Photo: Screenshot from Stab in the Dark 

The boards most commonly used by Kelly Slater, the Firewire or Slater Designs by Californian shaper Dan Mann, were the winner of the special edition 10 of Stab in the Dark, a shapers' tournament organized by the publication.

Slater was invited as a test driver, and only former winners—DHD, Pyzel, Merrick, Biolos, and Zouvi—were allowed to compete. However, since Slater owns Firewire, he stipulated that Dan Mann be included as a wildcard entry.

Incredibly or unbelievably, the guest board, which Slater owns, won.

The greatest of all time recounted how some time ago they took an old board, about 15 years old (presumably a Merrick), and a friend of his copied it, “made a version,” he said. And then Dan Mann made a version of that version, and that board felt similar. “It’s kind of crazy,” Kelly reflected.

Slater said he congratulated Biolos because, in his opinion, his board, which broke, came in second place.

The result raised suspicions. Merrick said he wasn't going to publicly accuse Slater of lying, but it was odd that he didn't know because everyone else knew what it was. Zouvi agreed, saying the placement of the fins was very obvious. Pyzel said it was a plan between the two of them.

Biolos and DHD chose to believe him.

Slater said he didn't know. He felt the DHD was the Firewire because of the wings.

Sam McIntosh, owner of Stab, appeared on screen and said that he asked Slater if he lied because he is a commercial beast and Slater said no, that he would not lie.

In any case, everyone reflected that the result is by far the best for them because they believe that Dan Mann is not direct competition.

In previous editions of Stab in the Dark, competitors who recognized their longtime shaper would, out of honor, disqualify their board. Kolohe, Dane, and Fanning did so.