When we built Kalon Surf, we used renewable materials for the resort itself — the structure, the finishes, the furniture. We grow fruits and vegetables on the property. Our chefs cook with organic, locally sourced ingredients. We collect rainwater for cleaning. We use solar energy. These weren’t marketing decisions. They’re just how we think a business should operate when you’re sitting in six acres of Costa Rican rainforest overlooking the Pacific.
So when it came time to choose what surfboards to put in our guests’ hands, the question was the same one we ask about everything: what’s the best possible product we can provide, and can we do it in a way that respects the environment we’re literally standing in?
That led us to Firewire.
The Two Questions Kelly Keeps Asking
What made the Firewire partnership feel right from the start is that Kelly Slater consistently asks the same two questions we do: how can we make the best possible product, and how can we do it with the least environmental impact?
That order matters. Sustainability doesn’t mean much if the product isn’t good. We don’t use eco-friendly materials just to say we’re green. Our responsibility — first and foremost — is the guest experience. Our job is to provide equipment that performs as well as or better than anything you’d find elsewhere. The fact that we can do that while being mindful of the ocean we’re in every day is what makes this partnership worth celebrating.
Firewire’s boards use EPS blanks and entropy bio-resins, which earns them “Ecoboard” certification from SustainableSurf.org. Their Linear Flex Technology (LFT) replaces the conventional stringer with a 0.75-inch aerospace composite running down the centerline of the board. The practical result for our guests: boards that are lighter, more responsive, and far more durable than traditional construction. At Kalon, boards hardly break anymore — which matters when you have over 60 boards rotating through daily sessions.
The traction pads on every board in our quiver are Slater Designs eco pads made with BLOOM Foam — a high-performance material made from algae biomass. The harvesting process actually cleans freshwater ecosystems, captures CO2, and produces a pad that’s more durable and lighter than conventional foam. It’s a better product that also happens to be better for the planet.
What This Means for Guests
None of this is about putting stickers on boards. It’s about what happens during your week.
When you arrive at Kalon, you don’t need to bring a surfboard. We have a full quiver of Firewire and Slater Designs models — over 60 boards across a range of shapes, volumes, and performance profiles. Our coaches match you to a board on day one based on your level, your build, and what the conditions look like. As the week progresses and you improve, they’ll adjust — maybe moving you to something with less volume, or switching to a different tail shape that suits the waves that day.
That flexibility is a big part of why guests progress so much during the week. You’re not locked into one board. You get to experience how different shapes feel under your feet, and you start to understand what works for you — which is a lesson that stays with you long after you leave.
For our intermediate and advanced guests, the Slater Designs models — the Sci-Fi, the Banana, the Omni, and the Helium Gamma — offer a chance to test-drive boards that most surfers only read about online. You’re riding the same designs that Kelly uses at Pipeline and Cloudbreak, on the uncrowded beach breaks of Dominical.
If you’re curious about how board selection actually works — why volume matters more than length, why you shouldn’t buy too early, and how we use the Firewire volume calculator — read our guide: What Surfboard Should I Buy?
And if you want to see how sustainability shows up across everything we do — not just boards — check out our Giving Back page.
The Bottom Line
We chose Firewire and Slater Designs because their values match ours. Quality first. Sustainability built in, not bolted on. Equipment that makes the experience better for our guests and better for the ocean we share with them every day.
That alignment is the whole point. When we partner with anyone — whether it’s a surfboard company, a sunscreen brand, or a local farmer — we’re asking the same question: does this make the experience better without making the world worse?
With Firewire, the answer has been yes since 2015.
