Trip Forman: I rode this in all types of conditions, from small waves to maybe a foot overhead, kind of barreling waves. It probably did its best in that chest to head-high range. It would gain so much speed, even in smaller surf. Welcome to the REAL Board Loft. I’m Trip Forman, and today we have Dawson with us. We’re going to review the Firewire Dan Mann Dominator Pro. The Dominator line has been very popular in the Firewire lineup, starting with the original Dominator and then the Dominator 2.0. The goal with the Dominator Pro was to create a more high-performance version of the 2.0—something that surfs tighter in the pocket and performs better in good waves without giving up that accessibility the Dominator is known for. Compared to the 2.0, this board has a little more rocker, a narrower nose and tail, and more foil, meaning less foam through the rails. Dawson, let’s dig into it—you’ve been ripping on this board.

Dawson: I really like this board a lot. I’m 5’9”, around 160 pounds, and this board is a 5’7” x 18 7/8” x 2 3/8”, 27.2 liters. With epoxy boards like Firewire, there’s always that unique feeling under your feet—kind of an extra pop. This board feels super lively, especially in clean, glassy waves. The speed is insane on these Firewires.

I didn’t really change my volume for this. It’s basically the same as what I normally ride—around 27 to 28 liters. If it’s bigger surf, I might go slightly higher for paddling, but I mostly stay right in that 27 range. I don’t overthink it.

I rode this in all types of conditions—small waves up to about a foot overhead, kind of barreling and peaky. It really shined in chest to head-high surf. Even in smaller waves, because it’s so light, it generates a ton of speed. Around here, chest to head-high tends to be more throaty, but I think in a softer, more open-faced wave like Lowers, this board would be insane.

It’s super poppy. If you’re trying to do airs, it has that skateboard-like feel—really responsive and lively through turns. You build a lot of speed through turns, and in the barrel it felt incredibly fast. It was kind of mind-blowing. I’ve ridden other Firewires like the Groove, and I really like this construction overall.

We also took this board to Chicama in Peru. That wave is more slopey and drawn out, but the board still worked really well. It has so much speed that you get tons of time to set your bottom turn, and once you engage, it just keeps building speed. It matched that wave surprisingly well.

Even in bumpier conditions—like morning sickness or chop—once you get it on rail, it goes exactly where you point it. I was focusing on deep bottom turns and lining it up with the lip, and it would just gain speed and want to whip off the top.

For fins, I rode the Firewire V3 rake template in a large. In a place like Chicama, where you’re doing more down-the-line surfing, rake helps draw out your turns. These fins also have some flex, which makes it easier to release off the top. Even here locally, they worked really well. Matching the rocker of the board with the rake of the fin seemed to pair up nicely. The fins are also super light, so combined with the board, the whole setup feels incredibly lightweight.

As for who this board is for, it’s definitely aimed at intermediate to advanced surfers. It still has some width under the chest, which makes it more accessible than a traditional high-performance shortboard. If you’re riding a fish or a shortboard and want to step into something more performance-oriented without losing that ease of use, this is a great option.

On durability, I’ve had this board for a couple of months, starting back in December. I had a solid impact where my shin hit the rail, and I expected damage, but there was nothing—no cracks at all. On a traditional fiberglass board, that likely would’ve caused damage. I’ve also had some heavy wipeouts in hollow surf, and the board held up great. There’s just a slight heel dent under the front foot, but otherwise it still looks almost new, even with regular use. I’m pretty hard on boards too.

Trip Forman: Dawson, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the Firewire Dan Mann Dominator Pro. If you have any questions or want to order one, reach out to us at the shop or check us out online at realwatersports.com/surfing. Thanks for tuning in.