Boards
Channel Islands The Solution Surfboard Review: The Best Step-Down Shortboard for Small, Weak Waves
Reswell5 min
The Solution is Channel Islands' most adaptable small-wave shortboard — a step-down groveler with a fuller outline, rounded tail, single-to-double concave, and a five-fin box setup, designed to be ridden about 2" shorter than your Better Everyday. If your local break is knee-to-chest-high mush more days than not, this is the board built for exactly that.
Short answer: The Solution is Channel Islands' most adaptable small-wave shortboard — a step-down groveler with a fuller outline, rounded tail, single-to-double concave, and a five-fin box setup, designed to be ridden about 2" shorter than your Better Everyday. If your local break is knee-to-chest-high mush more days than not, this is the board built for exactly that.
The problem every surfer knows
The struggle of lackluster surf is real. Most of us don't get to surf pumping reef points on demand — we get soft beachbreak, short-period windswell, and waves that die halfway through the section. And most high-performance shortboards, brilliant as they are, simply don't generate enough speed to make those waves fun.
That's the gap Channel Islands set out to close. So they created The Solution.
What is the Channel Islands The Solution?
The Solution is a true step-down shortboard shaped by Britt Merrick — a performance-oriented groveler engineered for speed, glide, and flow when conditions are anything but ideal. It sits at the lower end of your quiver: the board you grab when the forecast is underwhelming but you're going anyway.
Unlike a lot of small-wave boards that trade all their performance away for float, The Solution keeps the ability to turn. It blends paddle power, planing speed, and versatility without feeling like a completely different craft under your feet. For how it sits in the rest of the lineup, see our Channel Islands surfboards guide.
The design breakdown: why The Solution actually works
Four things make The Solution work in weak surf: a fuller outline, a single-to-double concave, a new rocker, and a five-fin box you can actually change.
A fuller outline with a rounded tail
More planing area means more surface pushing against the water, and that translates directly into drive through flat sections. The rounded tail keeps the release smooth rather than skatey — you get the extra area without the board feeling stuck or corky through turns.
Single-to-generous double concave
This is where the speed comes from. Water entering the single concave gets channelled into a generous double concave through the back third of the board, lifting it onto plane fast and keeping it quick, lively, and free underfoot. It's the difference between pumping to build speed and just... having speed.
An all-new rocker unlike anything else in the CI range
This is the headline. The Solution's rocker and outline combination is a genuinely fresh design in the Channel Islands lineup — flat enough to hold speed in weak surf, but with enough curve that when a rampy section finally shows up, the board still wants to go vertical. It doesn't punish you for surfing it hard.
Five-fin setup: three boards in one
The Solution comes with a 5-fin box configuration, which is a bigger deal than most people give it credit for. You can genuinely change the personality of the board:
Thruster — tight, up-and-down surfing and control in the pocket. The default, and the most familiar feel.
Quad — pure top-end speed. Best when the wave is fast, weak, or you need to make sections you have no business making.
2+1 / twin setup — twin-fin glide, drawn-out lines, and flow. The most fun setting for mellow, playful days.
One board, three ride experiences, zero extra cost.
Custom tail patches
The Solution includes custom tail patches, adding reinforcement exactly where step-down boards take the most abuse — under your back foot and around the fin cluster. Small detail, meaningful difference in board life.
How to size The Solution (and how it compares to the Better Everyday)
The official guidance is straightforward: ride The Solution roughly 2" shorter than your Better Everyday.
The Solution is the step-down / small-wave specialist. Ideal conditions are knee-high to head-high, weak to medium. Size it about 2" shorter than your Better Everyday. The feel is fast, loose, and glidey.
Better Everyday is the everyday all-rounder. Ideal conditions are waist-high to overhead, medium power. Ride it around your standard shortboard length. The feel is balanced and performance-oriented.
If you already ride a 5'10" Better Everyday, a 5'8" Solution is your starting point. Adjust width and volume up if you're stepping down from a fuller board or want more float on the smallest days.
Available sizes run from grom dimensions all the way up through 6'7", so there's a fit for essentially every surfer.
Who is The Solution for?
It's a great fit if you: - Surf weak, mushy beachbreak more often than perfect reef - Want a small-wave board you can still actually turn - Are an intermediate to expert surfer looking to round out a quiver - Like the idea of experimenting with thruster, quad, and twin setups - Are tired of paddling for waves you can't quite get into
Look elsewhere if you: - Mostly surf powerful, steep, or barreling waves — look at the CI Pro or a step-up - Are an absolute beginner needing maximum stability and forgiveness - Want a pure retro twin or fish feel — the Twin Fin or CI Fish are closer
Board attributes at a glance
Wave size: knee-high to overhead-plus Wave power: weak/mushy through medium/steep Break type: beachbreak, point, reef Skill level: intermediate to expert Approach: power/carving and cruisy/positional Nose shape: hybrid to round Tail width: medium to wide Rocker style: continuous Recommended setup: five-fin, ridden as thruster, quad, or 2+1
The verdict
The Solution is exactly what its name promises. It's not a compromise board or a novelty groveler — it's a purpose-built step-down shortboard for less-than-ideal surf, built for speed, flow, and performance when it's anything but pumping.
For most surfers, it's the board that turns "not worth it" days into the best sessions of the month. And it sits perfectly at the lower end of your quiver, ready to solve whatever small-wave struggles you pull up on.
Frequently asked questions
Sizing, fins, and how it compares to the Better Everyday — the questions that come up before you buy.
What is the Channel Islands The Solution surfboard best for?
Small, weak, mushy waves. It's a step-down shortboard designed to generate speed and glide when conditions are poor, while retaining enough performance for turns and vertical surfing.
What size Solution should I ride?
Roughly 2" shorter than your Better Everyday. If you don't ride a Better Everyday, start around your normal shortboard length minus 1–2", and add volume if you want more float.
Is The Solution a thruster or a quad?
Both. It ships with a five-fin box setup so you can ride it as a thruster for tight turns, a quad for top-end speed, or a 2+1 for twin-fin glide.
Who shaped The Solution?
Britt Merrick at Channel Islands Surfboards. It's described as his most adaptable small-wave template yet.
The Solution vs the Better Everyday — which should I buy?
The Better Everyday is your everyday board for average-to-good conditions. The Solution is your small-wave specialist. If you already have a good all-rounder and your local break is often weak, The Solution is the smarter next purchase.
Can beginners ride The Solution?
It's aimed at intermediate to expert surfers. Beginners will progress faster on a softtop or a higher-volume board first.
Ready to ride it?
Browse used Channel Islands The Solution boards on Reswell. The Solution is also available in stock sizes or as a full custom build through Channel Islands Surfboards.
