The Firewire Groove surfboard in the outstanding Helium technology is the latest Machado model that is going to deliver surfing joy to the masses. The Groove is a performance thruster with some width and thickness up front for extra paddle power and a nice pulled in squash tail for performance surfing.

Machado has designed it for waves with a bit of push and power in the waist high to just overhead range. That doesn't mean it won't work in weaker waves, it'll pick up weaker waves fine and generates enough speed to be a fun board to surf in sub prime conditions, not a full on groveler but adatable enough. Surf it as a straight up thruster with Rob's dedicated fin set or try his 2 + 1 fins for smaller or weaker days.

The Groove features a thinned out foil, narrowed tail block and a pulled in squash tail. There is more rocker than his recent models which gives great release off the tail, the rocker through the tail looks scary but it works! There is the standard single into double concave through the fins and Vee out the back, all designed to generate lift and speed and keep the board loose. Like a lot of Firewire boards The Groove packs in a good bit of volume but hides it really well. The foam is through the centre of the board to give you paddle power and doesn't run all the way out giving boxy rails.

Firewire's Helium tech is all about making an already amazing set of construction options even better. Its lighter, seems strong, no signs of any pressure marks at all, and very fast. High Density Aerospace Composite Deck Skins and a new Paulownia/Balsa mix on the rails gives a faster flex response. Having surfed the tech in a couple of different models it does feel light but the speed through a stiffer feel and responsiveness is exceptional, Helium is here to stay.

The Firewire Groove has echoes of the Dominator 2.0 but carries the volume in a different way, as a dedicated small to medium wave performance board its hard to beat.

Boardshop is stoked to be a key partner for Firewire surfboards across Europe and beyond, we've been with them since the very start. Firewire surfboards are more durable than other surfboard manufacturing processes, and for 90% of surfers they will improve your surfing. Firewire is pushing the limits of applying new technology and innovation to surfboard design and always has an eye on the environmental impact of what they do, they truly are different to the other board companies out there. Firewire have come a long way since the early boards and the range of shapes and tech just gets better and better. A big chunk of the boards in the range are perfectly suited to the waves that 90% of us surf on a regular basis so if you haven't already give them a try. The staff here have surfed pretty much every board in the Firewire range at some time or another and we speak to surfers from all over the world and get their feedback on how the boards perform in all sorts of conditions so we're well placed to talk about all aspects of Firewire surfboards.