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True Ames
CI Channel Islands Tri Small Hexcore
$123.50
new customer discount · True Ames · applied automatically at checkout
True Ames
CI Channel Islands Tri Small Hexcore
The CI Channel Islands Tri Small pairs full-area, high-rake side fins with a smaller rear fin that loosens the tail — Al Merrick's template in Hexcore for FCS boxes.A set of three in Hexcore, FCS compatible, in three colours.
★★★★★5.0 (2)
Sold Out
$123.50
new customer discount · True Ames · applied automatically at checkout
Fin System
FCSFutures
Construction
Hexcore
Designer: Al Merrick
The Fin
The CI Channel Islands Tri Small pairs full-area, high-rake side fins with a smaller rear fin that loosens the tail — Al Merrick's template in Hexcore for FCS boxes.
A set of three in Hexcore, FCS compatible, in three colours. The two side fins carry high rake and full volume; the rear fin is shorter and smaller than the sides, and that difference is the point of the set. Hexcore is the ultra light construction, built here for drive with flex through it. The template wants waves with some down-the-line power in them rather than a soft, shapeless day.
How that reads
Full-area side fins with high rake give the rail hold and a long, drawn turn — the drive comes from up front. Taking height and area out of the rear fin removes what would otherwise anchor the tail, so the back of the board releases earlier and the turn finishes shorter. The combination still holds a line at speed but comes around when it is asked to, instead of tracking through everything.
Who it suits
Thrusters in punchy, down-the-line waves, ridden by surfers who want the tail free enough to snap without giving up drive off the bottom. Lighter riders, or anyone who finds the medium and large sets too locked in. Not the set for weak surf, where there is not enough push to load the side fins up.
If this is not the one
Riding Futures boxes instead? The True Ames CI Channel Islands Tri Small Hexcore (Futures).
Specifications
ConfigurationThruster — set of 3
HeightSides 4.50" / 114 mm; rear 4.35" / 111 mm
BaseSides 4.45" / 113 mm; rear 4.30" / 110 mm
AreaSides 15.09 sq in / 97.35 cm²; rear 13.99 sq in / 90.25 cm²
Made byTrue Ames, Santa Barbara CA
Price Range$123.50
AvailabilitySold Out
From True Ames
The smaller back fin loosens up the tail of your board, and the CI template overall is credited with dependable drive and effortless release.
From True Ames
Hexcore is 25% lighter than normal solid fiberglass fins, without compromising performance.
Our take
Run the small Hexcore set on a shortboard if you're a lighter surfer or mostly surf smaller, weaker waves and want a loose, responsive tail that turns quick. If you're heavier or surf powerful waves and need more hold, the large set is the call — this one would feel free where you want locked-in drive.
More About This Fin
The CI Tri Small is a three-fin thruster set designed with the Channel Islands team and foiled by True Ames, based on the template Chuck Ames developed across decades of foiling thruster sets for Channel Islands. This version is the small size in Hexcore construction with FCS-compatible tabs; Hexcore displaces glass and resin with hexagonal coremat, running about 25% lighter than solid fiberglass with slightly softer flex. A Futures-compatible version of the same small Hexcore set is also made.
Similar Fins
Mentioned in the review — CI Tri Large Hexcore (FCS) · CI Tri Small Hexcore (Futures) — not something we carry.