Channel Islands The Solution - Al Merrick - PU - FCS II - 5 Fin

The struggle of lackluster surf is real. So, Channel Islands created The Solution. Blending glide, paddle power, and versatility, The Solution is Britt Merrick’s most adaptable smallwave template yet. A fuller outline with a rounded tail increases planing area and drive through flat sections, while a single-to-generous double concave keeps the board quick, lively, and free underfoot.

The Solution’s new rocker and outline are unlike anything else in the CI range—a fresh design that holds speed in weak surf yet still invites performance when the moment calls for it. A five-fin setup lets you tune how the board feels: ride as a thruster for tight, up-and-down turns; a quad for pure top-end speed; or a 2+1 for twin-fin glide and flow. Custom tail patches add strength where it counts most.

The Solution is exactly that—a true step-down shortboard for less-than-ideal surf, built for speed, flow, and performance when it’s anything but pumping. Designed to be ridden 2” shorter than your Better Everyday, The Solution sits perfectly at the lower end of your quiver—ready to solve whatever small-wave struggles you pull up on.

Fin(s) included: None

Construction - PU by Olatu Surf

For the Channel Islands shortboards of 6'4 and shorter in PU we have them with 2 full layers of 4 oz. on the deck and 1 full layer of 4 oz. on the bottom. All in a high performance stock glass job. High quality Polyurethane (PU) Foam and Polyester Resin.

About Channel Islands Surfboards and Al Merrick

Since 1969, Channel Islands Surfboards has been dedicated to performance and quality through hard work, innovation, and originality. Over the last 50 years, Channel Islands has grown from a local grass-roots operation to a cutting edge organisation, catering to the best surfers in the world. It started with hard-core surfing and quality in mind and these guidelines have brought us through four decades of constant change in the surf industry. Channel Islands will shape the new millennium with innovative design and quality as our main focus.

“The driving force behind Channel Islands Surfboards is the demand on design created by the world’s greatest surfers, allowing for the highest performance surfing possible. To provide the most dedicated surfers with the most advanced, performance designs is my passion” - Al Merrick, Designer/Shaper

CI is a privately held organisation focused on rider-driven product and manufacturing the best possible equipment available. Located in a state-of-the-art facility just blocks from Rincon Del Mar, the CI HQ represents a foundation for developing, testing, and building boards while providing jobs in Santa Barbara for many years to come.

Channel Islands Surfboards was created by Al and Terry Merrick in 1969. From his birth, Britt spent his days in the factory by the beach in Santa Barbara, from toddling around blanks to sweeping out shaping rooms. Eventually he started shaping alongside his father Al in 1990. He is now the lead shaper and designer for CI and carries on the family tradition of developing high performance board designs collaborating with the world’s greatest surfers. From Tom Curren, to Dane Reynolds, Channel Islands continues to evolve with the highest standard of surfing.