Firewire
High-performance, sustainably built surfboards from Carlsbad, California — home of Rob Machado's Seaside, Dan Mann's Dominator 2.0 and the industry's most widely reviewed EPS/epoxy construction.
Photo: Surfex
About Firewire
Firewire Surfboards was founded in 2005 in Carlsbad, California and became the first major surfboard brand to move mainstream production away from traditional polyurethane/polyester (PU/PE) construction. Every Firewire is built with an EPS core, epoxy resin and — depending on the tech — parabolic balsa or high-density Aerospace-grade rails, which reviewers consistently describe as livelier, lighter and more durable than a comparable PU shortboard.
The brand is best known for three shaper collaborations: Rob Machado (Seaside, Sunday, Seaside & Beyond), Dan Mann / "Mannkine" (Dominator 2.0, Dominator Pro, Spitfire) and Kelly Slater's Slater Designs sub-label (Sci-Fi 2.0, Cymatic, Great White). The Seaside in particular is one of the most-reviewed twin-fin grovelers of the last decade and shows up in nearly every "best small-wave board" round-up published since 2019.
Firewire is also the only surfboard company certified as B Corp, and in 2021 became one of the first climate-positive board brands — offsetting more than 100% of its manufacturing footprint. That sustainability story, combined with a Thailand-based factory that keeps quality consistent across the range, is why retailers like Boardcave, Cleanline Surf and Real Watersports carry the full lineup year-round.
Popular Firewire models
Sources we reference
Surfex is an aggregator — we do not test boards ourselves. These are the retailer, editorial and manufacturer pages we cross-check when writing about Firewire. Numeric aggregate ratings are only shown once we've scraped a real customer-review widget on one of our product review pages.
Where to buy Firewire
| Retailer | Notes | Visit |
|---|---|---|
| Firewire Surfboards (direct) | Full range, all techs (Helium, LFT, Ibolic, Volcanic) | Visit |
| Boardcave (US / global) | Ships worldwide, price-match on new Firewire stock | Visit |
| Cleanline Surf (Oregon) | Independent surf shop, free US shipping on boards | Visit |
| Real Watersports (North Carolina) | Deep Slater Designs & Machado stock | Visit |
| Surfride (Southern California) | Local demo boards available in-store | Visit |
FAQ
Are Firewire surfboards good for beginners?
Firewire's Seaside, Dominator 2.0 and Special T (mid-length) are widely recommended for intermediate-to-advanced beginners because their EPS/epoxy construction is more forgiving, floaty and durable than a traditional PU shortboard. Absolute first-time surfers should still start on a soft-top before moving to a Firewire.
What is the difference between Helium, LFT and Ibolic construction?
Helium is Firewire's lightest, liveliest build — an EPS core with a vacuum-bagged skin and PU rails, designed for maximum performance and responsiveness. LFT (Linear Flex Technology) uses parabolic balsa rails and is a bit heavier and more durable, best for surfers who want more drive and a longer lifespan. Ibolic is a newer high-density construction focused on strength for step-ups and travel boards.
Is Firewire Rob Machado's brand?
No — Firewire is an independent brand founded in 2005. Rob Machado is Firewire's most prominent collaborating shaper (Seaside, Sunday, Seaside & Beyond, Too Fish), but the company also produces boards designed by Dan Mann, Kelly Slater (Slater Designs), Tomo (Vanguard, Sci-Fi 2.0) and others.
Where are Firewire surfboards made?
Firewire owns and operates its own factory in Cobra International, Thailand. Owning the factory is one of the main reasons Firewire can control quality across the range and back the boards with a longer warranty than most PU shapers.
How does Firewire compare to Channel Islands or JS Industries?
Channel Islands and JS Industries are primarily PU/PE brands with performance shortboards designed for professional surfers. Firewire competes on lighter EPS/epoxy construction, small-wave-focused designs (Seaside, Sunday) and sustainability — but for a pure high-performance shortboard in powerful waves, most reviewers still rank the CI Happy Everyday and JS Monsta 10 alongside or slightly above the Dominator 2.0.
How much do Firewire surfboards cost?
New Firewire boards typically range from $795 (Helium shortboards) to $1,255 (Prestige Volcanic mid-lengths and longboards) in the US. Custom orders through Boardcave and Firewire direct add roughly $150–$300 depending on tech and dimensions.