Firewire Rob Machado Seaside Surfboard Review - Kook Shed Episode 18

First impressions after riding the Firewire Seaside by Rob Machado. Helpful surf reviews and advice for both beginners and experienced riders. Subscribe for more!
*Kook Shed does not accept any responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any loss or damage incurred by any person directly or indirectly relying on the provided information. The information provided should be for consideration only and is used at the viewer's own risk.

[@rabd77]

Brilliant review. Refreshing to hear the good and bad points. Loved the few honest comments you threw in there that I haven't heard on other reviews.

[@kookshed]

no worries mate and thanks for the positive feedback. just trying to give any info i would be wanting to know when looking at a board. cheers-KS

[@nottherealmccoy4955]

Best review of this board I've seen 11/10!

[@kookshed]

cheers mate, glad you enjoyed and welcome aboard! -KS

[@mileskookman]

i like these longer videos, keep em coming kookshed!

[@kookshed]

glad you enjoyed it mate, cheers!

[@hijkovanderlinden3223]

Great review. Thanks for putting in your time.

[@kookshed]

thanks mate! hope it was helpful in some way. cheers

[@mattsmith464]

Great review, thanks for putting it up. Enjoying your channel very much. Also have the 5’8” Seaside and agree with your description. Really fun and forgiving board for an intermediate kook like me. I find in larger 3’+ waves the Machado quads have almost too much drive. Have had some good surfs with a standard Shapers large quad set, feels a bit more ‘traditional’ compared to the split keels. Can’t decide which fins I like more, fun to mix it up! Super durable as you say and a great investment as it’s so fun and versatile. I’m riding it 90% of the time...

[@kookshed]

hey mate, great to hear you're loving the board and having fun. still dialling mine in but sounds like you're already enjoying experimenting and finding what works for you- good stuff! yes a great purchase and looking forward to many more fun ones on mine too. enjoy! -KS

[@davewarland1680]

Great review. Have had a 5'6" Seaside from when they first come out and love it. After 45 years of surfing, the Seaside is one of the most fun boards i have had and definitely worth a look. The other fin combo i tried was just a large front fin and medium rears, rode differently again but still tons of fun. Love it.

[@kookshed]

yes mate how fun are they! glad you're enjoying yours. would definitely like to try fin combos in future like the one you mention, could be more fun and learn more about the board. enjoy! cheers

[@kileyhsu7181]

@Dave Warland I’ve been looking for someone who’s tried other quad fins in the Seaside, glad to see that you have! How did they feel compared to the machado quads or other keels? I’m thinking about 1.) HS1 + HS rears 2.) AM2 fonts + HS rears.

[@Casualyoutubee]

Loving mine, enjoying it up here in Alaska 🤘🏼 sweet review

[@kookshed]

awesome mate, good to hear. yes amazing boards! hi from Oz, cheers -KS

[@akinsl45]

Have this board dialed in after a run of swell here in NJ. Most fun board I've ever ridden. Definately not a groveler but paddles well. Stable on the pop up. So responsive once your up and going. It's fast, but controlling speed is easy as well! SO GOOD!!!

[@kookshed]

good to hear you are digging it mate! yes super fun board and very versatile. loving the speed as well! cheers mate enjoy -KS

[@charleshawk6668]

Like your reviews. Subscribed

[@kookshed]

cheers mate, welcome aboard! (no pun intended) -KS

[@gilliamm.5732]

Great review. Thanks!

[@kookshed]

No worries mate, glad it was helpful ! Thanks for the positive feedback, cheers -KS

[@andreveiga9598]

Great review! As a new favourite board, how would you say it compares to the Evo? Torn between the two, since although they're different shapes, they seem to both excel in the same type of wave - ie the 2-5ft range 90% of my surfing is on

[@kookshed]

hi mate, thanks for the positive feedback (: That's a tough one! but for me, the Seaside feels like a looser, more playful approach, while i use the Evo in a more drivey, down the line way mostly, and when it's hollower (just me, others may disagree). keep in mind the different constructions and the sizing of the boards ridden are a big influence too. hope this helps(?), cheers -KS

[@barnabyflynn965]

I bought a Seaside 5’5 two weeks ago. Had about 5 surfs on it. I'm 5'9 and 11 stone. I’ve got another 2 weeks to swap it for another board from the shop I bought it from if I want to. It grovels ace but over chest high in steeper waves it starts to feel a little less manageable. Perhaps I just need to get used to it but it slid out doing cut backs a couple of times on steeper waves, which I'm not used to happening to me on my daily driver board, (5'9 29.5 ltrs thruster fin). I’m using the Machado quads. I probably could swap it out for a smaller one however, in the interest of grovelling and making the 5'5 more versatile, what fins might make it hold better Rastovich quads??, is it just me, or the board size?

[@kookshed]

hi mate, this is a tricky one because it's such a personal preference thing. it could be the wide swallow tail more than the fins. i'm guessing your other 'daily' board has a rounded pin or even squash tail..? Seasides are definitely a little different and can feel alien when jumping from standard shortboard shapes, but if you dial it in they will respond ! as for steeper stuff, if you aren't 100% stoked on it maybe hold out for something with a touch more nose/tail rocker..? i think it's possibly the board shape and style more than the fins that is causing your conundrum. BUT remember i am no pro shredder and my opinion means nothing against what you personally already know and prefer yourself in the water. hopefully this helps in some way cheers -KS

[@Stomperproductions]

Nice review! Just wondering what your opinion is on having a bigger version (i.e. more volume)? If there is too much volume would it perform less well in bigger waves? Or what are the pros/cons?

[@kookshed]

great question mate, and one i've been pondering myself. these boards already pack a lot of volume in for the size, so going too big might make them feel 'boaty' and you'll have a bunch more foam under the front foot too, which some may not like the feel of, especially during turns. BUT if you're of intermediate skill level (or even just above beginner) this may not bother you at all yet, and i'm guessing they'd be good fun for fuller, cruisier waves at those volumes- loads of paddle power and momentum over fat sections. bigger waves can have bigger bumps on them (unless smooth, glassy perfect conditions) and i'll go out on a limb and guess it might feel a bit 'out of control' or skittish in those conditions if your Seaside is too big, especially with the ultra-light Helium construction bouncing off the chop. i'm hoping to try my mate's bigger sized Seaside soon, and i may have more info for you then. hope this helps in some way! cheers -KS

[@Stomperproductions]

@@kookshed nice! Interested not hear how you get on when you try a bigger one. I just bought a 6' version (I'm 6'5 and 210lbs) and think I may have gone too big. It definitely feels boaty and can imagine once going fast on big waves it has a "skittish" feeling but will have to see. That tail is pretty slicey so it might be able to make up for it if you surf back foot heavy in faster waves?

[@kookshed]

@@Stomperproductions no worries mate. it depends how experienced you are and what you are classifying as 'big' waves i guess. you could probably go down to a 5'10" in future, and use the 6'0" just for small stuff. ha yes ride that tail mate, but also you could try bigger fins for now..? due to it being harder to bury the rails and tail, maybe some bigger/taller fins (even different shape for more hold) might help control it a little when it needs it in bigger stuff? just an idea. good luck! -KS

[@barnabyflynn965]

I’m 5’9 155lb. Surf usually in full head to toe wetsuit gear. I’ve ordered a 5’5 (31.5 ltrs) seaside. Have a day to change my mind. Intermediate can do cut backs and pocket riding. Usually right hand point break which needs speed. Some heavy reef too. Have a ghost 6’1 with 31.5 ltrs for 3-6 foot and or heavy. Want a seaside for when I’m not sure if it’s going to be slightly smaller or bigger or slacker, 2-4 ft. Worried that perhaps I should go 5’4 seaside instead. Don’t want to be over corked as it were. What’s your opinion please MrKookShed?

[@kookshed]

hi mate, if you're already paddling/riding a 31.5L fine normally and it suits you, i don't see why the 5'5" Seaside wouldn't be fine for you as well. the Helium materials may float just a little more/sit a bit higher in the water but not by much, and this may help anyway if the waves are smaller/lacking power? i reckon you'll be fine with your choice mate, you could've even gone next size up if mainly using it for the mellower stuff. but remember this is just my opinion and your own personal choice is the most important ! hope this helps -KS

[@barnabyflynn965]

@@kookshed thanks very much for your input. It arrives Thursday. V excited!

[@jamiemacmahan3417]

Thanks for the reviews! So how would you compare this to the Twice Baked, which you also seemed to really enjoy!

[@kookshed]

no worries mate glad you enjoyed, generally the TB is more aimed at grovelling and making the most of weaker waves, while the Seaside is more versatile in that it can be ridden in a wider variety of conditions. broadly speaking, the TB performs best in 0.5-3 ft, while the Seaside can be more an all-rounder for some riders and performs well in 2-6ft. the style and design of each board differs considerably too, so keep in mind personal preference plays a big part. hope this helps- KS

[@gordonflash3698]

If you could take one board on a surftrip around the world. Would you take the Hypto Krypto or the Seaside?

[@kookshed]

good question mate! as much as i love the Seaside and nearly all the Firewires i've tried, performance-wise i would take the Hypto. purely because it can handle pretty much anything i would paddle out in. durability of the HS boards is another story though...stay tuned for a Hypto Krypto review coming up! -KS

[@kdenbeaches808]

Any thing on the Glazer?

[@kookshed]

not yet mate, very soon though! just waiting for right conditions to truly have a good test -KS

[@charlesrooke3946]

Great review, what height and weight are you? Thanks!

[@kookshed]

cheers mate ! i'm 6'2" and around 80kg

[@Offshore52]

@@kookshed Hey mate, great review! I'm exactly your size, intermediate (in a European sense), so probably less skilled. Would use it in very weak, windy , mellow surf, mainly beachbreaks. Would you think the 5'10 would be too big?

[@kookshed]

@@Offshore52 hi mate, the 5'10 might be ok for paddling and momentum if definitely surfing small fuller shaped waves, but keep in mind there might be better construction materials for riding in windblown conditions frequently. you might find a larger Helium board can feel a bit "chattery" over chop in bumpier conditions due to its lightweight construction, and the Helium floats very well already so be careful because a 5'10 might feel a bit "boaty" for some riders of our size. If you definitely are only going out in super mellow, weaker stuff also consider a Baked Potato or Twice Baked. Timbertek construction handles bumpier conditions very well, and even LFT to some extent, so that's something to think about as well. hope this helps in some way! cheers -KS