Monday, August 27, 2007
Groove Merchants will be CLOSED this Fiday through Sunday...
I hate to do it but the shop will be CLOSED Friday (Aug 31) to Sunday
(Sept 2). We will reopen Monday (Labor Day) at 1 O'clock for special holiday hours and to makeup for being closed. Sorry
for any inconvenience. We are taking the Groove Merchants race team along with Dan Depre to the NBL Grands in Louisville Kentucky.
The Grands are sort of the superbowl of BMX and were looking forward to going down there and kicking some ass. Were also
going to hit up the skatepark while were there. Its been a busy summer and it will be good to have little time off. This is
also my lucky 13th time racing the grands out of twenty plus years of BMX racing so wish all the badluck off of me!!!
Ill post lots of pics next week. See ya Monday.
9:48 pm edt
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Back to School Bash Wrap up...
As Summer comes to an end it could only mean one thing. The Groove Merchants
Back to School Bash and Mini Ramp Comp went down Saturday and it was a whopper. Things started to heat up for the
comp in practice and by 2 o'clock the 13 and under class was going off. With so many entries we broke it down into
two classes, 13 and under and 14 and over with a jam style format. With gift certificates for first and second nobody
was holding back.
CU-Dizzle broke the ice by pulling a huge blunt his first run and continueing to string descent
lines together. TJ Vance put some original lines together as well. The ongoing rivalry between Kenny Shitbags and King of
the Ramp Zack Dawson got even more heated as the two battled it out for second. Shitbags put together some good runs
but nerves got the best of him with forty plus people in attendance watching and he wasnt up to his usual
self. When it was time for the runoff between Zack and him for second Zack lit it up with a pop shoveit to 50/50 that went
coast to coast across the coping. What? Huh? Yeah it happened. Mark Peacemaker took first with almost flawless runs and frontside
airs. The boy has some serious style.
All eyes were on the 14 and over class and it was worth
the wait. Gary Saxe III started it off and was the youngest in the class. With his newfound Camp Woodward Jedi skills he found
some of the most creative lines in the class but was having a little trouble keeping full runs together. Fedora clad Wendell
Branham jumped in and pulled a few solid runs full of style but started to sputter toward the end tying him for third with
Chris Parker who was throwing down tons of tech tricks. Cheese Teeth provided entertainment with his interpative breakdance
and skate run???? He is also offering a ten dollar reward to whoever provides information on who filled his fruitboot rollerblades
with cheddar cheese during the comp. Word is there may be video proof??? Tre Lapole took second with some classic lines full
of style and reverted eveything insight. Skillz Bros. Skillzzz. When it was all said and done there was no question to anybody
that Nathan Loda was the winner. Dude came in, had five minutes of practice and proceded to tear the ramp a new one. Frontside
airs, backside and frontside 50/50s and 5 0's. Blunts, shoveits and all the bells and whistles.
13 and Under
1st Mark Peacemaker
2nd Zack Dawson
3rd Kenny Shitbags
14 and Over
1st
Nathan Loda
2nd Tre Lapole
3rd Wendell Branham/ Chris Parker
Skateboarding, in my opinoin, has nothing to do with competition. Its a lifestyle.
Our comps are all about getting together for a good time and we had one hell of a good time. Im mega proud of all the
kids who had the balls to get in the comp and skate in front of a ton of people. You guys rule. Thanks to everybody who came
out and supported us and all the parents who hungout and showed love. A huge huge thanks to the G Man Gary Saxe. Without
him this would have been tough to pull off. He did everything from sales to security to judging. Thanx Bros. I owe you a cold
one.
9:20 pm edt
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Weekly Update...
The big news this week is that Groove Merchants team rider Ken Hensell is
finally a father. They had a little girl named Summer over the weekend. Congrats Rad Dad!! Im sure shes gona be stoked that
her dad can do monster rails and the others kids dads cant.
In Skate news... we added some new brands including
Mystery, Zero, Enjoi, Powell, Bones and a bunch others. We also got in Dekline shoes and added a ton more Tees and Hoodies.
Dont forget the Back to School Bash Saturday with the mini ramp comp at 2pm and 10% off all skate stuff allday!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The skate inventory page has been updated, on the site, as well.
In BMX news... The whole line of Kink completes
will be in by Friday or Monday at the latest. This includes all colors and models in the '08 line. Were also getting in
Kink tees and the new stem. Speaking of restocking we should have in the new line of Fall Shadow tees and hoodies,
Skavenger tees, and Animal tees and hoodies by this weekend and just in time for back to school. The new Animal seat
in black will be in stock too. Check the BMX inventory page for current product this weekend. Also were blowing
out all Fly jerseys and pants for 10% off.
4:36 pm edt
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Back To School Bash. Saturday 2pm
Groove Merchants Back to School Bash will be this Saturday (Aug 25th) at 2pm.
Were having free food all afternoon and taking 10% off all skate stuff and skate clothes and shoes. Were also having Mini
Ramp skate comp at 2pm. Practice will be from 12-1:30 with the comp kicking off at 2. Were thinking theres gona be a
pretty heavy turnout, if so we will be having a 14 and under class and 15 and over. We will also be having a 30 and over vet
class. So all you old school fools be sure to brush the dust off your stick and get ready to thrash the shop mini. To the
winners go the spoils and we will be giving out prizes for first in all classes. Summer has went by quick so help us
blow it out Groove Merchants style.
8:35 pm edt
Monday, August 13, 2007
Martinsburgs getting a skatepark???
Listen up kids. Times short and we have alot to cover. First. From the sound
of things it might be true. Martinsburg may get a skatepark. The time frames unknown but I would imagine its a ways off.
The suggested location is Ambrose Park (behind the mall). I do know that theres a strong parent association behind it
and they have met several times with the Rec-Board. Also it may be modeled after Fredericks?? But will be BMX friendly!! Anyway,
there is fundraiser to get the ball rolling so if you know anybody whose into motorcycles get the word out about the ride
happening Sunday. (see the flyer above for details)
I have also heard that the ever growing metropolis of Charlestown
is very close to getting a skatepark. The county is way into the idea and looking for some input from skaters. There some
flyers going around about it. Seek and you shall find.
In shop news... Team rider Ryan Hullenger is back to being
unleashed on the public. He was in the shop Friday with a freshly wired-shut jaw but is doing fine now and claims to
be still planning on racing the NBL Grands in Louisville at the end of the month.
Inventory news... Back
to school is in full swing at the shop. We are fully stocked with BMX softgoods and Little Devil Hoodies on special for
$19.99-$24.99. The skate side of things are looking good too with lots of Backpacks, jeans, hoodies, shoes and Tees. We have
also added some more brands. Zero, Mystery, Enjoi, and many more including Dekline shoes.
Sales news. To help
you get ready for the NBL Grands we are taking 10% off all Fly jerseys, helmets and pants until August 31. Not going to the
Grands?? No worrys this sale will give you the chance to go to your local races and not look like a shitbag.
Thats
all for now...
10:51 pm edt
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Back to School at Groove Merchants...
Hey man, you gotta buck? Chances are pretty good that you have a dollar and
chances are real good that you cant buy shit with a dollar anymore. But that that dollar is more than just some currency to
help you get your spend on, that dollar is one consumer vote. Yeah, I know that sounds cheesy but what you choose to spend
that dollar (or more likely lots of dollars) on is a vote that your casting to help make or break shops, companys, pro
riders ect... Its all up to you. The skate/BMX industrys future rest squarly on your shoulders.
Sounds complicated
and alot of responsibilty huh? It is. Its your job to figure out who stays or goes. Whos legitimate, rider owned, doing things
for the love or whose shady, out to make a quick buck and pimp you, the consumer, out.
This comes to mind in the
season of back to school shopping. To put it in simple terms. Moms taking you back to school shopping and you have an array
of dazzling choices but before you run to the mall take a minute and think. Does Pac Fudge or Stink and Shittle, at the mall,
or big mailorder provide you with a free indoor ramp to ride , videos to watch, a safe atmosphere to hangout
with your friends in, sponsor riders, do video premiers, skate comps, ect...??
HELL NO they dont. For that matter
their ready to sell your passion down the river at the next trend. Maybe it will be razor scooters, who knows. They dont give
a tinkers damn about you or the industry or put a dime back into it. They pimp and ho it. And by shopping there
your the ho my friend. Sleep right keep your butthole tight. Why in the hell would you shop there?? There are tons of small
shops who provide the same type of products and carry core brands and benefit the industry by sponsoring riders, demos,
making videos and generaly doing things for the love of the lifestyle. And you know what? Most of the time those small shops
are cheaper. So next time you get ready to cast that vote take a hott second and think about who you are supporting with it.
5:00 pm edt
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Update...
I just found out
lastnight that Groove Merchants/Fly team rider Ryan Hullenger took a hell of a slam at Woodward riding trails this weekend.
He broke his jaw in two places shearing the bone. They are waiting for a specialist to come in and schedule a surgery. I talked
to his mom today and she said his spirits are good. Ryans a tough guy and I know he'll be fine. Our thoughts are
with him for a quick recovery. Ill keep you everybody posted on how he's doing.
3:50 pm edt
Sunday, August 5, 2007
X Games Weekend...
Well, the pimp and ho show known as the X Games is almost behind us for another
year. Some love it some hate it. Somehow I still look forward to it each year. I think it makes me nostalgic for the early
days of X when it was simple and fun. I suppose it has its pros and cons. It defintly benefits the industry by generating
new or renewed interest and selling products to the delight of companys and retailers (aka me!!!).
On the other
hand it sells out the passions of millions to benefit only a few by exploiting riders, bad contest judging, fabricated storylines,
blatant product placement, and generally gaying out our lifestyle to the Xtreme. Rather you dig it or not its been here for
13 years and doesnt appear to be going anywhere for awhile. Although it may be completly retarded motorsports by the time
its all said and done!
Anyway we are getting Duff shoes in this week along with Alien Workshop, Indie, Spitfire,
Baker and Habitat jeans. Fallen and Orchid shoes will be in next week. So dont forget to drag your mum into the shop
for your back to school shopping. ( Hey, we have backpacks too!!) Just say NO to malls!!! Later...
5:25 pm edt
