What skill level is the The Black Beauty for?

The The Black Beauty is designed for Advanced surfers.

What kind of waves is the The Black Beauty best in?

The The Black Beauty works best in Beach and Point Breaks, Reefs.

What wave size does the The Black Beauty suit?

The The Black Beauty performs best in 6-12ft waves.

What fin setup does the The Black Beauty use?

The The Black Beauty has a Thruster set up.

What type of surfboard is the The Black Beauty?

The The Black Beauty has a Step Up outline.

What volume does the The Black Beauty come in?

The The Black Beauty is available in a 30–44.4 L volume range.

The Black Beauty

Name: The Black Beauty
Brand: Channel Islands

Channel Islands

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Owners Rating:

The Black Beauty has become one of the most popular CI step-up boards, originally shaped by Al Merrick and ridden to victory by Tom Curren in 1985. This board features a vee bottom for excellent control and fluid rail-to-rail transitions in good waves. It’s designed with a agressive entry and moderate exit rocker, offering smooth and responsive turns. The low rails provide stability and drive, making it ideal for intermediate to expert surfers looking to perform in medium to strong waves. The Black Beauty’s pointed nose enhances precision in critical sections.

Specs Overview

Outline: Step Up

Ability Level: Advanced

Wave Height: 6-12ft

Wave Type: Beach and Point Breaks, Reefs

Fin Type: Thruster

Concave: Vee

Entry Rocker: Aggressive

Exit Rocker: Moderate

Overall Rocker: Moderate/Aggressive

Rail Type: Low

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Quick compare

	The Black Beauty Channel IslandsThis board	#77+ Sharp Eye
Dimensions
Wave Height	6-12ft	4-10ft+
Concave	Vee	Full Single Concave
Entry Rocker	Aggressive	Aggressive
Exit Rocker	Moderate	Aggressive
Rail Type	Low	Low

Silhouettes are normalized to the same nose-to-tail length, so this is a shape comparison rather than a true-scale view. Outlines are generated automatically from product photos, not CAD files, so minor inaccuracies can occur.

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Frequently asked questions

What skill level is the The Black Beauty for?: The The Black Beauty is designed for Advanced surfers.
What kind of waves is the The Black Beauty best in?: The The Black Beauty works best in Beach and Point Breaks, Reefs.
What wave size does the The Black Beauty suit?: The The Black Beauty performs best in 6-12ft waves.
What fin setup does the The Black Beauty use?: The The Black Beauty has a Thruster set up.
What type of surfboard is the The Black Beauty?: The The Black Beauty has a Step Up outline.
What volume does the The Black Beauty come in?: The The Black Beauty is available in a 30–44.4 L volume range.

Channel Islands

Channel Islands Surfboards, headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, is a renowned surfboard manufacturing company founded by Al Merrick in 1969. Known for its high-performance surfboards, the company has become a staple in the surfing community. Over the years, Channel Islands Surfboards has collaborated with many surfing legends, including Kelly Slater and Tom Curren, and more recently Dane Reynolds and Mike February. CI has won 3 Stab In the Dark with their models Fever, CI Pro, and CI 2.Pro.

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