Channel Islands "Happy" Surfboard Review by Noel Salas EP.91 155 3

Reviews 5 years ago 8,089 views

Where to Buy: The Surf Station: https://www.surfstationstore.com/collections/channel-islands-happy-surfboard Jack’s Surfboards: https://jackssurfboards.com/collections/surf-fins/products/future-fins-am1-honeycomb-thruster-fin-set Surf Ontario: (Canada Only) https://surfontario.ca/collections/channel-islands Support Surf N’ Show: No obligation, but these links & ads help support the site and keeps the reviews coming! If you decide to buy somewhere else or would like to support the show, please give at https://www.paypal.me/surfnshow In this episode I put two custom “Happy” boards through the paces in a variety of wave types and conditions. Both boards are custom with the exact same dimensions. One board is EPS (Squash Tail) in CI’s award winning construction they call Spinetek. The other board in Polyurethane foam with Polyester resin. (Swallow Tail) We spent all summer testing both of these boards in 3-8’ surf and we even took the Spinetek EPS board to BSR Surf Resort to see how it goes in the pool. Both boards went good but the PU Swallow tail out performed the EPS Squash tail in 4-8’ surf. The PU offered more hold and predictability on rail when the waves had more size with texture from wind. Overall the Happy is a solid HPSB and I recommend it for the upper end intermediate to pro surfer looking to maximize performance pocket surfing in 4-8’ surf. Board DIMS: 5’7” x 18 7/8 x 2 5/16 Liters 25.5 My Height: 5’9” My Weight: 160 lb or 72.57 KG Board Weight with Tail Traction: EPS Spinetek: 4.90 lb PU/Poly: 5.30 lb Suggested Fins: Al Merrick Fins

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Blake Polverino - 5 years ago

I grabbed a 5’11 Happy and using it with the large Kolohe Andino fins. Definitely feels a little unsettled, maybe getting too much lift from the fins? Might try it with some medium reactors. Cheers for the review

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

Blake Polverino Sounds good... maybe try a Medium fin with some rake too.

Alex Y - 5 years ago

Hey Noel, big fan of the show. Hoping you could help shed some light on my next board purchase. I'm a solid intermediate/upper intermediate surfer. Surf confidently on rail, do a variety of carves and snaps, but mostly avoid airs. Currently have a Sampler that I really enjoy but I'm starting to feel like it's holding me back a bit in chest+ surf when the beach breaks I mostly surf start getting more walled up and vertical. Looking for a board that will suit me in chest-a bit overhead when the waves have some punch and are more vertical/hollow. Been comparing the happy, fever, monsta 8, etc. Worried something like the rook15 will be too advanced for me. What board (or boards) do you think would be good?

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

Alex Y Fever or Phantom

John - 5 years ago

Do fins lose their characteristics over time? Should I be replacing my am1’s after years of use?

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

John Great Question.... how do they feel when your surfing? Are they still in good shape? I have a set of AM2 RTM that I have been using for 4 years. They still feel good to me but they have no chips in them either.

Xabier xabi - 5 years ago

What board is more use friendly, the Fever o the happy? Witch one have the more front foot sweet spot? You speak about the og flyer, about it's long sweet spot I mean, And thats super important for me, an average surfer, I have the phantom and works magic becaise of that big sweet spot. You give us very nice info for choosing boards, crazy nice.

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

Xabier xabi On paper the Happy is more user friendly cause it has less rocker. I personally think the B&W is more user friendly than both. If you must get a HPSB then check out the B&W.

Nath H - 5 years ago

Loving the reviews as always. Just quick question, which board do you prefer, the Happy or the Fever? Also, did you get the same chatter on the Spine Tech Fever as you did with the Happy?

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

Nath H Let us know how it goes for you.

Nath H - 5 years ago

@Surf n Show Reviews Thanks for the reply, I have just bought the fever in Spine Tech and taking it to Indo, hope I havnt made the wrong call when it gets sizey!

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

Nath H I prefer the Fever... I did not have the Fever in Spinetek... I only had it in PU

wozza77able - 5 years ago

Who wants to fuck around with fins for different conditions?

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

Sophia Seabridge I talked with the folks at T Patterson’s but they seemed a bit negative on the whole idea. They said yes at first then it got strange and they said forget it... maybe in the future.

D - 5 years ago

Stokeeeeed you did this one! Knowing you're down near South OC/North SD area mainly, but do you have recommendations for some of the heavier breaks down near La Jolla and what not that you've tried out?

Best board show on youtube though, and there are plenty of other awesome channels!

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

D I would ride a Fever, or Ghost down in those heavier waves

Waxfoot - 5 years ago

Pretty average looking board, felt it up in the shop and just didn’t float my boat.

10. comment for Channel Islands "Happy" Surfboard Review by Noel Salas EP.91

MultiDoogz - 5 years ago

I want the Happy so badly! Fell in love with it the first time i saw it on the rack. Great review on it! Was leaning towards the Spine Tek but sounds like the PU is where I'll lean towards. So glad you did a thorough review on this board and the differences with the fins and Spine Tek

Miguel Marquina - 5 years ago

The happy was bouncing around alot in the spine tek

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

Miguel Marquina Yessir

J Boy Surf - 5 years ago

Great review noel, 3" shorter than stock is allot, but board looked perfect length for you,maybe ci should offer xl dims for their hpsb models, like some other manufacturers do.
keep up the great work

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

J Boy Surf Good idea for CI... cheers

andres - 5 years ago

Noel that first frontside hack was so sick!!

Blade Runner - 5 years ago

Great review. thanks for breaking down all attributes of the board. thanks Noel, you helped me and changed my look on surfbaord so deep, i understand more about shapes and it's eally what surfers need. Great job, really great job man ! you are the best you are the champion.

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

Blade Runner Yewwww! Stoked our show is helping you and thank you for the kind words. Aarron and I really appreciate it.

Zenfire Trading - 5 years ago

See how high you are up on the water at 9:45, is that what you dont want? You want to sink more into the water floor when the waves are that big?

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

Zenfire Trading Correct... the Large fins were creating too much speed and lift... I am sure the Medium Mick Fanning fins would go insane in this board.

wave killer - 5 years ago

Look like og flayer.
Great show.thx

Ardy Aryan - 5 years ago

I love your show Noel, but kinda miss your old style standing next to your surfboard stand. It just looked more professional. we could barely see the shape and the outline of the board in the frame. Thank you.

Jon Malkemus - 5 years ago

Ardy Aryan could not agree more.

Cody Iddings - 5 years ago

Hi, would you recommend the happy in good reef conditions? Would you choose Happy over other board models if you were traveling to Indo or Hawaii?

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

Cody Iddings Happy will go good on reef breaks. I would take one to HI and Bali. Check out the Fever too for the spots you want to surf.

Peace Soup - 5 years ago

Nice one Noel. Be great to compare the Happy to the the Driver 2.0 some time.

20. comment for Channel Islands "Happy" Surfboard Review by Noel Salas EP.91

cyberxdeth - 5 years ago

Loved this review wish you went in depth about the bottom of the board a little more loved when you’d break down the whole shape in some of your older reviews really good job with this though! Also was there a big difference between the swallow and the squash tails at all?

cyberxdeth - 5 years ago

Surf n Show Reviews ahh got it thanks did not know that! amazing work as always!!

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

cyberxdeth Swallow tail offered a bit more hold in textured surf. Surfboard attributes are covered extremely well by Britt Merrick on the Happy already..., didn’t want to repeat that on this review. If the manufacturer covers that already I don’t want to repeat what they say....

Chadhc - 5 years ago

How does the Happy compare to the New Flyer ?

Chadhc - 5 years ago

Surf n Show Reviews hmmm... I really liked the NF , did not like the Fred Stubble or OG Flyer

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

Chadhc The Happy paddles better and offers more down the line speed. The NF needs a hollow wave for best results. NF is just ok for me...

rippert - 5 years ago

Thank you Noel for another in depth review. I was thinking of getting a Happy for larger surf since Britt talks about it being a good step up, but I need the paddle power being a little older at 57. Which paddles best for you B&W Fever or Happy and which is most user friendly? Great work man.

rippert - 5 years ago

Thanks Noel!

Surf n Show Reviews - 5 years ago

rippert Black and White paddles better and easier to surf.