Trip Forman: Welcome to the REAL Board Loft. I’m Trip Forman. We have REAL team rider Mark Dawson with us. Dawson, welcome. Today we’re reviewing the Channel Islands Dumpster Diver 2, Dane Reynolds’ pro model. Dawson, let’s get into it and talk about this board.
Mark Dawson: We’ve got the Dumpster Diver 2. I love this board—it’s like a skateboard. I really liked it. The wide point is a little further up, and I rode it in all conditions, from knee-high to overhead. For those types of waves, I really liked it because it’s wide forward, great for airs, and has that skateboard-style surf feel. Kind of like a skate park.
Trip Forman: What’s your height and weight?
Mark Dawson: I’m 5’9”, 165 pounds.
Trip Forman: And what are the dimensions on this one?
Mark Dawson: This one is 5’9” x 19 1/4” x 2 3/8”, around 27.2 liters.
Trip Forman: One thing I noticed right away is that from different angles it looks like a standard performance shortboard—like any of the others CI makes—but when you put it next to another board, everything jumps out. You can really see how much width carries forward from the wide point, how built out that front section is, the wider tail block, and how flat the rocker is.
Mark Dawson: Yeah, super flat.
Trip Forman: So it’s got a shortboard-style outline but fuller, with less rocker—definitely geared toward small-wave performance. You’re originally from where?
Mark Dawson: I grew up surfing in Florida, Sebastian Inlet.
Trip Forman: That’s where you got your small-wave roots. They say if you don’t get that early, you never do.
Mark Dawson: Yeah, for sure. You make your own waves there.
Trip Forman: Talk to us about performance compared to a standard shortboard or a step-down. This seems like it has even more punch.
Mark Dawson: It feels like it has more rail line, more like a shortboard, so you can draw out your turns more. But you can still go for freestyle airs. With the wider point, when you land forward on the nose, it holds well. I fell in love with this board. I ride it almost every session.
Trip Forman: A lot of people talk about Dane’s boards having pop.
Mark Dawson: Yeah, it has a ton of pop off the lip. Especially on those crumbling sections—you can really launch.
Trip Forman: What about the top end? You’ve ridden this in overhead surf. How does it feel chest to overhead?
Mark Dawson: Our waves aren’t super tall—they’re more square. Boards like this fit those conditions well. You don’t need to go super long. It’s kind of the best of both worlds—skatey but still top-to-bottom. It works across a wide range because it’s not too tall, just a bit wider up front.
Trip Forman: Let’s talk fins. What are you riding?
Mark Dawson: These are the Dane Dumpster Diver 2 large fins.
Trip Forman: How do they feel?
Mark Dawson: Loved them right away. They’ve got a bit of flex but are still stiff at the base. They match the board really well.
Trip Forman: You’re not firmly in the large category weight-wise, but you’re riding larges—why?
Mark Dawson: Even though it’s a smaller board, bigger fins help you get more out of your turns and bottom turns. I like that feel.
Trip Forman: What about your traction pad?
Mark Dawson: Dane Reynolds pad from CI. I love flat pads—that’s my thing.
Trip Forman: Could you take me in a heat?
Mark Dawson: Definitely not. Maybe in tiny Florida surf—best out of three.
Trip Forman: Let’s talk accessibility. You work in the Board Loft helping customers—how easy is this board for someone coming off a hybrid like a Rocket Wide?
Mark Dawson: It’s pretty similar in the front outline, just a bit more refined. It has way more performance.
Trip Forman: Could this be someone’s first shortboard?
Mark Dawson: Yeah, it’s not too bladed out. It has some width throughout, so it’s forgiving.
Trip Forman: How would you compare it to something like a Happy Everyday?
Mark Dawson: They’re similar, but this one is flatter and better in smaller surf. It performs better on the low end and has more pop. It’s wider up front. I’d pick this for smaller waves and the Happy Everyday for bigger conditions.
Trip Forman: Awesome. Dawson, thanks so much for joining us and sharing your thoughts on the Dumpster Diver 2. If you have any questions or want to order one, give us a call at 252-987-6000 or check us out online at realwatersports.com/surfing. Thanks for tuning in.
