Firewire Ibolic 2.0 DRK 6'6" Futures Surfboard

The DRK in I-Bolic 2.0 Technology, developed by Dan Mann for 11x World Champion Kelly Slater, is the winning design of Stab In The Dark X. Based on the original shape Dan crafted for Kelly when first asked to produce boards for him, the DRK is a refined evolution of the iconic FRK, designed for high-performance surfing in quality waves. When Dan Mann shaped the first FRK prototypes for Kelly in 2015, the boards remained unused for some time until, in 2017, a friend encouraged him to give one a try. From the very first ride, Kelly immediately connected with the board, highlighting how naturally it allowed him to position the board exactly where he wanted on the wave, delivering excellent drive, speed and precision through every turn. Kelly's FRK shapes remained unchanged until 2022, when ahead of the Barra de la Cruz event he requested adjustments to the rails and foil to create a more balanced feel under the chest. Later, before a trip to J-Bay in 2023, he asked Dan to move the wide point slightly forward, narrowing the rear half compared to the original FRK. This adjustment created a more elliptical outline with a more pulled-in tail, offering increased sensitivity, control and precision in critical manoeuvres, while rewarding a more committed and technical surfing approach. According to Dan Mann, selecting this shape for the project was a natural decision, as it represented the design that worked best with Kelly's surfing. The aim was to preserve the key elements that made the FRK such a successful model, including fin placement, bottom contours and rocker, resulting in a clean, refined, high-performance board that remains surprisingly versatile across a wide range of wave conditions. As with all of Kelly Slater's models, the fin cluster has been designed to easily accommodate both Quad and Thruster configurations, allowing surfers to fine-tune drive, control and responsiveness. Kelly has been riding the DRK with the new Slater Designs Endorfins KSR Fin Set, specifically developed to complement the performance characteristics of this high-performance design.