Firewire Surfboards Seaside Swallow Tail
From the Go Fish to the Seaside: Rob Machado's High-Performance Quad Fish
The Firewire Seaside Swallow Tail is Rob Machado's deliberate evolution of the Go Fish concept, aimed squarely at higher-performance surfing. The Go Fish is fast, loose, and fun; the Seaside takes that same energy and refines it toward harder carves, tighter turns, and a more responsive feel on demand. Machado shaped it as a natural progression, not a replacement, and the result is one of the most carefully engineered quad shortboards in the Firewire lineup.
The changes from the Go Fish are specific and intentional: less tail area, narrower swallow tail tips, more curve through the outline, and a narrowed nose. Each element reduces the board's tendency to cruise and increases its ability to arc tight, powerful turns when a wave offers the opportunity. The Seaside is Machado's answer to what happens when a fish shape grows up without losing its speed.
Swallow Tail Design and the Benefits for Your Surfing
The swallow tail on the Seaside is not decorative. By dividing the tail into two narrowed tips, the design creates a pair of pivot points that generate speed and release simultaneously through a turn. Each tip independently channels water off the rail, producing the characteristic loose, skatey pop that makes swallow tail surfboards so satisfying in punchy, everyday surf.
On the Seaside, Machado tightened the swallow tips further compared to the Go Fish. That narrowing sharpens the release and tilts the board's character toward performance carving rather than pure cruising. Surfers who have researched swallow tail surfboard benefits will recognize this design logic: the split tail trades some straight-line control for responsiveness in turns, and the Seaside pairs that responsiveness with an outline and bottom shape engineered to take full advantage of it.
A Quad Built as a Quad: Bottom Contours Designed From the Ground Up
Most boards labeled as quads started life as thruster shapes with a fourth fin box added. The Seaside did not. Machado made a deliberate decision to design the concave and bottom contour layout from scratch, specifically around four fins rather than three. Drawing on experience from the Moonbeam and Go Fish, he rebuilt the entire bottom flow with the quad cluster in mind so that every channel, every concave transition, and every exit toward the tail works in concert with the four-fin setup.
The result is a bottom that feels intentional from nose to tail. The quad configuration moves water to the outside rails, creates a drive channel between the inner and outer fins, and generates the speed and hold that makes this shape so effective at beach breaks and small point breaks worldwide. There is no compromise built into the bottom because the design never tried to be something else first.
Wave Range and Who the Seaside Suits
Machado shaped the Seaside for the waves most surfers ride most of the time: beach breaks and smaller point breaks in waist-to-overhead surf. The board was proven in heavier surf during development, but its sweet spot is everyday, punchy conditions where generating speed through turns matters more than raw paddle power or nose-riding trim.
The Seaside rewards intermediate to advanced surfers who can drive through their turns and respond quickly to the board's input. It is not a first surfboard, and its refined outline does not forgive a passive back foot. For the surfer who has outgrown slower fish shapes and wants something that still paddles well and generates speed in sub-par surf, the Seaside fills the gap between a relaxed fish and a full performance shortboard.
Construction Options: Matching Build to Conditions and Style
The Seaside Swallow Tail is produced in multiple construction formats. Each construction changes the board's weight, flex pattern, and overall feel underfoot. Firewire's lightest, most responsive construction was specifically chosen by Machado for smaller, weaker waves where a soft, flexy feel translates directly into flow and speed. Stiffer constructions are available for surfers who want a snappier, more powerful response or who regularly surf in heavier conditions. Use the variant selector on this page to choose the construction that fits your surfing.
For help choosing a size or construction, call Island Water Sports at 954-427-4929. Our staff surfs and knows these boards.
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Specifications
- Brand
- Firewire Surfboards
- Shaper
- Rob Machado
- Board Type
- Shortboard / Performance Fish
- Fin Configuration
- Quad (purpose-designed strictly as a quad)
- Tail Shape
- Swallow Tail
- Nose
- Narrowed (tighter than Go Fish)
- Bottom Contour
- Redesigned concaves optimized for quad fin flow
- Wave Range
- Waist to overhead, beach breaks and small point breaks
- Skill Level
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Construction Options
- Multiple (see variant selector on this page)
- Gender
- Unisex
Size & Dimensions
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'2" | 20" | 2 5/16" | 26.5L |
| 5'3" | 20 5/16" | 2 3/8" | 28.2L |
| 5'4" | 20 5/8" | 2 7/16" | 29.8L |
| 5'5" | 20 15/16" | 2 1/2" | 31.5L |
| 5'6" | 21 1/4" | 2 1/2" | 32.7L |
| 5'7" | 21 5/8" | 2 1/2" | 33.6L |
| 5'8" | 21 15/16" | 2 9/16" | 35.4L |
| 5'9" | 22 1/4" | 2 5/8" | 37.3L |
| 5'10" | 22 5/8" | 2 11/16" | 39.4L |
| 5'11" | 22 3/4" | 2 3/4" | 41.1L |
| 6'0" | 22 7/8" | 2 15/16" | 44.8L |
| 6'1" | 22 15/16" | 3" | 46.5L |
Full manufacturer size chart. Sizes available to order are shown in the selector above.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the benefits of a swallow tail surfboard?
- A swallow tail divides the rear of the board into two narrow tips, creating a pair of pivot points that generate speed and release through a turn simultaneously. Each tip channels water independently off the rail, producing a loose, skatey pop in punchy, everyday surf. Compared to a round or square tail, the swallow tail trades some straight-line tracking for increased responsiveness through turns. On the Seaside, Machado narrowed the swallow tips further than on the Go Fish, sharpening that release for more performance-oriented carving.
- Is the Firewire Seaside good for beginners?
- The Seaside is best suited for intermediate to advanced surfers. Its refined outline, narrowed nose, and quad-specific bottom contours reward a surfer who can generate speed through turns and read the wave quickly. It has more volume than a pure performance shortboard, which helps in weaker surf, but it is not forgiving of a passive or uncertain stance. Beginners will get more out of a dedicated learning shape.
- What kind of waves is the Seaside Swallow Tail designed for?
- Machado shaped the Seaside for beach breaks and smaller point breaks in waist-to-overhead surf. It excels in punchy, everyday conditions where generating speed and snapping through turns matters. The quad fin layout and fish-derived volume help it stay lively in weaker, softer surf, and the design has been proven capable in heavier conditions as well. Its primary target is the everyday surf most people actually surf most of the time.
- How does the Firewire Seaside compare to the Go Fish?
- Both are Rob Machado quad fish designs with swallow tails, but they have different personalities. The Go Fish is wider, carries more tail area, and delivers a looser, cruisier ride. The Seaside narrows the nose and swallow tips, tightens the outline curve, and rebuilds the bottom contours specifically for the quad setup, resulting in a board that carves harder and turns tighter. The Go Fish stays fun and relaxed; the Seaside is where that same shape goes when you want to push it harder.
- What size Firewire Seaside should I ride?
- Use the full dimensions and volume chart on this page as your starting point. Volume in liters is the most reliable guide: match it to your body weight and fitness level, then check the width to confirm the outline suits your style. Because the Seaside carries more volume than a comparable-length high-performance shortboard, some surfers ride it shorter than their usual shortboard size. For a personalized recommendation, call us at 954-427-4929.
- Which construction should I choose for the Seaside?
- The lightest, most flexible construction is the right choice for smaller, weaker surf where responsiveness and a soft, lively feel underfoot translate directly into flow and speed. Stiffer constructions are better suited to surfers who want more snap and power through their turns or who surf in heavier conditions regularly. Use the variant selector on this page to see the options, or call 954-427-4929 for a recommendation from our staff.
- Is the Seaside a thruster or a quad?
- The Seaside is a dedicated quad. Machado designed it as strictly a quad from the beginning, rebuilding the entire concave and bottom contour layout around four fins rather than adapting a thruster template. This means the bottom flow, rail curve, and tail exit are all tuned to work with the quad cluster rather than simply tolerating it.
- Where can I buy a Firewire Seaside Swallow Tail?
- Island Water Sports carries the Firewire Seaside Swallow Tail. Use the variant selector on this page to choose your size and construction, then add to cart. You can also visit our Deerfield Beach, Florida store or call 954-427-4929 for help before ordering.