Since 1969, Channel Islands Surfboards, founded by the legendary Al Merrick in Santa Barbara, California, has been synonymous with performance, innovation, and quality in the surfing world. From shaping boards for icons like Tom Curren to collaborating with today’s top athletes like Dane Reynolds, Britt Merrick (Al’s son and current head shaper) continues the legacy, crafting boards that help surfers push their limits in every conceivable condition.
Choosing the right surfboard is crucial – it’s the key that unlocks flow, power, and pure joy on a wave. With an extensive lineup, navigating the Channel Islands range can seem daunting. Fear not! This guide dives into some of the top CI models, helping you find the perfect board to match your style and the waves you love to ride.
The Mid-Length Maestro: CI Mid
Mid-lengths have surged in popularity, offering a blend of paddle power, trim speed, and maneuverability. But the Channel Islands CI Mid isn’t just another egg. Developed in collaboration with style master Devon Howard, this board takes inspiration from classic ’70s single-fin and egg shapes (like Al Merrick’s own “Huevo Caliente”) but injects modern performance elements.
Britt Merrick wasn’t satisfied with just creating a board that goes straight and fast; he wanted speed, flow, and the ability to perform critical turns. The CI Mid delivers precisely that. It features a sleek, moderate template with foam slightly forward and low entry rocker, translating to effortless paddling and glide. However, contemporary features like a double-barrel concave running through the tail, gradually accelerated rocker, and hard, slightly tucked rails differentiate it.
These elements give the CI Mid a crispness, sensitivity, and rail-to-rail transition capability often lacking in more traditional mid-lengths. While it excels at flying over smaller, flatter sections, it truly shines in shoulder-high to double-overhead point breaks, allowing surfers to draw long, flowing arcs with confidence and control. It’s surprisingly versatile, proven even in hollow conditions. Typically set up as a 2+1 (single center fin with smaller side bites), it offers adaptability across various waves. It’s a fantastic choice for intermediate to advanced surfers looking to blend classic style with modern performance.
Twin Fin Fun Factory: FishBeard & Feb’s Fish
There’s an undeniable magic to the speed and freedom of a twin fin. Channel Islands taps into this feeling with a couple of standout models, most notably the FishBeard. The concept reportedly came from Parker Coffin, who mused that a Neck Beard 2 front end combined with a keel-fin fish tail would “work sick.” Britt Merrick ran with it, redesigning the back half of the popular Neck Beard 2 template and rocker.
The result is the FishBeard: “business in the front, party in the back.” The front end offers the familiar performance feel and drive of a modern shortboard, allowing you to surf aggressively off the middle of the board. Step back onto the tail, however, and you engage the twin keel fins and refined rails, unlocking pivot, projection, and that classic, frictionless fish speed. It’s user-friendly enough to generate speed easily but performance-oriented enough to rip hard turns. It’s generally recommended for intermediate to expert surfers in waves ranging from knee-high to overhead. For optimal performance, CI pairs it with their specific CI Keel Fins (like the Futures AMK Keel), which blend classic outlines with modern rake and flex patterns for high-performance surfing. Another stellar twin option is Feb’s Fish, the signature model for the stylish Michael February, known for its wide wave range and grin-inducing ride.
Everyday Performance Heroes: Happy Everyday & Better Everyday
Every surfer needs that reliable, go-to shortboard for the majority of days – the board that feels comfortable and performs consistently across average conditions. Channel Islands addresses this need perfectly with the Happy Everyday and its 2025 evolution, the Better Everyday.
The Happy Everyday, developed by Britt Merrick from the Two Happy performance model, quickly became a team and customer favorite. It fills that crucial slot in the quiver for a versatile, user-friendly shortboard that you can grab without hesitation, knowing it will handle whatever the day throws at you.
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Building on that success, the Better Everyday (new for 2025) aims to expand the Happy Everyday’s capabilities. Britt and the team kept the core characteristics but introduced subtle refinements. The trademark hip near the tail is relaxed slightly, allowing for smoother bottom turns and extending the board’s comfortable range into slightly larger or more open-faced waves. A swallow tail adds bite and hold while retaining a loose feel, and increased flip out the tail enhances release off the top. Designed primarily around a quad setup (it comes stock with five fin boxes), CI even developed a specific quad fin set to complement its characteristics, featuring more upright front fins and raked back fins for drive and hold. If you loved the Happy Everyday but want that extra gear for a wider range of conditions, the Better Everyday is calling.
High-Performance Precision: CI 2.Pro & Neck Beard 3
When the waves turn on, or when demanding performance is the priority, Channel Islands has pedigree. The CI Pro series and the Neck Beard lineage are testaments to their high-performance shaping prowess.
The CI 2.Pro is the evolution of the CI Pro, a board originally designed for the powerful barrels of Oahu’s North Shore. While the original CI Pro excelled in epic conditions, its significant rocker could feel limiting in everyday surf. The CI 2.Pro addresses this with a more relaxed rocker profile. This refinement makes it significantly more user-friendly, improving paddle speed, allowing earlier wave entry, and helping maintain momentum through flatter sections. Critically, it retains its ability to perform in steep, hollow waves, making it a more adaptable high-performance shortboard (HPSB). It proved its mettle by winning the 2023 Stab in the Dark contest under the feet of Italo Ferreira. Suited for intermediate to advanced surfers, it’s available in various constructions, including the popular and durable Spine-Tek EPS.
The Neck Beard 3 continues the legacy of Dane Reynolds’ beloved, chopped-tail creation. This iteration refines the Neck Beard 2 based on Dane’s feedback. A key change was removing the vee and implementing a single concave throughout, enhancing wave entry, down-the-line speed, and control. The tail block was widened slightly with a subtle hip for responsiveness. The most significant update for the “3” is the switch from the signature square/chop tail to a rounded tail. While retaining the same core design, this rounded tail makes the board smoother through transitions and carves, adding versatility and hold, especially in the pocket or even small barrels, without sacrificing its renowned skatey, air-friendly nature. It works exceptionally well as a thruster but includes a five-fin setup for quad experimentation.
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Grovel Power: Rocket Wide & Ultra Joe
Let’s face it, most of us spend a lot of time surfing less-than-perfect waves. Having a board that excels when conditions are weak is essential. Channel Islands offers excellent options for maximizing fun in smaller surf.
The Rocket Wide has become a benchmark for performance grovelers. It paddles exceptionally well and gets going easily in mushy conditions, yet remarkably retains a high-performance feel underfoot. Unlike many grovelers that sacrifice maneuverability for float, the Rocket Wide allows you to surf actively and aggressively even when the waves lack power. It’s incredibly versatile; while designed for weak surf, riders often find it still performs admirably when the waves pick up unexpectedly. If you want to make the most of small days without feeling like you’re on a boat, the Rocket Wide is a prime candidate.
The Ultra Joe represents a significant step forward from the original Average Joe. It’s designed as a progressive board for beginner/intermediate surfers looking to improve, but it’s equally appealing as a fun, cruisy step-down for more experienced riders on small days. Compared to its predecessor, the Ultra Joe features more refined rails, a double-bump squash tail, a narrower nose, and updated rocker. It makes surfing easy and fun without feeling overly cumbersome, offering a great platform for learning or simply enjoying gentle peelers.
Choosing Your Channel Islands Weapon
With such a diverse lineup, selecting the right CI board involves considering a few key factors:
- Skill Level: While CI is known for performance, models like the Ultra Joe, M23, or even a generously sized CI Mid can be accessible for intermediates or those progressing. High-performance models like the CI 2.Pro or Neck Beard 3 demand a more advanced skill set.
- Typical Wave Conditions: Be honest about the waves you surf most often. If it’s mostly smaller, weaker surf, a dedicated groveler like the Rocket Wide or Ultra Joe, or perhaps a FishBeard, makes sense. If you frequent point breaks or better beach breaks, the CI Mid, Happy Everyday, or CI 2.Pro might be better suited.
- Desired Feel: Do you love the glide of a mid-length (CI Mid)? The skatey freedom of a twin fin (FishBeard)? The reliable performance of a thruster (Happy Everyday, CI 2.Pro)? Or the air-ready feel of the Neck Beard 3? Your preferred surfing style will guide your choice.
- Volume: Pay attention to volume (usually listed in liters). Don’t oversize performance models excessively, but ensure enough volume for paddling, especially in grovelers or if you’re an intermediate surfer. CI’s website often provides volume recommendations based on weight and skill.
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People Also Ask: Channel Islands FAQs
Q: Are Channel Islands boards good for beginners?
A: While CI excels in performance boards, some models can work for progressing beginners. The Ultra Joe is specifically designed with this in mind. Larger versions of the M23 or even the CI Mid could also be manageable depending on the individual. However, for absolute beginners, traditional soft-tops or longboards generally offer more stability and ease of paddling. CI’s focus is primarily on intermediate to expert surfers.
Q: What is the most popular Channel Islands model?
A: Popularity fluctuates, but models like the FishBeard, CI Mid, Happy Everyday, Neck Beard 3, and Rocket Wide consistently rank among the best-sellers and most talked-about boards due to their performance and versatility.
Q: How long do Channel Islands boards last?
A: Durability depends heavily on the construction type and how the board is cared for. Standard PU (polyurethane/polyester resin) boards offer great flex but require careful handling to avoid dings. Epoxy constructions like Spine-Tek or ECT (Eco Carbon Tech) offer significantly increased durability and ding resistance, albeit with a different flex feel. Ultra-light (UL) glassing, often preferred by pros, is the least durable and prone to pressure dings. Limiting sun exposure and promptly repairing dings extends any board’s lifespan.
Q: Where are Channel Islands surfboards made?
A: Channel Islands Surfboards’ main factory and headquarters are located in Carpinteria, California, USA. They maintain high-quality production standards there.
Q: What’s the difference between the CI Mid and the M23?
A: Both are mid-lengths, but they cater to slightly different needs. The CI Mid is a more performance-oriented modern classic with refined rails and contemporary concaves, designed for flow and carving. The M23 has more overall volume, fuller rails, and a sleeker nose contour compared to the CI Mid, prioritizing paddle power and ease of use, making it great for those stepping down from a longboard or wanting maximum wave-catching ability in a mid-size package.
Conclusion: Find Your Perfect Ride
Channel Islands Surfboards, under the guidance of Al and Britt Merrick, has cemented its place in surfing history through an unwavering dedication to performance, innovation, and collaboration with the world’s best surfers. Their extensive range reflects this, offering meticulously designed tools to enhance the surfing experience across every imaginable wave type and skill level. Whether you seek the smooth glide of a CI Mid, the electric speed of a FishBeard, the reliability of a Happy Everyday, or the high-performance precision of a CI 2.Pro, there’s likely a Channel Islands shape waiting to unlock your potential. Explore the models, consider your needs, and get ready to ride every wave with more confidence and style.
