Mindcraft Ultra Surfboard Review: Waves, Shape, Fins and Sizing

Mindcraft Ultra surfboard review: the short answer

The Firewire Mindcraft Ultra is a longer version of the Mindcraft shortboard, by Daniel "Tomo" Thomson with Kelly Slater. You can ride it as a step-up or as a mid-length. It has the Mindcraft's parallel outline, torpedo nose, Full Length Spiral Vee and bump wing round tail. Firewire says it suits 2 to 6 foot surf with some power in it, and that Tomo and Kelly ride it as a quad. We list it from 5'11" (29.3 L) to 7'2" (50.0 L) in I-Bolic 2.0 construction.

How we wrote this: every spec and design claim below comes from Firewire's Mindcraft Ultra product page, Firewire's official video, or our own HSS product listings, and each one is credited where it appears. Anything Firewire doesn't publish, like exact rocker numbers, we say so instead of guessing.

Firewire Mindcraft Ultra surfboard deck and bottom, showing the parallel outline, torpedo nose and bump wing round tail

Watch: the Mindcraft Ultra from Firewire

Official video from Firewire Surfboards: "The Mindcraft Ultra by Kelly Slater & Daniel Thomson | Slater Designs" on YouTube.

Who the Mindcraft Ultra is for

Firewire describes the Ultra as a board for "drawing smooth performance lines when there's power and energy in the water." Going by that, it suits:

  • Shortboarders who need a step-up. This is for when the surf gets bigger and more powerful than your everyday board likes, and you still want it to feel like a performance board. Firewire says it takes "the connectivity of rider and equipment in larger surf to the next level."
  • Surfers who want a performance mid-length. Firewire says the Ultra "can be ridden as either a step up or a midlength, and can be sized accordingly." The bigger sizes carry more foam but keep performance rails.
  • Mindcraft riders. If you like the Mindcraft shortboard, the Ultra keeps the same design ideas in a longer board for bigger waves.

It's not sold as a beginner board or a small-wave groveler. Firewire built it around waves with energy.

What waves it suits

Here's Firewire's guidance, from the product page:

  • It's recommended for 2 to 6 foot surf when there's power and energy in the water.
  • "Like many of Tomo's models, the Mindcraft Ultra excels in waves with more energy, but can also be ridden in smaller conditions as a midlength."
  • "The board's wave range will be determined by size, with the larger sizes having a wider, more accommodating wave range."

In practice, a shorter Ultra is a step-up for good, powerful days. A longer, higher-volume Ultra gives you more range, including smaller days.

Shape breakdown

Outline

The Ultra has an elongated parallel outline with an elongated rail line. Firewire says it gives "pure highspeed trim with an effortless ability to perform smooth rail turns."

Nose

The nose is a torpedo nose, similar to the Mindcraft shortboard's. Firewire says it's "designed to be forgiving in the most critical moments."

Bottom

The bottom is Tomo's Full Length Spiral Vee. Firewire says it "makes rolling over rail-to-rail effortless" and gives the board its "distinct performance feel."

Rails

Firewire calls them performance rails. On the larger, "generously volumed" sizes, Firewire says the rails "will still perform great when more foam is desired." Firewire doesn't publish a rail profile beyond that.

Tail

The tail is a bump wing round tail. Firewire says it allows "tight turns at speed with exceptional control."

Rocker

Firewire doesn't publish rocker figures or a rocker description for the Ultra on its product page, so we're not going to guess. If rocker matters for your break, come see the boards on the rack and we can compare them side by side.

Firewire sums up the whole package as "excellent control and effortless rail engagement particularly when riding at high speeds in larger surf."

Firewire Mindcraft Ultra surfboard held on the rocks

Fins and fin setup

Every Mindcraft Ultra in our lineup is a 5-fin board, per our HSS listings. That means you can run it as a thruster or a quad. Firewire's recommendation is clear: "Recommended as a Quad for the best performance, and is the configuration that Tomo and Kelly have been riding."

Firewire's "Pair with the Mindcraft Ultra" picks include the Endorfins KSR fins. We carry them as a 5-fin Endorfins KSR (Medium-Large) set and a thruster Endorfins KSR (Medium-Large) set.

Firewire Mindcraft Ultra set up as a quad, held by a surfer

Construction: I-Bolic 2.0

The Ultra is built in Firewire's I-Bolic 2.0 technology. Firewire describes it as "I-beam core construction with flex controlled at the rails using high density foam," with "a fully engineered carbon strip inlay on the bottom deck" for extra strength over the original I-Bolic. That's the construction on every Ultra in our lineup.

Volume and sizing guide

Firewire's sizing advice comes down to this: decide whether you want a step-up or a mid-length, then size for that. The larger sizes have more volume and a wider wave range. Dimensions and prices below come from our HSS product listings.

Length Width Thickness Volume Fins HSS price
5'11" 18 3/4" 2 9/16" 29.3 L 5-fin $1,040
6'1" 19" 2 5/8" 31.3 L 5-fin $1,040
6'3" 19 1/2" 2 3/4" 34.6 L 5-fin $1,040
6'6" 20" 2 7/8" 38.7 L 5-fin $1,040
6'9" 20 1/2" 3" 43.2 L 5-fin $1,170
7'0" 20 3/4" 3 1/8" 47.2 L 5-fin $1,170
7'2" 21" 3 3/16" 50.0 L 5-fin $1,170

Source: Hawaiian South Shore product listings, all in I-Bolic 2.0. Prices and stock can change, so check each listing.

Firewire doesn't publish a weight-to-volume chart for the Ultra, so we won't give you a formula. The best place to start is your current board. A step-up usually goes a little longer than what you ride every day. If you want the mid-length feel and more range, move into the larger sizes. Bring in your everyday board's dimensions, plus your height, weight and the waves you surf, and we'll help you pick a size. If you want to try one first, we also rent a 6'9" Mindcraft Ultra from the shop.

Mindcraft Ultra vs. the Mindcraft shortboard

Firewire calls the Ultra "an iteration of the original Mindcraft shortboard" that "shares the same general outline with an elongated rail line, the same torpedo nose, same Full Length Spiral Vee bottom contour... and the same bump wing round tail." What changes is the length and the purpose. The Ultra is designed for "smooth rail engagement when riding at high speeds in larger surf." For a Mindcraft rider, that makes the Ultra the natural step-up. Firewire also has an official Mindcraft shortboard video, and our Firewire Mindcraft guide covers the shortboard in more detail.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Mindcraft Ultra a step-up or a mid-length?

It can be either one. Firewire says it "can be ridden as either a step up or a midlength, and can be sized accordingly."

What wave size is the Mindcraft Ultra for?

Firewire recommends 2 to 6 feet when the waves have power. The larger sizes have a wider wave range and can work in smaller conditions as a mid-length.

Should I ride the Mindcraft Ultra as a quad or a thruster?

It has 5 fin boxes, so you can ride it either way. Firewire recommends the quad for the best performance, and that's how Tomo and Kelly have been riding it.

Who designed the Mindcraft Ultra?

Daniel "Tomo" Thomson, in collaboration with Kelly Slater, under Firewire's Slater Designs label.

What sizes and volumes are available?

We list it from 5'11" x 18 3/4" x 2 9/16" (29.3 L) up to 7'2" x 21" x 3 3/16" (50.0 L). The full table is above.

How much does the Mindcraft Ultra cost?

At HSS it's $1,040 for the 5'11" to 6'6" sizes and $1,170 for the 6'9" to 7'2" sizes, per our listings. Firewire's own site lists it from $995.00 USD.

Shop the Mindcraft Ultra in Honolulu

Browse every size in our Mindcraft Ultra collection. You can also visit Hawaiian South Shore at 320 Ward Avenue, Suite 111, Honolulu, HI 96814, or call or text (808) 597-9055.

Sources

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