Firewire Seaside Helium Surfboard

"Just evolving the Go Fish to something new, really. The Go Fish goes fast and feels skatey and loose and I love it, and riding it for a couple years made me want to feel more high performance - more carves, tighter turns. So the Seaside is about refining… less area in the tail, narrowing the tips of the swallow, creating more curve and narrowing the nose. All elements for ripping while the Go Fish stays cruisey and fun.

The first one I made for Tahiti was LFT and I was riding it in 6-foot tubes. But most everyone surfs a shape like the Seaside at beach breaks and little point breaks, so we made it in Helium because it’s really light, very responsive, really flexy with a softer feel and very durable. It’s the best option for a shape like the Seaside in smaller, weaker waves, I think." —Rob Machado

Wave Type
An evolution of the Go Fish, the Seaside is built to excel in small and weak waves. Think of this shape for ripping, while the Go Fish stays cruisey and fun. Recommended in 1-5’ surf, skewing towards poor/flat conditions.

Board Features
One of Firewire's most popular outlines, this shape is inviting, fun and forgiving, with plenty of paddle power. Updated from the Go Fish, it has less area in the tail, narrowed tops of the swallow, creating more curve and a narrowed nose.

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.