Great White Twin Quick Facts
Slater Designs Great White Twin quick facts
| Brand / shaper | Slater Designs – Kelly Slater’s label, built by Firewire Surfboards in Carlsbad, California; designed by Kelly Slater with Bali-based shaper Mike Woo, inspired by the outline of a great white shark |
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| Board type | High-performance twin-fin groveler with the paddle and wave-catching of a hybrid and the on-rail performance of a shortboard – the speed of a twin with the immediate response of a thruster |
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| Best waves | Creates speed in weak waves and controls speed in powerful waves; Firewire recommends 2–6 ft, from weak and poor conditions to solid, hollow waves |
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| Skill level | All levels, beginner through pro |
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| Tail | Pulled-in tail with a hip right by the twin fins that creates a pivot point; elevated tail rocker makes it magic on your backhand |
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| Design | Volume hidden at center for paddling with fine rails for immediate response in the pocket; fits where most fish do not – tight arcs in punchy pockets and quick wraps on shoulders |
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| Fins | Twin + trailer – two twin boxes plus a third box for a trailer. Best template: Kelly’s Endorfins Twin + 2 set, his performance twin template packaged with two trailer options (Stabilizer for drive and hold, Guitar Pick for a freer feel) or ridden as a pure twin; Futures single-tab or FCS II dual-tab. Futures boxes on every board. |
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| Stock sizes | 5’6 to 6’6 (26.3 L to 44.3 L) |
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| Sizing | Firewire’s guidance: surf it at your performance shortboard volume, or just slightly more |
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| Constructions we stock | Firewire builds the Great White Twin in I-Bolic with Volcanic basalt lamination, which is what we stock (we have also had a few in plain I-Bolic) |
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Great White Twin Q&A
What size Great White Twin should I get?
Firewire recommends surfing it at your performance volume, or just slightly more. A surfer on a 6’0 shortboard around 30 liters would look at the 5’9 (19 5/8” x 2 9/16”, 30.5 L) or 5’10 (32.0 L) – the hybrid outline carries that volume in a shorter board. The chart runs 5’6 (26.3 L), 5’7 (27.5 L), 5’8 (29.0 L), 5’11 (34.0 L), 6’0 (36.0 L), 6’2 (37.7 L), 6’4 (41.2 L) and 6’6 (44.3 L).
What fins does the Great White Twin use?
It is a twin with a third box for a trailer (Futures). Kelly Slater’s Endorfins Twin + 2 fin set was built for it: his performance twin template, which he settled on wanting tight, in-the-pocket surfing without the feeling of too much fin, packaged with two trailers – the larger Stabilizer for more drive and hold when the waves are hollow, and the smaller Guitar Pick for a freer, slidier feel – or run as a pure twin with no trailer. Firewire says the board is incredibly versatile when paired with the Twin + 2, which comes in Futures-compatible single-tab and FCS II-compatible dual-tab versions.
What waves is the Great White Twin for?
As you would expect from a Slater Designs shape it is built for high-performance surfing, but it excels in everyday waves too. Firewire recommends 2–6 ft, from weak waves and poor conditions through solid, hollow surf: it creates speed in weak waves, controls speed in powerful waves, and excels at tight arcs in punchy pockets and quick wraps on shoulder sections.
How is the Great White Twin different from a fish?
Kelly designed it to fit where most fish do not. Instead of a wide swallow and keels, it has a pulled-in tail with a hip by the twin fins that acts as a pivot point, volume hidden at center with fine rails, and elevated tail rocker – so you get the speed of a twin fin with the immediate response of a thruster, and a board that is magic on your backhand.
Who is the Great White Twin for?
All skill levels – Firewire charts it from beginner to pro. It suits surfers who want twin-fin speed with shortboard control, and anyone who wants a high-performance groveler that still holds in powerful waves.
What construction does the Great White Twin come in?
Firewire builds the Great White Twin in I-Bolic with Volcanic lamination – an I-beam core with flex controlled at the rails by high-density foam, laminated with basalt fiber, Firewire’s sustainable alternative to carbon and its most durable finish. That is what we stock, and we have also had a few in standard I-Bolic. Each board on this page lists its construction and fin boxes.
Can I custom order a Great White Twin?
Firewire builds the Great White Twin in set stock sizes rather than true one-off customs, so there is no custom board builder for it. If the size or construction you want is not on this page, we can usually special order it for you from Firewire’s current range – contact the shop and we will check availability and lead time.
