Firewire SCI-FI 2.0 Surfboard Reviews
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Hawaii surfers picked up the Firewire Sci-Fi 2.0, rode it in different conditions, and came back with honest feedback. Here is what they actually said about the board.
Quick Answer: The Firewire Sci-Fi 2.0 gets strong reviews from intermediate and advanced surfers across a wide size range — from a 120-pound surfer on a 5'2" to a heavier surfer on a 6'6". All three reviewers describe it as fast, lively, and surprisingly versatile in chop. The biggest takeaway from their feedback: fin choice has a major impact on how the board performs, so plan to dial in your setup.
What the Firewire Sci-Fi 2.0 Is — In One Paragraph
The Firewire Sci-Fi 2.0 is a high-performance shortboard from Firewire's lineup. It runs on epoxy construction, which gives it a lighter, livelier feel than a traditional polyurethane board. The reviews below come from three Hawaiian South Shore customers who own and ride one, with different body weights, board sizes, and home breaks. Their takeaways are not marketing copy — they are real-world impressions from time in the water.
Tony's Review: A Bigger Surfer on a 6'6"
Why Tony Bought a Second One
Tony is on his second Sci-Fi 2.0 in a year — and he picked it up the same morning his first one got broken at Rocky's when another surfer hit it. He calls it the best surfboard he has ever owned and says it is "truly magic" for him.
His main point as a heavier surfer: even though the board surfs loose like a twin fin, it still gives him control. He can stomp on the tail and the board holds. He has been riding it primarily at Rocky's, Gas Chambers, and Turkeys, and says it has worked everywhere he has taken it.
One honest note from Tony — the board has some chatter due to the epoxy construction, but at 6'6" he says it is not an issue for him. His fin combination is a Dan Mann Firewire quad set ridden as a thruster, and he describes the pairing of fins and board as "just magic."
Evan's Review: A 120-Pound Surfer on a 5'2"
Eighteen Months as a Daily Driver
Evan has been riding his Sci-Fi 2.0 as his daily driver for about a year and a half. He describes it as very fast, very lively through turns, and still controlled — the kind of board he reaches for whether it is glassy or messy.
His most useful insight is about choppy conditions. He admits he was nervous to take the board out on rough days at first, but it surprised him. The Sci-Fi 2.0 still catches waves and rides smooth even when conditions are not clean. In his words, the board "can rip anything."
Evan rides his Sci-Fi 2.0 as a thruster and has not tried it as a quad yet, though he plans to. At 120 pounds on a 5'2", he says the volume feels exactly right for his weight — calling the 5'2" "absolutely perfect" for him.
Ben's Review: A 5'7" Surfer on a 5'7"
The Fin Swap That Changed Everything
Ben's review is the most useful one for anyone shopping the Sci-Fi 2.0 because he is upfront about a problem he had — and how he solved it. When he first started riding the board, he found it felt tight and laggy. Not what he expected.
Then he swapped fins. The change was significant. With a different fin setup, the board came alive and gave him the drive he was missing. Even in smaller waves, he found enough drive to power down and back up to the lip. He has also been experimenting with small nubsters in the back, which he says has added another layer of fun to the board.
Ben surfs his Sci-Fi 2.0 mainly on the South Shore and was looking forward to testing it on the North Shore. His main lesson for buyers: the right fins matter, and if the board feels off at first, try a different setup before judging it.
What These Reviews Tell Us
Across very different surfer profiles, the Sci-Fi 2.0 earns the same verdict — it works, and it works in a wide range of conditions. A 120-pound surfer on a 5'2" and a heavier surfer on a 6'6" both call it one of the best boards they have ridden. That kind of agreement across body types is unusual.
The single most practical takeaway from all three reviews is about fins. Tony found his magic with a Dan Mann Firewire quad set ridden as a thruster. Ben changed fins and the board transformed for him. Evan is happy with his thruster setup but is curious to try a quad. If you are buying a Sci-Fi 2.0, plan time to dial in your fin setup before you write off the board's feel.
The other consistent note: this board handles chop and small surf better than its high-performance look suggests. Both Evan and Ben specifically called out small or messy days as conditions where the Sci-Fi 2.0 still performed.
Hawaiian South Shore
320 Ward Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: (808) 597-9055 · Email: sales@hawaiiansouthshore.com