:
Loves long lefts like Mundaka, Rincon (going backside), and Teahupo’o
Prefers clean, hollow surf where he can engage his rail and keep his line sharp
🌍 Life Beyond Surfing
Hobbies & Interests:
Family life in Santa Barbara, Mexican-American heritage, and coaching groms at local breaks
Keeps a relatively low profile, but still deeply respected in the surf world
Social Causes:
Supports youth surf programs in the Latinx community
Has spoken out against inequality and favoritism in pro surfing politics
Fun Facts:
One of the few pro surfers to walk away from the CT on his own terms
His ASP/WSL exit rant is now legendary—and sparked major discussions in the sport
Still competes in select specialty events and slays whenever he paddles out
🎥 Photos & Videos
Check out his parts in Young Guns, Modern Collective, and Drive Thru Series
His 2006–2008 highlight reels at Teahupo’o and Mundaka are still jaw-dropping
📢 Latest News & Updates
In 2025, Bobby is mentoring up-and-coming surfers from Santa Barbara and Mexico
Recently dropped a signature board model with Rebel Surfboards called “The Martinez”
Also featured in a new surf doc: Loyal to the Soil, about surf purity vs. the contest machine
