Hurley

Rob Machado

Rob Machado is not just one of the world's greatest surfers; he's one of the sport's most recognizable characters, a living icon who continues to expand the definition of what professional surfing is all about. Known for his Zen-like flow both on land and in the water, Machado was consistently seeded at the top of the rankings as a competitor on the ASP World Tour. His world-title-deciding heat at Pipeline against close friend Kelly Slater in 1995 remains perhaps the most dramatic - and uplifting - showdowns in competitive surfing history. With 12 career WCT victories, Machado was ranked among the top ten surfers for eleven straight years and was inducted into the Surfers Hall of Fame in 2000 and re-inducted in 2006.

But his contribution to the sport doesn't end with his accolades in a colored jersey. Since his departure from the ASP tour in 2001, Machado has been one of surfing's most committed ambassadors, roaming the globe, surfing the world's best waves and broadening the definition of "high-performance surfing." From reinventing tube riding in the depths of Indo to blowing minds on the finless, wooden planks known as alaias, Machado is often seen as a modern-day Gerry Lopez: A true embodiment of style and aloha.

Curren Caples

The 15-year-old skate and surf rat is the first male XG athlete to be born after the X Games began in 1995. Curren took the XG Park contest by storm in 2010, finishing 4th in a field featuring some skate legends. He's still considered amateur, but he's a gifted skater and smooth surfer with his favorite wave a mile from his house and his own skatepark close by. Curren is homeschooled and going into 9th grade in the fall. His family will be at X Games, including his dad, former pro surfer Evan Caples.

Bob Burnquist

As a child growing up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Bob Burnquist started skating at age eleven. By fourteen, Bob had already turned pro. At the Slam City Jam in 1995, Bob showed up and entered. Practically an unknown, Bob's skating floored the crowd and judges and earned him a first-place finish. The rest, as they say, is history.

Bob's switch-stance ability and creative lines set him apart from the rest. However, he's no one-trick pony. Some of Bob's other accomplishments include skating the "loop" switch (with a gap at the top of the loop!), being a pioneer and continuing innovator of mega ramp skateboarding, carrying the Olympic torch, skydiving, piloting airplanes and overseeing his own organic farm. Bob's also got a Vert Bowl halfpipe, Cork Screw, Loop, and Mega ramp in his backyard. Go ahead and wipe the drool from your chin.

Brett Simpson

After falling just short of qualification for the ASP World Tour over the last few years, Huntington Beach's Brett Simpson dedicated every waking moment to his spot on the ASP World Tour for 2010 and the hard work paid dividends. While marching to victory at the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing in 2009 in front of his home crowd over current ASP World Champion Mick Fanning despite a leg injury, Simpson carried the momentum from the win combined with tireless training straight through the back half of the ASP WQS to secure his spot on the ASP World Tour.

The stylish regular-footer's impressive ability to standout in all conditions will make him a serious threat to all competitors in 2010 and after putting several hard yards in on the ASP WQS, Simpo will be hungry to show the world that he belongs alongside the rest of the best on the ASP World Tour.

Conner Coffin

Conner Coffin is Santa Barbara inside and out. On his list of favorite surfers are Tom Curren and Bobby Martinez. His local spot is Rincon. He rides for Channel Islands and he is a smooth surfing, young regular footer with huge aspirations. Conner is only 14 but has already racked up a national title and a conference series win, not to mention a list of big time sponsors. His ultimate goal is to qualify for the WCT. With the widespread SB support Conner has, a few more years in California's high quality wave zone, and some travel time, this goal will be very attainable.

Evan Geiselman

With a smooth and explosive style that has landed him in the number two spot on Surfer magazine's Hot 100 groms list two years running, 15-year-old Evan Geiselman is one of a new band of young surfers annihilating waves and redefining what's possible before he's old enough for a driver's license: "I'm trying to do the most progressive stuff I can, but I want it to look effortless and powerful," he says.

In March of 2008, Evan tore into his competition at the NSSA East Coast Nationals at Florida's Sebastian Inlet, leaving with victories in Open Juniors, Open Airshow and Explorer Boys - he even pulled down the highest single-wave score of the Open Juniors division. His performance earned him a record 12 NSSA East Coast titles.

Now his name comes up in the same breath as Machado's and Slater's, comparisons Evan doesn't take lightly. While flattered by the praise, Evan doesn't let the bigger picture detract his focus. "I feel a little pressure, but that's more from me. I don't do it for anybody else. I'm just trying to surf the best I can and get better every time I surf." Evan manages to cut through the hype with a simple philosophy: Be a better surfer every time you step on the board.

Yardin Nicol

21 year old Yadin, divides his time between Margaret River and Sydney, that is when he's not travelling the globe. Yadin was recently voted the best junior surfer in Australia by his peers in Australia's Surfing Life magazine. That's a lot of pressure to live up to but he is ready for the task, as evidenced by his results below. In the latest Australian Surf Business, Yadin is rated 4th in total media coverage in Australian surf magazines, this includes all surfers worldwide. Yadin has been on a tear at the 6 star Margaret River event, scoring the highest single wave score of the trials (a perfect 10), and the highest score of the main event so far (a near perfect 9.5) Here are some career accomplishments:

• Voted the No.1 Junior Surfer in Australia by Au
• stralia's Surfing Life Magazine (2004)
• Balin Pro Junior Champion 2005
• Billabong Pro Junior in WA Winner 2003
• 3rd Jetty Pro Junior 2004
• 5th Billabong Pro-Teen Wollongong 2005
• 5th Australian U18 Surfing Titles 2003

Tim Curran

Tim Curran is a musician, retired professional surfer and a spokesperson for the Surfrider Foundation. During his successful surfing career, he was one of the best surfers on the World Championship Tour, and was consistently in contention for the world championship. Despite his success and popularity, he remained one of the most affable and well-regarded surfers on the tour.

Curran was raised and still resides near Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC. He was born in the San Fernando Valley, but spent some of his childhood in the southern Riverside County city of Temecula. Temecula is roughly an hour from the ocean, so at age 5 his father started driving him to the beach every weekend and taught him to surf. He obtained his first sponsorship at age eleven from McCrystal Surfboards and was competing as a professional surfer by age sixteen.