Trip Forman: Welcome to the REAL Board Loft. I’m Trip Forman, and we’ve got Devon Howard with us at REAL. Devon, welcome.

Devon Howard: Hi Trip, thanks for having me.

Trip Forman: Let’s talk about the Channel Islands CI Mid—one of the boards that really helped spark the midlength movement. It’s another evolution of your work in midlength design through different shapers over your career. Walk us through the board and what went into developing it.

Devon Howard: This design really traces back to where I grew up in San Diego. There was a board called the “egg,” designed by Skip Frye in the late ’60s. That design had a strong influence locally, but over time it kind of got turned into what people called “funboards,” which weren’t seen as cool. Still, there was an underground group of surfers riding them. I grew up riding Takayama boards, and Donald Takayama introduced me to that style. Around the mid-’90s, Joel Tudor was also developing really interesting egg designs, and that’s when I got fully into it. Coming from a longboard background, I loved how these boards handled better waves. When it got good, a longboard could feel a bit unwieldy, and I wanted something that allowed me to focus more on turns. I really fell in love with the lines you could draw on a midlength—it spoke to me more than any other type of surfing. Over the years, I worked with a lot of different influences—Patagonia, Chris Christenson, Tyler Hatzikian—and when I started working with Channel Islands about six years ago, we decided to do a midlength project just for fun. This was before midlengths really blew up. We took all those influences and combined them with Al Merrick’s philosophy. The CI Mid uses a modern version of Al’s triplane hull concept—what some call spiral V or double barrel concave. It’s a hallmark of CI bottom contours. We paired that with a CI-style rail and outlines I liked, including one inspired by an early ’70s Al Merrick template called the “Wokente.” Eggs were popular back then, and while Al was in Santa Barbara, there were likely San Diego influences in his designs. This board has been many years in the making. We didn’t invent anything new—we refined ideas from decades of experience and blended them into something modern. We put it out with no expectations, and it just took off. The best way I can explain it is that the board just works. It strikes a balance between traditional boards, which can be hard to ride, and high-performance shortboards, which can feel too technical or lacking volume for many surfers. This sits right in the middle. It’s for surfers who want performance but don’t want to feel limited. As Britt Merrick says, everything we do at CI is about helping you surf your best. You can see that in how even high-level shortboarders like Alex Gray can jump on this board and immediately look comfortable. It feels intuitive and familiar, and I think that’s the key to its success.

Trip Forman: It’s interesting hearing where you place it in a quiver versus how most people think about it. You’re using it as a better-wave board, while others might see it as a small-wave option.

Devon Howard: Yeah, exactly. I come from a longboard background, so for me, when it’s head high and under, I prefer a traditional single-fin log. But once the waves have some push—shoulder high and above—I can move to the CI Mid. It lets me eliminate unnecessary board area and focus on speed, turning, and control. It’s important to note that this board wasn’t designed for small waves. I think it’s important not to oversell boards as “do everything” options. While you can make anything work, it’s better to be honest about what a board is designed for. For smaller waves, I’d still recommend a fish or a longboard. But if you want to extend the range of a midlength, you can adjust the fin setup. Use a 2+1 when the waves are good, and switch to a single fin when it’s smaller. That gives the board more pivot and helps it perform better in weaker surf.

Trip Forman: And in terms of range, where does it top out?

Devon Howard: For surfers our size, you can comfortably ride this board up to double overhead, no problem. It can go bigger, but it needs to be clean. Because the rocker is relatively low—designed for speed and wave entry—it can become a liability in really choppy, powerful conditions. I’ve had sessions where that became very clear. So there is a limit, but within its range, it’s incredibly versatile. Honestly, if I had to pick one board to ride for the rest of my life, this would be it.

Trip Forman: Let’s talk sizing. What are you riding?

Devon Howard: I’m 6’1”, around 190–195 pounds. I used to ride a 6’10”, but these days my go-to is a 6’11”. I’ll go up to a 7’1” for bigger waves—kind of like a mini step-up. As a general guideline, if you’re a strong surfer, go about 10–12 inches over your height. If you’re intermediate, closer to 14 inches over is a safe place to start.

Trip Forman: What about fins? You guys offer a dedicated setup for this board.

Devon Howard: Yeah, we wanted to simplify the process because 2+1 setups can be confusing. We designed a matched fin set with a 6.5-inch center fin and two side bite options based on rider weight. If you’re under 160 pounds, go with the 3.6 side bites. Above that, go with the 4-inch for more hold and drive. That said, it’s flexible—if you want a looser feel, go smaller; if you want more control, go bigger. The center fin has a moderate rake and a solid base, which gives it good drive through turns. The design was influenced by fins I’ve ridden over the years, especially the Wayne Rich Power Fin. We spent a lot of time refining the shape and ratios, and it’s something I’m really proud of. It’s a balanced setup that doesn’t feel draggy but still provides control and flow.

Trip Forman: It definitely looks unique compared to typical setups.

Devon Howard: Yeah, there’s a lot of thought behind it. Fin setup is incredibly important, and small changes can make a big difference. Between fin design and rocker, those are the two biggest factors in how a board performs. I’ve spent years learning from shapers and testing boards, and my role is really to ride, give feedback, and help refine those details.

Trip Forman: Awesome. Devon, thanks so much for breaking it all down. If you have any questions about the CI Mid or want to order one, you can reach out to us at the shop or visit realwatersports.com. Thanks for tuning in.