Boards
Channel Islands Surfboards
Reswell8 min
From high-performance thrusters and twin fins to mid-lengths and step-ups — how CI organizes its lineup, and how to match a model to your skill, waves, and style.
Channel Islands Surfboards covers one of the most complete ranges in surfing — from high-performance thrusters and twin fins to mid-lengths and step-ups, all shaped with a performance-first philosophy refined over five decades. Founded in 1969 in Santa Barbara, California, CI has built its reputation on rider-driven research and development that refines board designs through elite feedback, with surfers on CI boards accumulating 20 world titles along the way. Whether you're an advanced surfer chasing speed and rail sensitivity or an intermediate rider looking for stability in small waves, understanding how Channel Islands organizes its lineup will help you find the right stick.
Types of Channel Islands Surfboards
Channel Islands organizes its surfboard range around wave conditions, surfing style, and ability level. Here's how the main categories break down.
High-Performance Thrusters
These are CI's competition-bred designs — boards like the Mikey February Shorty and the 2.Pro — built for surfers who want precision in every bottom turn and the ability to generate speed through critical sections. The Mikey February Shorty, developed by Mikey and Britt Merrick, sits between the forgiving Two Happy and the sharper 2.Pro. It features a staged rocker for balanced drive and control, a subtle hip near the fin cluster to tighten turns in the pocket, and foiled rails for sensitivity. Stock sizes run from roughly 5'8" to 6'6" with volumes from about 23.6 L to 39.6 L. These boards are specifically designed for overhead, powerful waves where back foot pressure and quick movements matter most.
Alternative Fish and Twin Fins
CI's fish and twin-fin models — including Feb's Fish, the Twin Pin, and the Mid Twin — bring a flow-focused approach to surfing that's pretty different from aggressive thruster riding. Feb's Fish is designed for versatile and multi-purpose surfing, featuring modern rocker and bottom contours that transition from single concave to double concave into a swallow tail. Volumes are generous (roughly 28.5 L to 49.7 L), creating plenty of paddle power for weaker conditions. Mikey February prefers Feb's Fish for relaxed sessions at home and considers the surfboard essential for his travel gear — it adapts to powerful waves in Mexico and Morocco, handles point breaks at Jeffrey's Bay, and covers small wave groveling days alike. The Twin Pin offers a pintail alternative with flat bottom through the front half rolling to vee toward the tail, delivering glide and hold once speed builds. These boards accept a wider range of conditions compared to traditional shortboards and reward a more upright, flowing style.
Step-Up and Big Wave Boards
When waves get bigger and more powerful, CI's step-up models — like the CI Pro Step Up — provide the control and drive you need. Built on the 2.Pro template but stretched 2–4 inches longer, these boards feature sharper rail and tail foils, modified rocker, and enough foam to improve paddling into steep faces. Stock dimensions range from 5'10" × 18¼" (≈24.9 L) up to 6'10" × 20" (≈39.8 L). They're developed for surfers who already ride a performance shortboard and need a board that holds through fast, heavy sections without struggling for control.
Beginner and Mid-Length Options
Channel Islands offers a wide range of surfboard designs including hybrids and mid-lengths for surfers who are progressing or simply want an easier ride on mellow days. Models like CI's Mids and the OG Flyer use wider templates, fuller noses, and relaxed rocker profiles to create stability and improve wave catching. The OG Flyer was initially designed for bad surf, bringing glide and flow through flatter curves. CI produces designs for various skill levels, enhancing accessibility for recreational surfers who might otherwise feel locked out of a performance-oriented brand.
What to Look For in Channel Islands Surfboards
The design depth behind every CI model goes well beyond length and volume. Understanding these technical elements will help you evaluate which board matches your riding.
Tri Plane Hull Technology
The tri-plane hull is one of Channel Islands' signature innovations — a bottom contour consisting of center concaves flanked by flat panels running toward the rails. Al Merrick initially shaped boards during the transition to shorter designs and refined this hull concept through the 1970s and 80s. The idea is to generate lift from the concaves, control water flow laterally, and reduce drag in flat sections while maintaining drive through turns. You'll find this technology across CI's range, from mid-lengths to high-performance shortboards, and it's a key reason CI boards are known for speed, responsiveness, and rail sensitivity.
Rocker and Bottom Contours
Al Merrick has called rocker "the single most important part of a surfboard," and CI's approach to it is precise. Performance thrusters use staged rocker — a measured curve from entry to exit — to balance acceleration off the takeoff with tight turning through the fins. Fish and twin-fin models run a lower, more relaxed rocker for fast planing and glide. Bottom contours typically move from single concave under the chest to double concave through the fin area, channeling water for lift and energy. Surfboard designs can greatly affect acceleration, rail holding, and turning, and CI tailors these contours model by model.
Construction Quality and Materials
CI's standard construction uses PU foam blanks with polyester resin and fiberglass — a proven combination for feel and flex. The company utilizes CAD/CAM systems for precise shaping, but every board receives hand finishing from craftsmen at their Carpinteria facility. Constructed boards demonstrate a commitment to American craftsmanship that sets CI apart from brands relying on overseas mass production. Channel Islands surfboards also incorporate advanced construction technologies like Spine-Tek, which adds carbon reinforcement along the board's spine to preserve flex while reducing weight. Glass configurations like UL/SO 4+4/4 keep boards light and responsive, though lighter layups can be more prone to dings — a trade-off worth accepting if performance is the priority. Proprietary technologies aim to enhance board performance and durability across the lineup.
How to Choose the Right Channel Islands Surfboard
Picking the right CI board comes down to matching a few key criteria to the models in the range:
Skill Level and Experience
Advanced surfers will find the sweet spot in high-performance thrusters like the Mikey February Shorty or Channel Islands M13, where foiled rails and tighter contours reward precise surfing. Intermediate riders should look at fish or mid-length models with fuller rails and more volume, bringing forgiveness without sacrificing fun. If you're still struggling with wave count or body positioning, a mid-length or the OG Flyer will keep you moving and progressing.
Wave Conditions and Location
Match your board to the waves you actually surf. Performance thrusters play best in overhead, powerful conditions. Feb's Fish and the Twin Pin excel in small to medium surf — beach breaks, point breaks in Portugal, or travel sessions where conditions vary. Step-ups are worth bringing when swells push beyond your everyday shortboard's comfort zone.
Surfing Style Preference
Do you want to achieve sharp, vertical movements, or do you prefer flowing, drawn-out turns? Thrusters deliver the former; fish and twin-fin models create the latter. The Rocket Wide and similar hybrids can split the difference for surfers who want a shorter rail line without fully committing to a twin-fin feel.
Board Dimensions and Volume
CI publishes detailed stock dimension tables for each model. Fish and twin boards are often ridden with extra thickness to compensate for less wave energy in their target conditions. Step-ups run 2–4 inches longer than your standard shortboard. Use volume as a starting point — your body weight and ability determine how much foam you need — but pay equal attention to width and rocker, which affect feel just as much as liters.
Which Channel Islands surfboard is best for intermediate surfers?
Look at models with more volume, wider outlines, and forgiving rail profiles. Feb's Fish is an excellent choice — it paddles easily, covers a wide range of conditions, and rewards a flowing style without demanding expert-level precision. The Channel Islands High-5 and OG Flyer are also strong options if you prefer a thruster or single-fin setup. Avoid ultra-thin performance shortboards until your bottom turn and wave reading are consistent.
What makes Channel Islands different from other surfboard brands?
Channel Islands Surfboards has a reputation as a performance-first surfboard company, with a legacy connected to championship surfers across three generations. CI boards emphasize performance-oriented designs tested by elite surfers — Britt Merrick translates real wave feedback from team riders like Mikey February and Devon Howard directly into production shapes. The brand also maintains domestic manufacturing in California, and the community around CI reflects decades of testing and development that most competitors simply can't match in depth.
How do I know what size Channel Islands surfboard to buy?
Start with CI's published stock dimensions for the model you're considering, then adjust based on your body weight, fitness, and the waves you surf. As a general guide, add volume if you're moving from a thruster to a fish or twin, and add length if you're stepping up to bigger surf. If you're between sizes, going slightly larger usually improves wave count and reduces paddle fatigue. For custom dimensions, CI's team can dial in specific measurements.
What fin setups work best with Channel Islands boards?
CI designs each model around a specific fin configuration. For Feb's Fish, the recommended fin is the BFF — a purpose-built twin with 5.1251" depth and 6.25" base that combines speed and maneuverability for tight turns. Initial fins tested were AMK and BMT, but they lacked the flexibility Britt and Mikey wanted, so the BFF was developed specifically for this board. BFF fins are available in Smoke and White colors. Thruster models pair well with standard Futures or FCS2 performance fins, while the Twin Pin uses the Britt Merrick Twin Fin template designed to balance drive, release, and hold. Matching your fins to your board's bottom shape and tail is as important as the board choice itself.
Explore Our Channel Islands Collection
Channel Islands Surfboards delivers a range built on real wave testing, elite rider feedback, and over fifty years of shaping craft. Whether you're drawn to the fast, precise feel of a high-performance thruster or the flowing energy of a modern fish, CI's lineup has a model shaped for how you actually surf. Browse Channel Islands listings on Reswell to find the right board — and the right fins to match.