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Why Channel Islands?
We have been thinking for a long time about how great it would be to build some of the most advanced surfboard shapes ever made as wood boards. We love our own shapes, but a chance to build boards designed by true icons in the history of surfboard evolution is just irresistible.
Al Merrick is one of the most respected shapers in the world, plus CI has a reputation for professionalism, and we knew that we had developed some technologies that dovetail perfectly with the way they work. They have a killer team, the shapes are sophisticated - there are no end of great reasons for us to partner with this outstanding company.
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How did CI and Grain get hooked up?
Once we realized what a great fit CI was, we started thinking about how to communicate that. Mike's long association with Burton Snowboards (who now own Channel Islands) was helpful in getting early feedback on the idea and in inspiring some of the CI guys to get together with us for a chat. We had plans to be in Cali for a few days for Sacred Craft, so we proposed a sitdown, and the CI team set a date. We thought alot about how to present all the great collaborative elements that were obvious to us, but in the end, we just told them about ourselves, and how our efforts seemed to dovetail perfectly, and we all decided to go ahead. They sent us a computer model of the board, we did what we do to get the frames and patterns derived from it, and the first Biscuit was made.
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What is the relationship between Grain and Channel Islands?
Our arrangement is similar to those made between epoxy board makers and shapers. We pay a license fee for each custom board or kit we make, and as a result, both CI's customers and our own are able to get Al's first-rate shapes made in wood. Good for everyone, and good for the planet.
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Will other Channel Islands shapes be available?
We'll see. At this point, we want to concentrate on the Biscuit, offer it in different sizes and as kits and as a board built during our classes. Once we can gauge the response, CI will consider offering other shapes in wood.
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What about shapes designed by other world-class shapers?
We have a handful of other projects that were already in the works before we got going with CI, and we'll probably have our hands full for a while with all that is going on. So chances are that - for now - we'll just continue with what we already have in the pipeline, continue to develop the Biscuit offering, then see if we will expand to other CI/wood offerings before we take on any other shapes. Working with other shapers is definitely something we're interested in though.