Skate store slated to open this Saturday

By Tara Nelson

Two Birch Bay residents have plans to open a new skateboard shop this Saturday on Peace Portal Drive.

Brian Novak and Carla Bellair, both of Birch Bay, along with long-time friend Dallas Blacker, of Arlington, will open Inversions Snow & Skate November 18 at 477 Peace Portal Drive, suite 103, next to Seaside Bakery.

Their grand opening is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will include door prizes such as five Inversion gift bags, a complete skate deck with grip, a deck without grip, one snowboard deck, and a wax and tune package for the 2006/2007 season.

Novak, who moved to Birch Bay in 2005 with his fiancé, Amy Bellair, said he is enthusiastic about the prospect of a skateboard and snowboard shop in Blaine and is looking forward to sharing his experience with local youth.

“For one thing, you got a great skate park that’s just going to get better,” he said, adding that the group plans to sell products online to supplement their income. “And then you got Whistler, Grouse and Seymour ski areas to the north. We’re hoping we can tap into that market as well.”
Novak said he grew up doing “everything from the ESA (Eastern Surfing Association) competitions near Sea Isle City in New Jersey to chasing hurricanes”, skateboarding in his hometown of Township, New Jersey, and snowboarding in the mountains of the East Coast.
He moved to the West Coast in 1997 for a former job – and to be closer to Mt. Baker.

“On the east coast, the majority of the mountains make their own snow,” he said. “They don’t have the precipitation that we do. That, and I heard you guys have really good coffee.”

Novak said the store will include skate and snowboard supplies, as well as apparel from 686, Sessions, Rome, Bataleon, Smith, Technine, Element, Royal, Ricta, One Mountain clothing, Levitate Apparel, and Casual Industries.

Inversions will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday for the first few weeks. Hours may vary after that, Novak said.
Inversion Snow & Skate can be reached by calling 360/305-4645.