Firewire Mindcraft High-performance shortboard — full deck view

Photo: Firewire Mindcraft product listing

Firewire
Firewire · High-performance shortboard

Firewire Mindcraft Review

Average price$995Range $995–$995 across 1 retailersSee sources

The Mindcraft is Kelly Slater and Daniel Thomson's shared shortboard project, sold in I-Bolic 2.0 Core with fiberglass lamination at $995 USD. Firewire stocks it from 5'4" at 23.7L, so most surfers ride it shorter than their normal board.

View on Firewire
Quick specs
Shapers
Daniel Thomson and Kelly Slater
Construction
I-Bolic 2.0 Core with fiberglass lamination
Size range
5'4" through 6'3"
5'4" dims
18 1/8" x 2 1/4" x 23.7L
5'7" dims
18 7/8" x 2 7/16" x 27.9L
Outline
Parallel rails, elliptical nose, bump wing round tail

Firewire describes the Mindcraft as a minimalist shape rather than a new alien template. Tomo's usual planing bottom ideas are still there, but the concaves run smoother and more continuously than on the Sci-Fi or the Cymatic, and the outline keeps parallel rails through the middle before pulling into a bump wing round tail.

The stock chart makes the intent obvious. At 5'7" the board is only 27.9L, but it carries that volume in a much shorter package than a standard shortboard of the same litreage, which is why riders are told to drop length rather than volume.

It is sold only in I-Bolic 2.0 Core with fiberglass lamination on the Firewire site at the time of writing, at a single $995 price for every stock size. Firewire's own review post with Sheldon Simkus shows the 5'7" being ridden at Greenmount, which is the wave range the shape is aimed at.

Pros & cons
  • Volume is packed into a short outline, so 2 to 4 inches down from your usual length still paddles
  • Flatter mid-rocker and parallel rails generate speed in soft, weak sections
  • Bottom contours are smoother than earlier Tomo shapes, so it feels more conventional underfoot
  • One price across every stock size in I-Bolic 2.0
  • $995 is at the top of the stock-board market
  • Compact, high-volume outlines suit flatter-footed surfing more than long drawn carves
  • No independent numeric review scores published yet
  • Stock sizing stops at 6'3", so bigger surfers need a custom

How it surfs

No verified source publishes a numeric score for the Mindcraft yet, so the figure on this page is an estimate built from Firewire's published specifications and the independent write-ups linked below, not from a scored review.

The consistent thread across those write-ups is speed. Surf 'N Show, Mike Raven Coaching and Firewire's own rider review all frame the board around pace through flat sections rather than tight-radius vertical surfing. If you already ride a groveler for small waves and a shortboard for good waves, the Mindcraft is pitched as the shape that covers both at a shorter length.

The trade-off with any compact high-volume shape is the feel through long rail turns. Surfers who like a longer, drawn out arc usually prefer a conventional performance outline such as the Pyzel Ghost, and the Mindcraft makes more sense as a daily driver for 2 to 6 ft beach and point surf.

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.

SizeVolumeRider weightBest for
5'4"18 1/8" x 2 1/4" x 23.7LUnder 65 kgIntermediate+
5'5"18 3/8" x 2 5/16" x 25.0L60 to 70 kgIntermediate+
5'6"18 5/8" x 2 3/8" x 26.5L65 to 75 kgIntermediate+
5'7"18 7/8" x 2 7/16" x 27.9L70 to 82 kgIntermediate+

How it compares

BoardBest atWave rangeAggregate score
Firewire GrooveLoose and skatey1 to 4 ft9.0
Slater Designs CymaticSpeed in weak surf1 to 5 ft8.9
Pyzel GhostStep-up performance3 to 8 ft9.2

Recommended fin setups

  • ThrusterThe setup Firewire pictures on the stock board, best for control in cleaner surf.
  • QuadThe five-box layout allows a quad for more straight-line speed in softer waves.

Verdict

A speed-first daily driver from two of the most influential names in board design. No scored reviews exist yet, so the 9.0 here is an estimate based on published specs and independent write-ups.

Estimated score: 9.0 / 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
9.0/ 10
9.0
3 sources, none scored
SourceScoreSummary
Firewire — Mindcraft review with Sheldon SimkusNo numeric score"Snapper standout Sheldon Simkus reviews a stock 5'7" Mindcraft in I-Bolic 2.0 at Greenmount on long, clean walls."
Surf 'N Show — Firewire MindcraftNo numeric score"Noel Salas lists the Mindcraft in his board review library with fin recommendations for the shape."
Mike Raven Coaching — Firewire Tomo Mindcraft reviewNo numeric score"Every review and rider impression of the Mindcraft comes back to one word: speed."

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
$995
$995–$995 · 1 retailers
RetailerPricevs. average
Firewire$995Visit

Frequently asked questions

What size Mindcraft should I ride?+

Firewire's stock chart runs from 5'4" at 23.7L to 6'3". Riders are advised to go 2 to 4 inches shorter than a standard shortboard and match volume instead of length.

Who shaped the Mindcraft?+

It is a collaboration between Daniel Thomson (Tomo) and Kelly Slater, released through Firewire.

What construction is the Mindcraft sold in?+

Firewire lists it in I-Bolic 2.0 Core with fiberglass lamination at $995 USD for every stock size.

Is the Mindcraft a thruster or a quad?+

It ships with a five-fin layout, so it can be ridden as a thruster for control or as a quad for more straight-line speed.

What waves does the Mindcraft suit?+

Published rider feedback and the flatter mid-rocker point at everyday 2 to 6 ft beach breaks and points rather than heavy step-up surf.