Kelly Slater Has a New Spaceship

Originally posted on SURFER | By August Howell | Last updated Oct 10, 2025 1:21 PM ET

Remember that cutback Kelly Slater did at Kirra in March last year? The full-speed, post-barrel torque that was voted “best barrel ever” by Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, Tom Curren, Joel Parkinson, Mark Occhilupo and Dean Morrison? Of course you do.

The shape Kelly drove through the tube and into that oh-so-good arc has now become publicly available. A Slater Designs model built under the Firewire umbrella, the Spaceship looks to be Kelly’s go-to when the waves start cooking.

“This board was developed in Bali, Indonesia, over the course of a few months, surfing day in and day out with Mike Woo,” Kelly said. “In the type of waves you’re getting barrelled and doing long carves. People might remember a clip of me from Australia — probably my most replayed clip ever — that barrel-to-cutback combination at Kirra. I think that wave more than any exemplifies what this board does well: barrels and carves.”

A simple yet timeless combo. Yet the Spaceship couldn’t be more different from the previous collaboration between Kelly and Mike a few years ago that resulted in the Great White Twin. This addition to the Slater Designs quiver offers the quad or thruster option to pair with the pulled-in roundtail. It’s also sealed with Firewire’s patented I-Bolic 2.0 technology, which is heavier and stiffer than its Helium construction.

“It’s just an overall really great board,” Kelly said. “I like it a lot on the face of the wave. It’s really good for holding and using your speed.”

Watch the clip above to see Kelly ride his Spaceship at velvety Kirra. No mission control required.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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