While visiting in Southern California, I had a chance to test drive a stock 5’2 Channel Island’s Biscuit at Leo Carillo and 1st Point Malibu. The stock 5’2 Biscuit features light glassing with dimensions of 5’2 x 19.75″ x 2.75″ and a three fin configuration. Upon first look, the amount of volume for such a short length is quite staggering but for those unsure of whether they’d be able to surf a board considerably shorter than normal is reassuring. Overall, the Biscuit looks like a thick and stubby disk with the wide point forward of center and the thickest part of the board being forward as well. The rocker is very flat…probably one of the flattest rockers I’ve seen even compared to all the retro fishes out there.

The paddling on this board was pretty easy…similar to a retro fish a few inches bigger though all this considering the 3/2 wetsuit I was in was quite restricting and affecting my paddling due to the fact that we never wear wetsuits in Hawaii. I battled a number of longboarders at 1st Point Malibu and still managed to catch a few.

It seemed that the board took a bit more energy to get it started. The 5’6 Xanadu Wave Rocket seems to generate a burst of speed right off the bat…the Biscuit took a little longer but once you got going she had more than enough. The lack of initial speed could be due to a few reasons:

1. Stiffness I experience in my full wetsuit
2. 3 fin configuration of Biscuit vs speedy twin fin fish
3. Less overall volume compared to Xanadu Wave Rocket

The maneuverability of the Biscuit was average…it felt as though you really needed a decent wave for this board to turn on a dime. Overall, the Biscuit didn’t turn as well as the Xanadu Wave Rocket turns in small mushy surf.

Channel Islands promotes this board as their small wave groveler so I was expecting it to absolutely fly at 1st Point. However, I think the Xanadu Wave Rocket goes faster off the bat and has more overall speed with more maneuverability. I plan to ride the Biscuit in Hawaii and try it backside which is an area where the Wave Rocket lacks tremendously.

Again, the surf in California is quite different than Hawaii…we don’t wear wetsuits and don’t surf point breaks and these observations are just based on two surf sessions in waist to shoulder high surf. I’ll have better insight into the performance of this board when I surf it in waves that I’m more familiar and accustomed to. Stay tuned.

Channel Islands 5’10 Biscuit Surfboard A short and stubby tri-fin: the biscuit design was developed with Rob Machado during the Hurley “Rip My Shredstick” tour through Australia . Overwhelmingly the favorite of all boards ridden on the tour – the Biscuit rides free and loose in the smallest surf and catches waves like boards a foot longer. Ride your biscuit 8” to 10” shorter – 1” to 2” wider and 1/2 in. to 3/4 in. thicker than your shortboard. You will have a great time riding one of these. “…foam is your friend…don’t be scared of it. A little bit of extra foam here and there is good for the soul… and your surfing.” – Rob Dimensions: 5’10 in. x 20 1/2 in. x 2 7/8 in.

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I started shaping in high school, around 1970….Worked for “Da Surf Hut” w/Jim McKinney. Got boards from Bob McTavish (the original egg) I designed a tri fin and thruster with concave bottoms which I was regularly teased about. Tried selling the idea to a few “reputable” shops with no avail….It was logical to me that the three fins would work better than one or two….The idea came to me after Joey Cabel won the Duke on a concave bottomed gun board. Shortly after, two Aussie’s went out on their twin fins and literally ate shit at Sunset. I give them credit for trying. I combined the twin with the gun and..well, there were two different three fined set ups. One with a larger center fin actually forward of the twins, and one that was like the current thruster…

Worked at the UH Look Lab during my Jr/Sr year and learned a lot about oceanography reducing and plotting data for the Haleiwa Harbor Project.

I got into the HFD in 1975, got into construction, and eventually got my Science Degree. I lost touch with shaping, but hooked up with Tom Parrish who shaped my boards until he left for law school…I went through a few shapers, and learned a little from all of them. Dennis Pang, Glenn Pang, D.Beckmeier, and Brewer….and started back shaping around 1982….registered Hawaiian Surf Designs in 1983 and shaped for Lightning Bolt, Seawind Challenge, Hobie Maui, and myself, HSD…

Designed the first generation of inverted vee hybrid boards(ask AM and Rusty P), and got into longboards when Quicksilver recruited me at Bill Barnfield’s Raging Isle Shop for Russ K Makaha, which lasted about 15-17 years until Rusty K left Quicksilver….

I’ve done HIC, Island Classics, Blue Hawaii, Downing, and a few other labels along the way….I still enjoy shaping and surfing….my wife and I go SUP paddling usually twice a week…Something we both really enjoy doing together besides swimming.

I’ve been fortunate enough to be in the HFD, going on 35 years…I’ve also worked for several contractor’s along the way in construction, and have been able to put two Son’s through private school and one thru collage….my third Son is autistic, and remains my best friend…aloha George

Website: www.hawaiiansurfdesigns.com

Phone: (808) 372-2073