Firewire Machado Cado Helium Surfboard

Meet your new favorite summertime shape, designed by Rob Machado inspired by the outline of an avocado mixed with the DNA of a fish and the performance of a shortboard. Experience the joy of catching waves you'd previously not even consider trying to catch on the Machadocado with ease, this is Rob's most versatile squash tail yet. Whether you're an experienced surfer or just beginning, this shape will be your best friend on smaller days.

Designed by the California-based style icon, this board embodies Rob's extensive experience and passion for small wave surfing in California. The Machadocado is slightly wider and thicker than your standard shortboard, providing excellent stability and grovel-ability, while it's thinned out tail provides plenty of control and hold in rounder, more powerful waves. It's volume distribution favors fast wraps and quick speed generation in waves knee-high to overhead. The Thruster fin configuration allows you to ride as a Twin, a Twin with a trailer, or a Thruster, depending on your desired feeling.

Recommended with the Machado 2 + 1 Fin Set for the best experience. This fin template was designed specifically for the Machadocado to enable tight turns and extreme control.

Wave Type
This is Rob Machado's most versatile hybrid shape, designed to create speed in weak waves and control speed in good waves. The Machadocado loves to be in waves knee-high to overhead, think fast wraps and speed generation. It will give you confidence in all conditions, the extra width plays into weak waves and the thinned out foil helps in good waves. The avocado-inspired outline makes wave catching easy with more volume in a shorter outline.

Board Features
The Machadocado is short and wide like Rob's favorite breakfast fruit, with a volume distribution that favors fast wraps, quick speed generation, and easy paddling. With a double concave crafted to suit ease of maneuverability, and a vee through the fin cluster, the Machadocado transitions rail to rail uncommonly easily for a shape so wide. Rob was meticulous in refining the thickness distribution from nose to tail, ensuring the shape holds well in the pocket without sacrificing the ability to create speed in flat sections. Built in Helium Technology, Rob calls the parabolic flex control provided by the wooden rails as "good for drive on rail and control in critical sections."

Helium Core Technology

This is Firewire's best-selling technology, with a new updated look. A stringerless EPS core with flex controlled at the rails made from Paulownia and Balsa wood and our proprietary deckskins - this construction is light and lively underfoot, and excellent at generating speed in everyday waves. Rob Machado calls the parabolic flex control provided by the wooden rails in the Machadocado. Good for drive on rail and control in critical sections.

Helium 2.0 uses 0.8 lbs light weight Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) core with closed-cell waterproof structure skins, combined with high-density (PAULOWNIA) parabolic rail inserts, Polonia wood nose and tail blocks, and high-density fin box inserts. All inserts and components are bonded using expanding epoxy resin to form an airtight composite structure. The result is a lightweight, flex-tuned, waterproof, and impact-resistant blank.

Traditional PU boards use a single polyurethane blank with a central wood stringer. They rely on heavier foam and fiberglass for strength, resulting in more weight, lower flex control, and increased water absorption when damaged.

Helium Technology Core Construction
Helium blanks move through a multi-stage, precision-controlled build process designed to ensure consistency, strength, and tuned flex behavior:

1. Outline cutting and high-density component insertion
2. Deck cutting and deck skin application
3. Bottom cutting and bottom skin application
4. Final rail cutting followed by hand-shaped rail tuning

Helium utilizes a vacuum-laminated sandwich construction, featuring a 1.8 oz fiberglass layer positioned between the EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) core and proprietary MPP (Modified Polypropylene) composite skins, followed by an external 4 oz fiberglass lamination on both the deck and bottom. The vacuum lamination process ensures uniform adhesion, reduced resin weight, and superior structural integrity across the entire board.

High-density fin box inserts are integrated during construction to reinforce fin attachment points and minimize the risk of cracking or flex distortion under load.

During lamination, the parabolic rail structure is locked into place under vacume, creating stored elastic energy within the blank. This “loaded spring” effect allows the board to actively return energy during turns, increasing projection and speed—particularly in small to medium surf—while requiring less physical input from the surfer.

By contrast, traditional PU constructions rely on a 6 oz fiberglass bottom and two 4 oz fiberglass deck layers (4 + 4 oz) laminated directly over the foam using polyester resin. While this adds weight and stiffness, it results in less structural efficiency, reduced flex consistency, and a shorter performance lifespan over time.

Helium Technology Materials
Helium is approximately 25–30% lighter than PU boards, with a more responsive flex feel, waterproof EPS core, and lower VOC emissions thanks to epoxy bio-resins. It has a 3–5+ year lifespan and keeps boards out of landfills longer. Traditional PU boards are heavier, less flexible, and last only 1–2 years on average, with higher environmental impact.

Freshwater Performance & Buoyancy
EPS foam performs better in freshwater wave pools due to its higher relative gravity profile, which provides superior buoyancy. EPS/epoxy boards deliver approximately 2–3% more net flotation than PU boards of the same volume in freshwater, where reduced water density affects board lift.

Example estimates (freshwater, same volume):

• 30 L board: EPS +2.2% lift advantage (~0.6 kg)
• 35 L board: EPS +2.2% lift advantage (~0.7 kg)

Helium Technology Key Tech

• EPS (Expanded Polystyrene): Closed-cell foam that’s lightweight, waterproof, and recyclable — forms Helium’s core.
• PU (Polyurethane): Traditional surfboard foam, smooth flex feel, absorbs water when damaged.
• MPP Composite Skins: High-density sandwich composite skins for dent resistance and flex control.
• 2.4 e-Fiberglass (Internal Layer): Light fiberglass layer that distributes load evenly between core and skins.
• 4 oz e-Fiberglass (Outer Lamination): Outer laminate providing durable finish and surface protection.
• HD Polonia Wooden Rail Inserts: High-density foam strips enhancing flex control and preventing rail cracking.
• High-Density Fin Box Inserts: Dense composite blocks integrated into the core to anchor fin boxes securely.
• Paulownia Wood Blocks: Light hardwood reinforcements for nose and tail strength.
• Epoxy Bio-Resin (Entropy): Bio-based epoxy resin system with superior strength and flexibility.
• Polyester Resin: Traditional styrene-based resin used in PU boards; brittle and high in VOCs.

Helium Tech Summary
Helium Technology delivers an ultra-light, lively ride with a distinct sense of stored energy and rebound. Built around an EPS core and high density of Paulownia Wooden parabolic rail. Helium boards retain inherent kinetic energy in the rails, allowing for loaded spring-back out of turns and smooth projective flex. This gives surfers a sensation of speed, flow, and effortless projection.