If you follow the World Surf League (WSL) you will have undoubtedly heard of Stu Kennedy’s incredible performance in the first WSL comp of the year at Snapper. Needless to say, With Firewire Surfboards being our partner, and with that Kelly Slater Designs, we couldn’t be more proud to have his incredible talent finally recognized and for all of the well-deserved attention it has gotten him. He is a hard worker, a fierce and level-headed competitor, dedicated family man and all-around great human and we are stoked for him.
What is even more interesting is that his performance has also shed a lot of (positive) light on his equipment — both the design prowess of Daniel Thomson and the technologies of Firewire/Slater Designs. We are then also very excited to have Kelly Slater Designs coming to Kalon Surf in May! (pre-ordered, first batch out).
What Happened at Snapper
For those who missed it: at the 2016 Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks, Stu Kennedy — an injury replacement surfer who most people had never heard of — put on one of the most talked-about performances in recent WSL history. Riding the Sci-Fi, a shape that looked unlike anything else in the water, he beat Kelly Slater in Round 2 with a blistering 9.5 (the highest single wave score of the event), then went on to beat Gabriel Medina and John John Florence before losing to Kolohe Andino in the semis.
The board was visibly different from everything else on tour — shorter, wider, with channels and a dramatic double bat tail that looked bizarre on the beach but generated unmistakable speed and control in the water. As Stab Magazine put it, Stu was going twice as fast as his competitors and turning in half the space. The surfing world noticed, and the Sci-Fi became arguably the most talked-about surfboard design in years.
The Sci-Fi
The Sci-Fi is the brainchild of Daniel “Tomo” Thomson — one of the most progressive shapers working today — developed in collaboration with Kelly Slater. Tomo grew up shaping alongside his father in Lennox Head, influenced by design pioneers like George Greenough, and has spent his career applying hydrodynamic principles to surfboard design rather than relying on trial and error.
Slater Designs describe the Sci-Fi as follows: “a mash-up of classic curves and modern rocker served with a futuristic twist of fluid dynamic principles likely found in the design archives of Bruce Wayne. Expect seemingly unnatural acceleration, instantaneous response and an all-around level of performance that can only be described as electric. The Sci-Fi is a high performance all-rounder with impressive range (1–8ft) with usability for intermediate to advanced surfers. Available in 5-fin setup.”
The guys at Stab noted that it is “the pocket rocket of the trio” — the board Slater rode in the now-famous unveiling of his wave pool. “He rips it at 5’6″ × 18 3/8″ × 2 1/4″ with 25.8L of volume. With its wings and double bat tail setup, if nothing else, it’s visually very futuristic. The magic is in the back end, which features a flatter rocker with lots of planing area to maximise speed while still retaining control. An additional carbon strip down the top deck gives it more strength and flex.”
What Makes It Different
The key to the Sci-Fi’s feel is Tomo’s approach to the tail. The double bat tail pulls the wide tail template inward, reducing drag while creating what Tomo describes as “a clawing effect in the water” — the board holds through radical turns despite its width. Combined with a Quad Inside Single Concave bottom contour, the result is a board that generates speed from almost nothing and pivots with unusual precision.
The construction matters too. Like all Slater Designs boards, the Sci-Fi uses Firewire’s Linear Flex Technology (LFT) — no conventional stringer, but a 0.75″ (18mm) wide aerospace composite strip running down the centerline. EPS blanks and entropy bio-resins make the boards certified “Ecoboards” by SustainableSurf.org. Practically speaking, the LFT construction means these boards hardly break, which matters a lot when you’re stocking a quiver for a resort.
The Sci-Fi 2.0
Since the original’s debut, Tomo has released the Sci-Fi 2.0 — an updated version that refines the design with Firewire’s newer I-Bolic core technology, which combines the stiffness of LFT with the flex and spring-back of their Helium construction. It’s Kelly Slater’s preferred technology to ride.
In Tomo’s words: “the Sci-Fi has been such a popular design and stood the test of time because of its functionality. It’s such an easy board to ride. It gives the user an effortless sense of control and performance that you wouldn’t get in a traditional shortboard.” The 2.0 can handle waves up to double overhead while still generating speed in waist-high mush — a versatility that made it the best-selling Slater Designs model of its year.
What This Means for Guests at Kalon
As official partners with Firewire Surfboards and Slater Designs, we stock a full range of their boards in our quiver at Kalon Surf. Our surf coaches help each guest select the right board based on their level, goals, and the conditions of the day — and with daily video analysis, you’ll see exactly how the equipment is performing under your feet.
The Sci-Fi isn’t a beginner board (it’s designed for intermediate to advanced surfers), but it’s the kind of shape that our more experienced guests get genuinely excited to try. And if you’re earlier in your surfing journey, the broader Firewire/Slater Designs range includes boards suited to every level. Our coaches will guide you to the right one.
If you’re interested in which board might be right for you, check out the Firewire board volume calculator — or better yet, get in touch with us and let our team match you up when you arrive. You can also read about the other Slater Designs models in our quiver: the Banana, the Omni, and the Helium Gamma.
Explore the rest of the Slater Designs lineup we carry: Banana · Omni · Helium Gamma · Eco Traction Pads
