Firewire Dominator 2.0 Review

Average price$943Range $890–$995 across 2 retailersSee sources

The Dominator 2.0 is Dan Mann's shortboard design for Firewire — described by the brand as "the shortboard design that makes performance accessible to all." It's a wider, higher-volume hybrid aimed at intermediate to advanced surfers who want one board to cover most conditions.

View on Firewire

Quick specs

Designer: Dan Mann
Type: All-round shortboard / hybrid
Construction: Helium Core with Fiberglass Lamination (Volcanic)
Fin system: Futures (5-fin: thruster or quad)
Common sizes: 5'4" – 6'6"
MSRP (Firewire USA): $995 USD

The Dominator 2.0 is the second generation of one of Firewire's longest-running shapes, designed by Dan Mann. Firewire markets it as a shortboard that makes performance accessible — meaning extra volume, extra width and a forgiving rocker so intermediate to advanced surfers can ride a shortboard-style outline in average conditions.

Firewire's own product page currently lists 6 customer reviews on the board. It's stocked at every major North American Firewire dealer we surveyed — including Surf Station, Catalyst Shop, REAL Watersports and Surfboard Factory Hawaii — which is a reasonable proxy for how established the shape is in the range.

Helium construction pairs an EPS core with a fiberglass lamination and Firewire's high-density perimeter stringer. The 5-fin Futures box lets you run it as a thruster for tighter turning or a quad for speed and glide in weaker surf.

Pros & cons

Extra volume and width make it noticeably easier to paddle than a standard shortboard
5-fin box lets you swap between thruster (tighter turns) and quad (glide & speed)
Helium construction (EPS core with fiberglass lamination) is light and lively
Wide wave range — designed as a one-board quiver for average conditions

At $995 MSRP, priced above equivalent PU-blank shortboards
Not as loose as a pure groveler in truly weak surf
Extra width can feel corky for lighter riders on steep faces

How it surfs

Because Surfex does not personally test boards, the notes here summarise what Firewire and retailers describe about the shape rather than a first-person ride report. Firewire positions the Dominator 2.0 as their most versatile everyday shortboard — wider outline, mid-board volume kept forward for paddle power, and a cleaner rocker than the original.

MSRP in the US is $995. Prices at independent retailers vary by size and current stock — see the retailer comparison below for live listings.

For a hands-on ride impression, the Videos section links to independent YouTube reviews (Noel Salas, Wooly TV and others) which walk through the board in real conditions.

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
5'4"	26.0 L	—	Firewire size chart
5'6"	28.0 L	—	Firewire size chart
5'7"	29.4 L	—	Firewire size chart
5'8"	—	—	Firewire size chart

Verdict

The Dominator 2.0 is one of Firewire's most-stocked all-round shortboards, designed by Dan Mann and available at every major US Firewire dealer we checked. MSRP is $995; the lowest live listing we found was $890. Because Surfex does not personally test boards, we've linked out to the Firewire product page and three independent YouTube reviews below so you can form your own ride impression.

Independent source check

Estimated from 4 independent sources — none publish numeric scores. See sources 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.

Sources checked

4

Source	Score	Summary
Surf Station — Dominator 2.0 review	No numeric score	"Put the Dominator II through the paces — Firewire's classic staple tweaked into an even better all-round performer."
Stoked For Travel — Dominator 2 as the one-board quiver?	No numeric score	"One of the most anticipated Firewire releases — a classic staple tweaked and made even better than before, and a genuine contender for the one-board-quiver."
Surf Station Store — Firewire x Mannkine Dominator 2.0	No numeric score	"Ridden at 5'4" x 19 3/8" x 2 1/4" (25.9L) — surprisingly capable in a huge wave range, with the paddle power of a groveler and the drive of a shortboard."
Hawaiian South Shore — Dominator 2.0 (Daniel)	No numeric score	"Sleek, stylish, and a blast to ride — from Eva Beach to Waikiki and Northshore, the Dominator 2.0 keeps delivering."

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

$943

$890–$995 · 2 retailers

Retailer	Price	vs. average
Cleanline Surf	$890	-$53	Visit
Firewire (MSRP)	$995	+$52	Visit

Frequently asked questions

Who designed the Dominator 2.0?+

Firewire shaper Dan Mann. The board is often listed under "Dan Mann Dominator 2.0" at retailers like REAL Watersports.

How much does the Dominator 2.0 cost?+

MSRP on the Firewire USA site is $995 in Helium construction. Independent retailers we sampled currently list it between $890 and $995 depending on size and sale status.

Thruster or quad in the Dominator 2.0?+

The board ships as a Futures 5-fin. Quad set-ups are commonly used for glide and speed in weaker surf; thrusters for tighter turns when the surf has push.

What construction is the Dominator 2.0 available in?+

Firewire's US site currently lists it in "Helium Core with Fiberglass Lamination" (Volcanic Helium). Availability of other Firewire technologies varies by region and season.