Photo: Firewire Machadocado product page

Firewire

Firewire · Squash-tail small-wave shortboard

Firewire Machadocado Review

8.9/ 10 Estimated score

8.9

Estimated from 3 independent sources (no numeric scores published)

Average price$1,003Range $890–$1,125 across 3 retailersSee sources

Rob Machado's Machadocado takes an avocado outline, fish DNA and shortboard performance and puts them in one squash-tail summer board. Firewire positions it as Machado's most versatile squash tail, built for waves most surfers would not normally paddle for.

View on Firewire

Quick specs

Type: Squash-tail small-wave shortboard
Designer: Rob Machado
Construction: Helium core with fibreglass lamination
Stock range: 5'2" to 6'2"
Volume range: 25.9 L to 47.1 L
Widest stock size: 6'2" x 22 5/8" x 2 15/16" at 47.1 L

Firewire describe the Machadocado as a summertime shape inspired by the outline of an avocado mixed with the DNA of a fish and the performance of a shortboard. The stated goal is catching waves you would previously not consider paddling for, which is exactly what the extra width and thickness through the middle deliver.

The interesting part is the tail. Firewire note the board is thinned out through the tail to provide control and hold in rounder, more powerful waves, so it is not a pure grovel outline that falls apart when a set arrives. If you are comparing Machado shapes, the twin-fin index on Surfex covers the Seaside and Seaside & Beyond, which sit either side of this board in the same quiver.

Pros & cons

Wider and thicker than a standard shortboard, so stability and grovel are strong
Thinned-out tail keeps control and hold in rounder, more powerful waves
Volume distribution favours fast wraps and quick speed generation
Wide stock ladder from 25.9 L to 47.1 L covers light riders through to beginners

Summer shape first, so it is not the board for hollow, overhead surf
Helium construction sits at the premium end of the small-wave price bracket
Wide outline asks for a deliberate fin choice to avoid feeling stiff

How it surfs

Sizing is the most useful thing in the official data. Firewire's stock ladder runs from 5'2" at 25.9 L up to 6'2" at 47.1 L, and the jumps get large at the top: 6'1" is 43.3 L and 6'2" is 47.1 L. Heavier riders and improvers gain a lot of paddle power at those sizes, but the shape gets noticeably wide with it.

Pricing splits by size rather than construction. Firewire lists Helium models at $995 USD through 6'0", then $1,125 USD for the two largest sizes. Cleanline Surf has stocked the 2025 Helium run between $890 and $1,000 USD depending on size, so the smaller boards are the ones that show up discounted.

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"	25.9 L	Under 60 kg	Intermediate+
5'5"	30.5 L	62–70 kg	All levels
5'8"	34.4 L	70–78 kg	All levels
5'10"	37.6 L	78–85 kg	All levels
6'0"	40.1 L	85–92 kg	All levels
6'2"	47.1 L	92 kg+	All levels

How it compares

Board	Best at	Wave range	Aggregate score
Firewire Seaside	Machado keel twin for drawn-out speed	Ankle to head-high	9.0
Firewire Mashup	Machado hybrid with more shortboard bite	Knee to overhead	8.9
Firewire Dominator 2.0	All-round everyday volume board	Knee to head-high	9.1

Recommended fin setups

Machado signature template — Firewire sells Rob's own fin templates alongside the model.
Futures or FCS II thruster — Firewire supplies the Machadocado in both box systems, so match the set to the board ordered.

Verdict

The Machadocado is the Machado board for surfers who still want to turn off the tail in weak surf. Official specs back the wide, thick body and the thinned tail, and the 25.9 L to 47.1 L ladder means almost anyone can size into one.

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
Firewire official product page	No numeric score	"This is Rob's most versatile squash tail yet. It's slightly wider and thicker than your standard shortboard, providing excellent stability and grovel-ability, while it's thinned out tail provides plenty of control and hold in rounder, more powerful waves."
Blink Surf — Firewire x Machado Cado review roundup	No numeric score	"Blink Surf collects rider feedback and shop coverage of the Machado Cado in one place, alongside the Firewire and Machado background on the collaboration."
Cleanline Surf — Machadocado Helium listing	No numeric score	"Retailer listing confirms current Helium stock pricing between $890 and $1,000 USD depending on size."

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

$1,003

$890–$1,125 · 3 retailers

Retailer	Price	vs. average
Cleanline Surf (Helium, from)	$890	-$113	Visit
Firewire (Helium, up to 6'0")	$995	-$8	Visit
Firewire (Helium, 6'1" and 6'2")	$1,125	+$122	Visit

Frequently asked questions

What waves is the Firewire Machadocado designed for?+

Firewire position it as a summertime shape for waves you would not normally paddle for, with a thinned-out tail that keeps control in rounder, more powerful surf.

What sizes does the Machadocado come in?+

Firewire's Helium stock ladder runs from 5'2" at 25.9 L to 6'2" at 47.1 L, with steps of roughly 1.5 to 3 L between sizes.

How much does the Machadocado cost?+

Firewire lists Helium models at $995 USD through 6'0" and $1,125 USD for 6'1" and 6'2". Cleanline Surf has stocked the 2025 run from $890 USD.

Is the Machadocado good for beginners?+

The larger sizes carry a lot of volume and are stable, which helps improvers. Complete beginners are still better served by a soft-top or mini-mal.

How is the Machadocado different from the Seaside?+

The Seaside is a Machado keel twin built around drawn-out speed. The Machadocado is a squash-tail thruster outline with more shortboard performance and a wider, thicker body.

What construction is the Machadocado available in?+

Firewire currently lists it in Helium core with fibreglass lamination, in both Futures and FCS II box options.