Channel Islands Launches New Technology and Warranty Program

Channel Islands recently launched a patented technology called Flex-bar in its surfboards, along with as a one-year warranty against breakage.

We spoke with Channel Islands General Manager Scott Anderson about the new technology, the warranty, what it means for the brand and retailers, as well as new areas where the brand is expanding.

Tell me about the new technology and what it means for Channel Islands.

Scott Anderson: The new Flex-bar technology is a patented technology that allows the board to keep its feel and ‘pop’ for a longer amount of time than other boards. There’s no stringer involved.

Instead, we use a combination of alternating EPS foam densities and fiberglass through the entire board attached to a composite sandwich foam running from the center out to the apex of the rail. It’s advanced and environmentally friendly. Not only do boards last longer, but using the EPS foam and Entropy/Super Sap epoxy resin, all Flex-bar surfboards are Ecoboard Project verified by Sustainable Surf.

Additionally, Flex-bar boards are built in our U.S., Australian, and European factories instead of overseas in Asia. By having everything in-house, it allows us to retain complete quality control over the entire process. It’s not a cheap process, but we really wanted to have that control and be able to offer customers a superior product with a superior warranty made by surfers for surfers.

How are retailers responding? 

Scott Anderson: All of the major surfboard makers are offering some sort of new technology now, so it’s taking the retailers a little while to understand the differences between ours and others. 

Once the dealers understand how the Flex-bar technology is constructed and the resulting improvement in durability and board life along with the new warranty, the retailers immediately get behind the boards. Sales on the Flex-bar are definitely picking up.

What’s the difference between Channel Island’s Flex-bar technology and the technology from other surfboard brands at the moment?

Scott Anderson: I think our boards are the only boards built with the technology from the inside out. A lot of technology in other brands is in the glassing, but ours starts at the stringer.

The warranty is the other point of difference. Because our boards are made in our local factories and not outsourced, we are confident we can give a one-year warranty against breakage. That’s been a big selling point.

Is this the first warranty of its kind?

Scott Anderson: It’s not the first surfboard warranty in history, but probably the largest in scope. We want our customers to understand they can get a high performing board that can keep that magic feel alive for much longer than anything out there.

How do you know customers won’t try to run over boards with their cars? Is that even a legitimate concern? 

Scott Anderson: It’s a concern, but we like to think that our customers would be above that. Regardless, we can tell how a board has been broken.

What is the price difference with the new technology? How are customers responding?

Scott Anderson: Retail starts at about $850. That’s about 20% more expensive than our boards without the technology, but the boards should last 50% longer.

Initially, there is some sticker shock, but once a customer rides the boards, either through our demo program or after they purchase it, they love it. The warranty takes the risk out of the purchase as well.

Are any boards with this new technology being used by professional surfers or in competition?

Scott Anderson: Sebastian Zietz, Parker Coffin, Yadin Nicol, Killian Garland and Kanoa Igarashi have all won heats on the new technology.

How are surfboard sales today? Are you selling more online or in store? What areas are biggest now (territory-wise)?

Scott Anderson: The U.S. is still our largest market, followed by Australia. The U.S. is also the only territory that is down in sales. Right now we are experiencing a soft domestic economy on top of a flooded board market. Online sales are up, I imagine for everyone.

How is CI responding to equipment needs for wave pools and wake surf boats? Or is the need there yet? Is this something on your radar? 

Scott Anderson: Wake is something we have yet to look at. We build things out of passion for riding them and only a couple of guys here wakeboard.

But wave pools have definitely caught our interest. We had the chance to demo the NLand park before it opened and had a blast. A few of us rode the Flex-bar tech in the lagoon and it was perfect, being a little more buoyant and responsive. The water was over 90 degrees at the time and since wax kept melting off, everyone was using the full deck traction we make. 

Full deck traction?

Scott Anderson: Yeah, we have had accessories and traction pads for a long time, but now even our front traction is becoming very popular.

Having traction in the front was a thing in the 80s but it went away. Kids today are really into it, and we are sold out! It’s becoming a new trend.

Anything else new?

Scott Anderson: We have a collaboration on USA built eco-soft-tops with INT coming out in the spring to look out for. They have a unique hard bottom with a soft top, and the bottoms are actually hand shaped to keep the performance high. The dealers that have seen them so far are not happy about having to wait for the spring.