Behind The Channel Islands Curtain

A thousand virgins await you at the Channel Islands factory.

When Burton purchased Channel Islands Surfboards over two years ago, the surf world gasped. What would this mean? Was it another corpo takeover that would ruin our beloved surfboards? Or would the new technology forever change the shape of surfing for the better? It was all a mystery, but after SURFING Magazine recently had the opportunity to peruse the new CI factory in Santa Barbara, we can assure you everything will be all right.

Some very important sleds: Kelly, Dane, Jordy, Yadin, and Timmy's sticks.

The new super factory is plush, clean and most importantly, efficient. It has a revolutionary filtration system for toxins and a few happy dogs running around. As we perused the stacks of thousands of virginal Merricks, 10-year Channel Islands shaper Simon Kile told us about the perks of the new building and how the Burton influence has made a difference. “People were obviously freaking out right when it happened,” explained Kile. “But now, looking around here and seeing how efficient and on top of things we are it’s hard for people to complain. Not only that, but when you buy a Channel Islands surfboard, you are getting the absolute latest in technology and adjustments. Like when Kelly comes home from a trip and him and Al get in the shaping bay and start to apply new features to a K-Board for example, all that information is immediately put into all the new K-Boards. And having the Burton support allowed us to implement organization into an industry that has never been too organized. We used to write things in pencil on boards, now we have guys scanning bar codes, knowing exactly what’s in here. It’s completely organized.”

Every 20 minutes a freshly dialed-in blank emerges from this machine.

The organization alone has revolutionized surfboards. Hell, it’s even introduced a new word to the profession: efficient –– which is not generally associated with surfboard making. But with a machine cranking out a fresh new surfboards every 20 minutes, some of the most experience shapers in the world dialing them in, and Al still actively working with Kelly, Dane Reynolds, Yadin Nicol, Rob Machado, Tim Curran, Tom Curren, Jordy Smith and more, it’s pretty evident the product coming out of Channel Islands is still the Ferrari of surfboards and won’t be stopping anytime soon.

For more on Channel Islands Surfboards including all their new 2008 models, visit www.CISurfboards.com

Check out the Channel Islands Surfboards Demo Tour - COMING TO A BEACH NEAR YOU THIS SUMMER!

Reader Comments 

Posted Mon Apr21, 2008, 10:08 AM — By slip slide

not good to have the much inventory on hand... boards get beat up and the shops I talked to are over stocked because Merrick gave them credit terms of 120 days.... and they make shops carry no less than 25 boards.... it's another form of robbery.... CI surfboards not as good as you think

Posted Mon Apr21, 2008, 5:29 PM — By Adam

never seen so much perfection in one place. its robbery i cant go see it (sorry i cant do the cool thing and be a hater)

Posted Tue Apr22, 2008, 11:13 AM — By ben

yeh i agree it is robbery plain and simple but they are sick boards.i just want to have a go on the pods they look rad.

Posted Tue Apr22, 2008, 2:31 PM — By Justin

......Every 20 minutes a blank that was created by the push of a button that lacks the love, care, energy, and mana that is put into hand shaped blanks. Glassed as light as possible, so they snap like twigs and you can come to the closest over-stocked store and make us richer, thats what surfing is all about! And no I am not a shaper! **** CI

Posted Tue Apr22, 2008, 5:56 PM — By Jay Bowls

The article re-enforced my belief that CI boards are the most overpriced item in the surf industry.

Posted Tue Apr22, 2008, 6:15 PM — By Mike H

hahaha they dont have the most expeireienced shapers finishing the shapes. They are currently training NON_SURFING IMMIGRANT labor to finish sand the boards. CI uses any and all blanks available even from the sub standard companies I haev seen it with my own eyes. CI is doomed, not grass roots anymore and getting even further away from there core market. I now even hear kids heckling their buddies if they ride an over priced CI. It no lone ven "COOL" to ride a CI

Posted Wed Apr23, 2008, 7:34 PM — By Fish

I love reading the comments above. People can be so ignorant, not to mention close minded. I have been to the factory and it is a sight to see. I also have two CI's and my MBM was the best board I have ever ridden. Truly my magic stick in my personal quiver. There is a reason the best surfers in the world surf CI. The boards are designed and shaped with ingenuity and precision. The pros are able to give there input on new concepts and designs which allow for product advancement. Using computers and machine shaped boards also allows for precision duplication. Thus everyone can enjoy the same particular designs over and over. Have you ever had a great board that broke? Then afterwards you were never able to recapture the same board which worked so well? Well now you can. Not only with CI but with LOST, Rusty, JS, Firewire, etc. This is the way of the future...there is a reason why we are not surfing 10 ft wooden planks. Its called advancement!!!! New technology, new materials = progression!!

Posted Wed Apr23, 2008, 8:21 PM — By matt h

"There is more to life than increasing it's speed." -Ghandi Sorry, Fish. Just cause everyone else is doing it doesn't make it cool.

Posted Wed Apr23, 2008, 11:51 PM — By Fish

Its not about speed, this isn't NASCAR. There will always be the individuals who long for the past. I will always ride and enjoy long boards, twin fins, etc. Its not about being cool. I ride lots of brands and local shapers out of my quiver for different reasons and conditions. I agree CI is expensive. I agree that the local shapers still produce great boards in which I ride. CI is still US made. The quality is still top rate. I love to hear facts from you on what blanks they are using. Then I can confirm your untruths with them next time I am there. The only constant is change. Don't be afraid too.

Posted Thu Apr24, 2008, 11:35 AM — By Stevemar

Get with the times man factory progression is giving us amazing boards. The thing about CI is that looking through all of the stock boards at the major shops in the Southland (CA) all I see are basic, heavy boards. When are they going to put some of these good fine tuned boards in shops? I know they feel they need to use dumbed down versions as stock boards but come on. I even recently visited the Melrose store and all the boards were heavy with exception of the EPS boards which were around $150 more. When I was there they just got 6 Protons and all of them were bricks! The idea of ordering a custom CI has never even been thought of. Good luck on that! I was in Surfside yesterday and they had some sick ones but all were heavy. Everyone once and awhile will be desperate enough to spring for a board off the rack but lately it just seems less likely you can find a good one. I thought for sure the Melrose store would have the best ones.

Posted Thu Apr24, 2008, 3:29 PM — By Justin

Yes I agree Ci boards work good, and I am definitely not being close minded, but buying a CI board isn't contributing to keeping the throngs of shapers out there a float, and if you disagree your high. CI is capitalism in surfing.....bottom line, and if you want to support that, good on ya! I like a good board as much as the next but you know what, I don't know about you guys but I am not rich, and I want a board that lasts. Maybe CI boards do last in Cali or elsewhere, but here on the North Shore every CI that I surfed broke within 3 sessions. Sure they worked good, but after they break so easily who gives a s**t. What good is a magic board that doesn't last, oh wait I can get the same board for only $650! And don't compare any of us to the best in the world. Because do you think any of those guys are concerned with the capitalism of surfing, or the waste they created with 4 broken boards per session. And come on Fish US made..by who a machine made in China and some mexican glassers...think

Posted Thu Apr24, 2008, 3:41 PM — By justin

And as far as blanks, there is one blank manufacturer out there that can keep up with CI's production rate, along with the rest of the industry, if it is what was quoted in this article. My friends ran the Clark Foam warehouse when black monday hit, since then have dealt with every blank manufacturer from here to South Africa, and tons of junk blanks have been produced, do you think a few of those made it into the mix at CI. Slow production because of a few sub par quality blanks? Never! And when you ask any business about their product what do you think they will tell you.... they will tell you what you want to hear. CI only cares about blanks that work with the MACHINE and profit margins. Go ahead give em your money, while your backyard shaper sells his house to put his kids through college...but hey this is America and we all have a choice and a dream......all I am saying is next time you are buying a board...your decision affects the American dream of others....

Posted Fri Apr25, 2008, 11:25 AM — By Terry Crovo

OK here's a real lopsided view don't believe in machine made boards at all!!!I'm not a shaper but have been a glasser and have designed dozens of boards and around the industry for over 40 yrs before Kelly was born and Al Merrick wasn't on the map... Hand shaped and Crafted surfboards are part of the whole experience make it ride it tweak it ride it tweak it...I think the state of Surfing as a whole has become so plastic that it is a joke that some of the people involved call themselves surfers money is there main goal and for the short term gain and fame they sell out they call themselves LEGENDS......Please!

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