Channel Islands Tri - Futures Compatible (Solid Fiberglass)

The True Ames × Channel Islands Tri Fins are the result of decades of craftsmanship, innovation, and collaboration between two of California’s most respected names in surfing. Channel Islands Surfboards, founded by Al Merrick in 1969, built its reputation on high-performance board design and close partnerships with world-class surfers. As CI’s shapes evolved and redefined modern surfing, so did the need for fins that could keep pace with progressive, powerful riding.

True Ames became the natural partner back when all of the templates were solely made as glass ons! Known for precision foils, handmade fiberglass construction, and uncompromising quality, True Ames had long been the quiet engine behind many of the best-performing fins in surfing. Our ability to translate subtle design cues into reliable, repeatable fin templates made us an ideal collaborator for CI’s performance-driven approach.

The CI Tri series was born from that synergy—shaped by feedback from the CI team, refined through years of real-world testing, and crafted by True Ames using time-honored fiberglass techniques. The result is a thruster set that reflects the heritage of two influential California surf institutions: CI’s relentless pursuit of performance and True Ames’ dedication to functional craftsmanship. Today, these fins continue to carry that legacy forward, blending classic hand-built construction with proven modern design.