Filed in: Shaper Reviews (CA) | On: March 13th, 2007 | Comments: (26)
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Al Merrick of Channel Island Surfboards located in Santa Barbara, California has been one of the world’s premiere shapers since the 1980’s. His claim to fame rose as when his top team rider Tom Curren turned pro and exploded on the professional surfing scene. Both Curren and Merrick worked hard tweaking Tom’s boards in attempting to create the higest performing surfboards ever seen in that era. Curren, who has been riding for CI Surfboards since he was a teenager, won 4 world titles on Al’s magical boards. After the 80’s and Curren’s dominance in the sport of surfing, CI Surfboards exploded again with the rise of Al’s most successful protoge and up and coming surfing star Kelly Slater. Throughout the majority of Kelly’s career, he and Merrick have consistently worked together refining and improving CI Surfboards and creating surfing’s most famous surfer/shaper relationship. That relationship was a key force helping Kelly win an unprecendented 8 world titles.
Merrick’s front loaded surfing team has helped him become the shaping world’s most iconic figure and has garnered CI Surfboards as one of the world’s largest surfboard manufacturers. Merrick has been instrumental in helping the careers of such notable names like Rob Machado, Tim Curren, Taylor Knox, Bobby Martinez, Yadin Nicol, Dane Renolds, Kalani Robb, Lisa Anderson, Rochelle Ballard, and Sofia Mulanovich to name a few. You can find CI Surfboards in most major surf shops. News: CI Surfboards was sold to Burton Snowboards on June 29, 2006. The new deal is expected to help with the distribution and marketing of Channel Island surfboards. It looks as though CI Surfboards, one of the top surfboard manufacturers in the world has totally gone mainstream with this new deal. 26 Comments »By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have read and agreed to the TERMS OF SERVICE. Any violations of these terms may result in account suspension or deactivation. Please keep your comments civil and in good taste. To report a comment, email info@surfboardshack.comErica, on January 10, 2008 @ 9:12 am |i love your surf boards they work the best i would’nt get one from any place eles Kiernan Brandt, on May 8, 2008 @ 11:59 am |There is a ikd in my class named Quinn Merrick and he claims to be related to you is that true? doug, on June 30, 2008 @ 9:45 am |I HEARD AL MERRICK”S ARE MADE IN CHINA!IS THAT BECAUSE BUTON A SNOWBOARD COMPANY OWNS YOU.iF THATS THE CASE WHY ARE THEY SO MUCH MONEY.THEY SHOULD BE CHEAP. IF YOU GUYS ARE BUILDING THEM IN CHINA EVERY THING ABOUT THEM SHOULD BE CHEAP! QUALITY AND PRICE. André Fernandez, on July 4, 2008 @ 9:53 am |Good day! One year ago, i was surfing with a “door”, working for 12 to 14hours day, broken car, no money and the worst…lost a baby…but,…life goes on…and…now i find miself in a new job, “new” car, baby on his way..(18weeks and in 20 years will be a pro surfer), i have a little money…and was enought to buy a red beauty 6’0″. This board gave to me another perspective for life and now im looking for a black beauty 6’3″ but is somehow hard to get one 2nd handed in Portugal. Can you give-me a hand? ty best regards…keep on good work!! thats what surf needs.. charly, on July 14, 2008 @ 11:32 pm |i need to know if yo ci guys made the m13,mbb or the flyer 6’6″ in surftech tecnology glen, on July 25, 2008 @ 8:50 pm |hey im from south africa and was wondering how can i get my hands on a new al merrick or custom board adam, on February 3, 2009 @ 8:14 pm |Actually doug you couldn’t be more wrong. CI’s are all shaped and glassed in the U.S. It’s funny that you think a snowboard company would invest in CI and then force them to make their products in China. Does that really make sense? Nothing has changed since Burton acquired CI. You still get what you pay for. jake smith, on February 8, 2009 @ 7:49 pm |hi im a 16year old aspiering surfer in denmark western australia,ive seen these new taylor knox 5’11/6’1 surf board in an old surfing mag(oct 2007) and im woundering how i would be able to get my hands on one.. if you still make them how much would it cost to get 1 shiped to denmark? thanks please e-mail me Brad Blue, on February 27, 2009 @ 3:37 am |I am looking for 2 new Channel Island surf board’s 7’3″ and 7’5″ Tom, on June 29, 2009 @ 7:27 am |The pod is calling to me but the board is so much!!! Plz make talks board cheaper so more people can enjo , that’s what surinfing is alll about , yall forgot about the big pic and lost your cerisma chm, on November 9, 2009 @ 5:11 pm |merricks are made in china. lost’s are made in china. rusty makes boards in china. there are over 50 surfboard factories in china…WAKE UP! quality boards are being made in china. as are shit boards..just like here. it’s the way of the world boys. you don’t have to buy em but it’s here to stay.. Chase Merrick, on December 2, 2009 @ 8:53 am |I dont know anything about surfing,i am a snowboarder in whyoming but al merrick is my cussion and doug you are wrong because hes made some of the best boards around. i was watching fuel tv and 34-40 people had al merrick surf boards and it said U.S.A not china so you can suck it! Stone, on January 25, 2010 @ 12:58 pm |Just phoned Al Merrick, their boards are apparently not made in China. Neither are the Lost boards. So what about all this rumours? chm? any or rat comments? Sean, on March 24, 2010 @ 5:57 pm |You know it! I got the magic board and its a CI, the board isnt signed, only with the fish and a number, probably a clone? Is it possible to order another by the number signed to get the most possible same shape? Drew, on March 30, 2010 @ 6:09 am |Love the Channel Islands Red Beauty. I was wondering at 6’4” 215lbs is the 6’6” going to have enough volume for me? The 6’10” just won’t fit in the pocket of small waves and I am trying to stay away from “fishy” boards. chm, on May 12, 2010 @ 8:50 am |well stone. he didn’t tell you the truth. i’ve been there and seen em made. sorry but merricks ARE made in china…beleive me i know. i have no reason to post such a statement unless it were true. sorry to burst your bubble… Btr, on June 23, 2010 @ 2:47 pm |Drew did you ever get a 6’6″ red beauty? I am your size and am looking at the same board for me. How is it working? Pete, on July 19, 2010 @ 8:25 pm |Hi Guys joey zaza, on August 15, 2010 @ 3:29 am |Just picked up a rehab’d black beauty 7’0 I love it. I’m trying to slide over from long boardin. Tough swap but man is the black beauty a sexy fast board! I don’t care where it was made its mint! Robby, on October 5, 2010 @ 8:54 pm |There’s a young guy in Newport shaping now that people are saying is the next Merrick or better! I’ll leave you guys in the dust with the rest of what was the dinosaurs on that one! brahdah uni, on December 29, 2010 @ 1:11 pm |love my flyer 2.. check out our site pocketbois.com surf & soul!!!!!!!! Sam McKay, on October 12, 2011 @ 7:25 am |I just picked up a 7’10” M-13 in good condition for 2 bills. I am also doing the transition from a 10′ Gun and I think the long board will make for a nice more-controllable stick. I have never been a fan of Ripping up a wave, rather a soul-surfer taking a nice stroll on the water… Love the ocean and look forward to another Merrick real soon… lolo, on January 15, 2012 @ 1:38 am |Hi Leave a comment |
Ragen, on July 7, 2007 @ 1:01 pm |
do you sell the Al Merricks? i had a 6’0 and broke it today, and would like a new one…hoping you can help with that