Firewire MachadoCado buying guide
The MachadoCado is a Rob Machado collaboration that blends shortboard performance with fish-style width and volume. It is one of the most distinctive shapes in the Firewire lineup — wider and more relaxed than a standard shortboard but still capable of legitimate performance surfing.
Shape and performance
The MachadoCado has a wide outline, generous volume, and a relaxed rocker that makes it paddle like a bigger board than its length suggests. It is classified as a fish or shortboard hybrid depending on the size — the shorter sizes (5'2"–5'8") ride more like a fish, the longer sizes (6'0"–6'4") ride more like a wide-body shortboard. All run a dedicated thruster setup in Futures.
Who is the MachadoCado for?
The MachadoCado is a strong choice for surfers who want more paddle power and earlier wave entry than a standard shortboard without going to a fish or midlength. It works especially well in average to smaller Southern California surf — El Porto, Venice, Marina del Rey — where extra width and volume make a real difference. Rob Machado's emphasis on flow and feel runs through the shape.
MachadoCado vs Seaside
TheSeasideis a dedicated quad fish — looser, faster in small surf, more down-the-line speed. The MachadoCado is a thruster with more shortboard performance capability. Choose the MachadoCado if you want shortboard turns with extra paddle power. Choose the Seaside for pure quad fish speed.
Fin setup
All MachadoCado boards are dedicated thrusters in Futures. No 5-fin option. BrowseFutures thruster fins.
Related Firewire models
Sci-Fi 2.0·Seaside·Groove·All Firewire
