Channel Islands Surfboards Splits From Burton Snowboards
Similar in some ways, and not so similar in others, it makes sense when one finds a surfboard manufacturer owned by a snowboard manufacturer. In this case, Burton Snowboards, the pinnacle of snowboard manufacturing, has been the owner of Channel Island Surfboards for a long time now, but that time has come to an end with the sale of Channel Islands Surfboards to senior members of the Channel Islands management team, employees, and team riders.
“We’re extremely grateful for our time with everyone at Burton, they’ve been nothing but good to us over the last 14 years—and continue to be incredibly supportive during this transition,” explains Scott Anderson, CI’s General Manager for the last 25 years. “A lot of the staff at CI have been here their entire adult lives, so it feels natural to us that the business becomes an employee and team rider run model.”
Channel Islands Surfboards is currently based in Carpinteria, California, on the opposite coast of Burton Snowboards, based in S. Burlington, VT. The company was founded by Al and Terry Merrick in 1969 and was purchased by Burton in 2006. Now, the leading surfboard manufacturer is back in the hands, at least in part, of the Merrick family, with Britt Merrick acting as the new CEO.
“I literally grew up in my mom and dad’s surfboard factory and was there to see how hard they and their whole family of employees worked to make Channel Islands one of the most highly regarded board builders in the world,” recalls Merrick. “When Burton partnered with us, they provided an incredible amount of support and shared their knowledge, which ultimately helped us to keep building the best boards possible right here at home in Carpinteria, California. This opportunity to take over ownership with my life-long friends that work here as well as having co-ownership with many of our top team riders is a dream come true for me—and has us all super pumped for what the future holds.”
The current owner of Burton Snowboards, Donna Carpenter, said about the sale of Channel Islands Surfboards, “For my family and all of us at Burton, this is a very happy ending to Burton’s chapter in the Channel Islands Surfboards’ history. We look forward to the day when CI returns home to the Merrick family, and we know the brand will be in good hands with Britt Merrick, Scott Anderson, and the dedicated employees and team riders at Channel Islands.”
According to the Channel Islands Surfboards blog, the transaction from Burton Snowboards to CI Surfboards LLC is expected to be completed by early next year. All current employees of Channel Islands will stay on under new management, as well as all athlete contracts remaining intact with no changes.
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Photo Credit: CI Surfboards/FB
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