Slater Designs

Slater Designs · High-performance hybrid shortboard

Slater Designs Cymatic Review

8.9/ 10 Estimated score

8.9

Estimated from 3 independent sources (no numeric scores published)

Average price€599Range €599.25–€599.25 across 1 retailersSee sources

The Slater Designs Cymatic is a Daniel Thompson design built by Firewire that merges the Omni outline with the Sci-Fi double bat tail. Published reviews describe it as a compact, high-speed shortboard for surfers who want extra planing area without losing rail control.

View on Singlequiver

Quick specs

Designer: Daniel Thompson (Tomo)
Built by: Firewire Surfboards
Construction: LFT (Linear Flex Technology)
Bottom: Quad Inside Single Concave
Tail: Double bat tail
Fin system: FCS II

Surfd describes the Cymatic as a performance shortboard shaped by Daniel Thompson under the Slater Designs label, built by Firewire. The review frames it as a bridge between the Omni and the Sci-Fi: an Omni outline finished with the Sci-Fi double bat tail.

Singlequiver's retailer listing confirms the LFT construction, FCS II boxes and a size run from 5'0" at 21.3 litres up to 6'4" at 45.2 litres, with the 5'6" sitting at 29.7 litres. That volume-per-length spread is why most riders size shorter than a conventional shortboard.

Surfing Life's board test credits the hull design with a lift-and-hold sensation and a skate-like feel out of the lip, and its tester rode a 27 litre version at 5'4".

Pros & cons

Retailer specs list a wide 14-size run from 21.3 L to 45.2 L
Reviewer feedback highlights fast planing in weak, small surf
The double bat tail is credited with adding grip to the high-lift hull
Rides well as a thruster or quad according to published reviews

The model is no longer listed on the official Firewire site, so availability is limited to remaining retailer stock
Reviewer feedback notes quads suited the board better than a thruster set for at least one tester
The compact outline needs a volume step up from a standard shortboard length

How it surfs

Across the verified sources the recurring theme is speed from the flat, wide-point-forward planing surface, with the double bat tail supplying release and grip that the Omni alone did not offer. Surfing Life's tester reported the round nose fitted well into the pocket and did not catch through rail-to-rail transitions.

Fin choice matters more than usual here. Surfd's reviewer moved to a medium quad set after finding the thruster configuration frustrating, and found the quads still allowed proper arcing turns rather than feeling stiff. If you are unsure which template to start with, the Surfex surfboard fin guide covers the trade-offs.

Because the Cymatic is a discontinued model, the practical decision is whether to chase remaining stock or move to a current Tomo-influenced shape. Surfers who want the same small-wave speed from a current board can compare the shortboard reviews or a twin fin for softer days.

Volume & sizing chart

Use the chart below as a starting point. Add half a litre if you are less experienced, subtract half a litre for a looser feel.

Size	Volume	Rider weight	Best for
5'2"	23.9 L	Light riders, small surf	Intermediate
5'6"	29.7 L	Mid-weight everyday choice	Intermediate to advanced
5'10"	36.4 L	Heavier riders or softer waves	All levels
6'2"	42.5 L	Large riders	All levels

How it compares

Board	Best at	Wave range	Aggregate score
Slater Designs Sci-Fi 2.0	Pure performance Tomo shape	Punchy beach break	9.2
Channel Islands Happy Everyday	Everyday all-rounder	Waist to head high	9.4

Recommended fin setups

FCS II thruster — Standard setup for tighter pivot in the pocket
FCS II quad — Surfd's reviewer preferred medium quads for arcing turns

Verdict

Verified reviews position the Cymatic as one of the more interesting Tomo hybrids: Omni planing speed with a Sci-Fi tail for grip. Discontinued status is the main limitation, so treat it as a used or clearance buy rather than a current model.

Estimated score: 8.9 / 10

Estimated from 3 independent sources — see full list below.

What reviewers around the web are saying

Surfex does not test gear directly. Below are independent retailer and editorial sources. When a source publishes a numeric score, it is normalized to a five-point scale; otherwise the source is listed without a score.

Estimated score

8.9/ 10

8.9

3 sources, none scored

Source	Score	Summary
Surfd Cymatic review	No numeric score	"An eight-month long-term review that describes the Cymatic as an Omni with a Sci-Fi tail and reports the reviewer preferred a medium quad set over a thruster."
Surfing Life board test	No numeric score	"The tester rode a 27 litre 5'4" and reported the round nose fitted into the pocket with no catching through rail-to-rail transitions."
Singlequiver retailer listing	No numeric score	"Lists the LFT construction, FCS II fin system and the full 5'0" to 6'4" size and volume table."

Where to buy & average price

Listed prices come from verified retailer pages. The average price below is an unweighted mean of verified retailer prices — converted to USD (≈) when retailers list in different currencies. Click any retailer to verify the native-currency price.

Average price

€599

€599.25–€599.25 · 1 retailers

Retailer	Price	vs. average
Singlequiver	€599.25	+€0.25	Visit

Frequently asked questions

What is the Slater Designs Cymatic?+

It is a Daniel Thompson design built by Firewire under the Slater Designs label, combining the Omni outline with the Sci-Fi double bat tail and a quad inside single concave bottom.

What sizes does the Cymatic come in?+

The Singlequiver listing shows 14 sizes from 5'0" at 21.3 litres to 6'4" at 45.2 litres, with the 5'6" at 29.7 litres.

Should you ride the Cymatic as a thruster or a quad?+

Both work. Surfd's long-term reviewer switched to a medium quad set after finding the thruster setup less enjoyable, and reported the quads still carved rather than felt stiff.

Is the Slater Designs Cymatic still made?+

It is not listed on the current Firewire product range, so buying now generally means finding remaining retailer stock.

Who is the Cymatic suited to?+

Published reviews point to intermediate and advanced surfers who want fast planing in average waves and are comfortable sizing down in length while keeping volume.