Firewire Surfboards - Perth
"Innovation without compromise. Built for surfers who want progressive design, exceptional performance and a different way of thinking about surfboards."
Few surfboard brands have challenged conventional thinking quite like Firewire Surfboards. Since its launch in 2006, Firewire has earned a reputation for combining innovative construction methods with progressive surfboard design, producing boards that deliver outstanding performance while exploring new ways to improve durability, responsiveness and sustainability. Today, Firewire is one of the most influential surfboard brands in the world, not because it follows industry trends, but because it's never been afraid to question them.
Founded by Australian surfer and entrepreneur Nev Hyman, Firewire was created with a vision of building surfboards that performed at the highest level while embracing advances in materials and manufacturing. Rather than relying solely on traditional polyurethane construction, Firewire pioneered alternative technologies that reduced weight, improved strength and enhanced the feel of a surfboard beneath your feet. At a time when many surfers were hesitant to move away from conventional construction, Firewire proved that innovation and performance could go hand in hand.
Over the years, Firewire has evolved into a collaborative design house, working with some of surfing's most respected surfers and shapers. Designers including Dan Mann, Rob Machado, Tomo (Daniel Thomson) and Kelly Slater have all played significant roles in shaping the brand's direction, bringing together a diverse collection of boards that cater to everything from high-performance shortboarding to twin fins, grovellers and modern mid-lengths. Rather than building a single "Firewire feel", the brand encourages each designer to bring their own philosophy to the range while benefiting from Firewire's advanced construction technologies.
Today, Firewire continues to push surfboard design forward while remaining committed to responsible manufacturing practices. Its combination of innovative construction, world-class designers and broad model range has made Firewire a favourite among surfers looking for boards that perform exceptionally well across a wide variety of conditions. Whether you're chasing performance in quality surf or simply looking to maximise the fun in everyday waves, Firewire has built a reputation for delivering boards that encourage progression and keep surfers coming back for more.
The Shapers
Unlike many surfboard manufacturers that revolve around a single master shaper, Firewire has built its reputation by bringing together some of surfing's most respected designers under one roof. Each shaper contributes their own unique design philosophy while taking advantage of Firewire's advanced construction technologies. The result is a diverse range of surfboards that cater to different styles of surfing, wave types and ability levels, while maintaining the innovation and quality Firewire has become known for around the world.
Dan Mann
Widely regarded as one of the most influential surfboard designers of the modern era, Dan Mann has become a driving force behind Firewire's performance range. Based in California, Mann is known for creating boards that balance high-performance surfing with everyday versatility, making them favourites among surfers who want speed, flow and reliability across a broad range of conditions.
Rather than designing boards solely for elite professionals, Mann focuses on shapes that everyday surfers can enjoy and progress on. Models like the Dominator 2.0, Mashup and Spitfire have earned loyal followings thanks to their forgiving nature, easy speed generation and ability to perform in everything from average beach breaks to quality point waves. His approach centres on continual refinement, ensuring every new design builds upon years of feedback from surfers of all abilities.
Rob Machado
Few surfers have influenced modern free surfing quite like Rob Machado. Known for his smooth, effortless style and creative approach to wave riding, Machado has brought that same philosophy to his Firewire designs. His boards prioritise flow, speed and enjoyment, encouraging surfers to think less about aggressive manoeuvres and more about drawing clean, stylish lines across the wave.
Designs such as the Seaside, Sunday and Too Fish have become modern classics, particularly among surfers looking to maximise fun in everyday conditions. While they're incredibly accessible, Machado's boards also reward experienced surfers with impressive speed and responsiveness. His range perfectly reflects the idea that high-performance surfing doesn't always have to mean riding narrow, highly specialised shortboards.
Daniel "Tomo" Thomson
Australian designer Daniel "Tomo" Thomson challenged conventional surfboard thinking long before it became fashionable. Best known for his futuristic outlines, parallel rails and deep understanding of hydrodynamics, Tomo introduced entirely new ideas about how surfboards generate speed and maintain control.
Working with Firewire allowed his innovative concepts to reach a global audience through advanced construction techniques that complemented his designs. Models such as the Sci-Fi, Vanguard and Hydronaut quickly developed cult followings among surfers looking for something beyond traditional surfboard design. While visually distinctive, Tomo's boards are backed by years of research and experimentation, proving that unconventional thinking can produce remarkable performance across a wide range of wave conditions.
Slater Designs
The partnership between Kelly Slater and Firewire represents one of the most significant collaborations in modern surfboard design. Through Slater Designs, the eleven-time World Champion has worked alongside Firewire's team of designers to develop surfboards that combine elite-level performance with the brand's innovative construction technologies.
Rather than shaping boards himself, Slater contributes his unparalleled understanding of high-performance surfing by collaborating closely with designers such as Dan Mann. The result is a collection of boards including the FRK, Cymatic, Sci-Fi 2.0 and S Boss, each refined through extensive testing and feedback from one of the greatest surfers in history.
Slater Designs has become synonymous with progressive performance, offering surfers access to boards influenced by decades of experience at the highest level of the sport.
Design Philosophy
Firewire doesn't believe there's one perfect surfboard.
Instead, it believes there are better ways to build them.
The brand's focus has always been on combining proven surfboard design with innovative materials that improve strength, flex and responsiveness. Technologies such as Helium construction have become favourites among surfers looking for lively performance with impressive durability, while newer developments continue to refine the way boards flex and recover through turns.
Just as importantly, Firewire has invested heavily in more environmentally conscious manufacturing processes and materials, recognising that surfers have a unique connection to the oceans they enjoy every day.
Rather than treating sustainability as a marketing feature, Firewire has worked to integrate it into the way the company approaches surfboard production.
Did you know?
Firewire was one of the first major surfboard companies to demonstrate that alternative construction methods could compete—and win—at the highest level of professional surfing. What was once considered unconventional has since influenced the broader surfboard industry.
Why Perth Surfers Love Firewire
Western Australia delivers an incredible mix of conditions, from soft summer beach breaks to powerful winter reefs, and Firewire's diverse range is well equipped to handle both.
For surfers spending most of their time around Scarborough, Trigg and Brighton, models like the Seaside and Dominator 2.0 generate excellent speed through flatter sections while maintaining enough performance to keep improving as conditions change. When the swell arrives and the reefs begin to turn on, boards like the FRK+ and Cymatic provide the control and responsiveness experienced surfers demand.
Firewire's lightweight construction also appeals to WA surfers who spend plenty of time in the water, offering lively performance while standing up well to regular use. Whether you're looking to maximise smaller summer waves or add another dimension to your winter quiver, there's a Firewire model designed with that purpose in mind.