Firewire Surfboards: Who Owns It and Which Board to Ride

Firewire builds surfboards differently. Instead of a polyurethane blank with a wooden stringer down the middle, its boards use a light EPS foam core and epoxy resin under a strong outer skin. Every one is built in a factory the company owns.

We've been riding them since 2010. The range runs from short fish to longboards, and ten of its boards have been through a full Surfd review.

Who owns Firewire Surfboards?

Kelly Slater is the majority shareholder. He bought in during early 2015 through his investment company. One report at the time put his share at 70%, but Firewire has never confirmed a figure.

Since 1 May 2024 Firewire and Slater Designs have sat inside a holding company with Outerknown, the clothing brand Slater co-founded. Dylan Slater, who is no relation, runs the group.

Founder Nev Hyman is no longer involved. He said in 2020 that he had left and gone back to building boards under his own Nev label.

History of Firewire Surfboards

When was the company founded?

Firewire was founded in 2006.

The roots go back further. Nev Hyman co-founded Odyssey Surfboards in Perth in 1975, then moved to the Gold Coast and started his Nev label at Burleigh Heads in 1980. Those were his earlier companies, not Firewire.

Where was it founded?

On the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. Firewire was first based at Burleigh Heads.

Who were the founders?

Nev Hyman, with a group of investors that included two former Billabong executives and the golfers Adam Scott and Ian Baker-Finch.

Why was it founded?

To build boards a new way. Hyman had bought the rights to a sandwich construction developed by Western Australian shaper Bert Burger, and Firewire was set up to make it at scale.

Any other important people who contributed to success?

• Bert Burger developed the parabolic-rail construction Firewire launched with. He ran research and production in the first year, then left and went on to build Sunova surfboards.
• Mark Price joined in 2006, became CEO in 2007 and led the company until he retired. Dylan Slater took over in April 2023.
• Dan Mann, Daniel "Tomo" Thomson and Rob Machado designed many of the best-known models.

Important milestones in the company's history

• 2006: Firewire is founded in Australia.
• 2007: Mark Price becomes CEO.
• 2014: All production moves to a bio-based resin, and every board qualifies for Sustainable Surf's ECOBOARD label.
• 2015: Kelly Slater becomes majority shareholder.
• 2016: Slater Designs launches, built by Firewire.
• 2023: Dylan Slater becomes CEO.
• 2024: Firewire, Slater Designs and Outerknown are joined under one holding company.

How Firewire boards are built

Firewire sells the same shapes in different constructions. These are the ones in the range now, as Firewire describes them.

LFT, the construction many older Firewires used, was retired in 2016.

Company mission, vision and values

What does the company believe in?

Firewire says its mission is to improve the surfing experience through innovative, high-quality products. It pairs that with a stated aim of reducing the environmental cost of making a surfboard.

The Company Today

Who is the CEO?

Dylan Slater, since April 2023. He was president of Rip Curl in North America before that, and also became CEO of Outerknown in May 2024.

How many staff do they have?

Firewire doesn't publish a headcount, so we don't quote one. Surfer magazine reported in 2018 that the Thai factory employed about 300 people.

How much revenue do they earn?

Firewire is privately held and doesn't publish its revenue. The estimates on data-broker sites are guesses, so we don't repeat them.

Where are they located?

The head office is at 2330 Faraday Avenue in Carlsbad, California, shared with Outerknown. The factory is in Thailand. Firewire says its boards are sold in more than 60 countries.

Do they have a foundation / non-for-profit arm?

Not that we could find.

Which products do they specialize in?

Surfboards, from shortboards and fish to mid-lengths and longboards. Firewire says a typical board costs about $995 in the US. It also sells fins, traction pads, leashes and board bags.

The Ambassadors

Who is sponsored by the company?

Firewire's team page in September 2026 lists Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Jackson Dorian, Shane Dorian, Lisa Andersen, Taylor Jensen, Kevin Schulz, Michel Bourez, Deivid Silva, Sheldon Simkus, Rob Kelly, Brodi Sale and Sebastian Williams.

Sustainability

Do they produce any eco-friendly products or have a sustainability focus?

Here is what Firewire has said about its environmental record, and what we could confirm.

• ECOBOARD: in July 2014 Firewire moved all production to a bio-based resin, which qualified every board for Sustainable Surf's ECOBOARD label. Its current sustainability page doesn't mention the label.
• Fumes: Firewire said in 2014 that its boards give off 2% of the volatile organic compounds a polyurethane board does. We couldn't find the study behind the figure, so treat it as the company's claim.
• Waste: Firewire says close to all of its foam scraps are reused in other products. It also says plainly that no surfboard on the market can be fully recycled.
• Labor: Firewire says it is pursuing Fair Labor accreditation, with independent audits. Its former CEO expected Fair Trade certification in 2019. We found no confirmation that it happened.

Campaigns and Partnerships

Are they doing anything interesting in terms of campaigns or partnerships?

• Kalon Surf, a surf resort in Costa Rica, has used Firewire boards since 2015.
• Surf Snowdonia, the Welsh wave pool, partnered with Firewire in 2015. The pool closed in 2023.

For more information

Visit the Firewire Surfboards website.

Product Reviews on Surfd

Still in the range:

No longer in Firewire's US range, but worth knowing if you're buying used: