Raised in the barrios and barrels of Santa Barbara County, perfecting his world class backside surfing on perfect point breaks from Faria Point to Rincon and up to Point Conception, Bobby Martinez must have learned to surf the barrel frontside somewhere along there. In his first year on the World Championship Tour, Martinez won two events at Mundaka and Teahupoo. That feat earned him Rookie of the Year for 2006 and was a long time coming for a guy who began surfing the WQS in 1999 at the age of 17.
Martinez’ surfing is smooth, fast, and stylish, and honors the perfect California surf he grew up in as well as the great surfers from that area that came before him, from George Greenough to Tom Curren. Martinez is a surfer who is at his best when the surf is overhead and firing. As an amateur, he won seven NSSA National Titles and as far back as 2000, he was being touted as the Next Big Thing. Martinez was plagued by injuries in his first years on the WQS, but it all came together in 2006. In his first year on the WCT Tour, Martinez won two events, Rookie of the Year honors, and the 2006 Surfer Poll Breakthrough Performer of the Year. It seems like Martinez has been around forever but he is only 26 years old and in his prime with a bullet. Martinez repeated as the Mundaka champion in 2007 and no one will be surprised if he wins Pipe, wins Bells, wins J Bay, or wins it all. He’s earned it; he’s driven and now that he knows what it takes to win, look for him to win a lot more.
What attracted you to this sport?
When I was very young, around 5 or 6 years old, my father literally threw me in to the ocean in order to teach me how to surf. He knew that it would keep me out of trouble. I have gotten to the professional level of surfing thanks to a lot of time in the water combined with plenty of luck.
What are some career highlights?
Qualified for the professional world surfing tour (ASP) at the end of 2005, and winning two contests during my rookie season of surfing in 2006, enabling me to end up ranking #5 in the world and winning the "rookie of the year" award.
What is your most recent accomplishment?
Winning, for the second straight year, the Mundaka Pro in Spain in October 2007.