Channel Islands Surfboards

G-Bit review Girabbit 5'10x 12x 18.75x 14.63x 2.38 27L PU made by CI Bali. I’m 5'8 141Lbs/63kg. I live and surf in Indonesia. This is one of the best shortboards I've ever had. I've surfed it from 2ft mush to 6ft punchy beachbreaks so far. Canggu area mainly for those who know. Paddles well, with good volume under the chest and generous foam distribution to the rails (more so than the Fever, and less than the Happy in similar dimensions). The board's rocker is great for curvy waves. It grips the wall very well and feels sure footed on the steepest parts of the wave. Where it really shines is in the combination of grip and easy release. The tail can be flicked around on demand, very intuitively. It feels very loose at times, almost like standing on a balance board, but drives and carries speed in flatter sections surprisingly well. The tail rocker reminds me a lot of the original …Lost Rocket, circa 2010. Rail to rail turns are very quick and the board just goes as directed with a lot of flow. I never have to worry about generating speed (like on the Fever) when the wave looses power, it just goes with speed to burn so I can focus on the next hit. I can also testify to how forgiving it is in regards to the level of performance offered. I made late drops on waves where I normally get #****# with my Fever or Happy. It goes better than the Fever in mushy waves and travels more freely top to bottom on steep walls than the Happy. It encourages snaps in sections that I would normally nurse with the Happy especially. I still don't understand how come the Girabbit isn't an absolute best seller yet. It's a vastly underrated board. It covers a wide spectrum of conditions and makes a high performance shape incredibly fun. While I like the Fever and Happy in the right conditions, the Girabbit never fails to put a smile on my face regardless of the conditions. It’s rated for good waves on CI’s website, but trust me it really shines in less than stellar conditions too, where its “flickability” allows to hit every little lip at will and without effort. I’m not saying this is a groveler, but it certainly isn’t reserved only to good waves. It’s a real allrounder with a huge range of use. I surf it with MF large thruster fins, whereas I surf the two others with Mediums. I guess the extra fin area helps tame the tail rocker a bit. So all in all I highly recommend this magic board. Thanks CI you really nailed this shape.

Great high performance shorty for Southern Cal. Performance rocker but the wider outline and tail gives it a lower end wave range than a traditional HPSB. Lots of drive and works well in the pocket and vertical. My favorite board right now. Just had a session in 3 ft mush and still had fun. Was still able to go fast and carve. Paddles great because of all the volume under the chest.

I’m not an expert but i’d say Jordy’s skill and power allows him, although probably able to ride a smaller board, to use a bigger board to his advantage, with regards to paddle power, speed down the line, not bogging down on powerful moves, generating the drive that allows him to take to the air and pull crazy moves and recover, all sorts. And maybe his added height allows for a slightly higher centre of gravity making him able to dig a bigger rail in easier. I’m just hypothesizing here. I think if you’re happy with the boards under your feet, are happy with your surfing and don’t feel you are missing out on sections and maneuvers the no need to worry about what others feel comfortable with. But if you get a chance to try out a bigger/floatier board why not give it a go, who knows you may see a benefit.

Hi guys, I am about to purchase a Girabbit and Futures AM2 Honeycomb fins. Can you tell me if there is any difference between the older Futures AM2 HC and newer set other than the decal? Have the materials changed and therefore the flex pattern? The older set have the horizontal bands of yellow and black and with the newer AM2 HC the colour bands are on an angle. Thanks