Santa Barbara locals may remember us as Paddle Sports of Santa Barbara, selling kayaks and gear, renting kayaks, and guiding trips on the islands. In 2010 the current owner Mark Hyatt relinquished ownership to three of his employees, Garrett Kababik, Fraser Kersey, and Johnny Dresser (all island guides at the time), who collectively established Channel Islands Outfitters. Upon realizing that a revised and modern plan needed to be realized to carry Paddle Sports into the new economy, the three island guides got to work brainstorming.