Getting a new board is exciting, but waiting for it to break in is unequivocally the worst part of the sport. But what if there were a way to expedite the process?
Nev Hyman’s Firewire Surfboards has teamed up with Mike Woo and Kelly Slater to come up with a solution with its new Proflex Technology, giving you a livelier feel underfoot right away.
Two Decades of Innovation
Since established Firewire in 2006, the Carlsbad-based brand has been rewriting the rules on surfboard construction. Hyman, who started shaping in Western Australia back in the ’70s, helped pioneer computer-aided shaping technology and eventually pushed the industry toward EPS/Epoxy construction when most shapers were still stuck on polyurethane.
That commitment to rethinking traditional methods set the foundation for everything Firewire has done since, from Helium’s parabolic wood rails to Volcanic’s basalt fiber lamination. The brand’s mission has always been about pushing the needle forward without compromising on quality.
The Spaceship Takes Flight
Meanwhile, Mike Woo has been quietly shaping high-performance boards out of Bali for years, working closely with surfing icon Kelly Slater on models like the Great White Twin. First tested as R&D prototypes during Slater’s sessions at Kirra in early 2024, the Spaceship is their latest collaboration.
Designed for quality waves, the outline is more conventional than some of Woo’s experimental shapes, with thin, knifey rails for precision in good surf. A rolled convex deck adds about a liter of flotation without bulk, creating a natural arch that almost eliminates the need for a traditional deck pad contour.
Carbon That Doesn’t Feel Dead
Compared to typical carbon constructed-boards, the Proflex Technology centers on a lightweight EPS core wrapped in an engineered carbon cage that controls flex and rebound in targeted zones. A proprietary deck skin and resilient S-glass layer add strength underfoot, while carbon reinforcement along the bottom and rails increases durability without creating that stiff, lifeless feel full-carbon boards are notorious for when you first take them off the rack.
Brett Savage, Firewire’s GM of Surfboards and Hardgoods, noted that the T10/S-glass deck system delivers immediate response, bypassing the break-in period most carbon-wrapped boards require. The payoffs are smooth energy transfer through turns, faster rebound, and sustained performance over time.
Spec Sheet
Model: Spaceship in Proflex Technology by Slater Designs
Construction: EPS core, engineered carbon cage, T10/S-glass deck system, carbon-reinforced bottom and rails
Designer: Kelly Slater and Mike Woo
Sizes: 5’6″ x 18 1/8″ x 2 1/4″ x 22.50L to 6’8″ x 21 1/4″ x 3 1/16″ x 44.0L
Price: $1,295
Pricing & Availability
The Spaceship in Proflex Technology is available now through Firewire Surfboards’ website and select premium surf shops globally, with limited quantities available.
Recap
Firewire Surfboards Proflex Technology
Firewire’s new Proflex Technology solves that annoying break-in period by using an engineered carbon cage that delivers immediate flex and response right off the rack. It debuts with Kelly Slater and Mike Woo’s Spaceship model, which combines targeted carbon reinforcement with a resilient deck system for powerful, controlled performance without feeling stiff or dead.
