Can a Polyurethane Regular Handle Firewire’s Lightweight Weapon?

As thrusters go, the Dominator Pro’s shape is not radical. It’s a more slimmed-down version of Firewire’s original Dominator — thinner rails, pulled in outline, a bit more rocker. But the key difference between my quiver and this lightweight weapon is the construction. It’s built in what Firewire calls Helium technology. It’s a one-pound foam core that’s layered with a three-millimeter proprietary aerospace composite deck skin plus Paulownia and Balsa wood on the rails. All new to me, which is why I was excited to try it out. 

But the debut session did not go as planned. It was a straight-up mess and so windy that the board felt inhibited. The cross-shore squalls were practically lifting it out of the water as I pumped down the line. But in the next session, I found the sweet spot this thing was built for. A head-high reefbreak with a bit of push, but not enough to overwhelm the board. And there was not a hint of wind. In a single three-hour session, I got a variety of waves and sections to push the board from all angles. For reference, I’m 5’11”, 150 lbs, and I rode a stock 5’11” x 19 ¾” x 2 ½” x 31.7 liters. 

The pros: The Dominator Pro’s composition helps it plane on top of the water very well. The Helium construction makes it feel stiff (compared to PU) but incredibly lightweight. I found my best rides came from waves that required a bit of speed generation. Compared to a heavier, thin-railed thruster, this thing loves to glide through softer sections. I typically do more lateral surfing with cutbacks and arcs on the open face, but this squashtail provided an easy pivot into the lip, backside and front. When the elements align, there's a pleasant zip I had not felt on other surfboards before.

However, the Dominator Pro didn’t offer as much drive off the bottom as I was accustomed to. On waves that packed more punch, a critical, on-rail bottom turn felt squirrely and borderline out of control. I didn’t feel completely locked in when racing into a section from behind. And if there’s lump and bump on the face, it can feel like taking a car onto an off-road terrain. Better hold on tight.

Let’s talk fins. The Dominator Pro comes in a five-fin option, but I only rode it as a thruster with Firewire’s Velox set (mediums) screwed in. These raked fins complemented the board well. The Dominator Pro is already lively and quick, so the longer, stiffer template helped control speed, particularly in steeper sections. 

Another bonus I like in my surfboards: This thing boasts real longevity. It's built to last. For all the confusing nomenclature, Dan and Firewire made their Helium durable. After numerous sessions, I've yet to see any pressure dings or footprints on the deck, traits polyurethane boards are prone to showing promptly.

Overall, I found the Dominator Pro to be a highly enjoyable daily driver. Not something to wax up an all-time strike mission, but definitely a model to keep in the car for fun sessions.