Sorry loyal bloggerites, I would have been posting all last week but Justin crashed our server! Anyways, let’s make this update quick, I’ve got to study for a lab exam. Big news, Justin crashed Spenny’s wipe two weekends ago. We’re all really happy nobody was injured, and it appears Jeep-Jumpin-Justin’s insurance will cover it. We all make mistakes and it’s important to learn from them—I teach my Dad all sorts of things. Unfortunately, Justin more of a kinetic learner and gave this car accident thing another try last weekend when he crashed Evan’s truck into a parked car. Again, we’re all please Justin wasn’t injured and about the new variety of jokes now available on his behalf. Moving on! Jolene’s getting dumber, not actually she’s just getting her wisdom teeth pulled: ouch! Spencer broke his ankle in what I believe was a floor gymnastics accident; although, He’s telling everyone skateboarding was the culprit. We hired a new employee who goes by the name Tia, and she likes dogs and soccer. J Master P landed a teaching gig, and still looks handsome as ever! He Who Must Not Be Named, finally took a few days off after twenty-one days straight of his nose to the grind stone (that’s an odd expression). As for myself, I’ve been working on a six foot paper airplane, I hope it’ll hold my weight!
Okay, I’m spent and this laptop’s making my palms sweaty.
PS: We just got new Supra and Globe Shoes!
Double PS: I didn’t proofread this!
“Eats shoots and leaves” from your local Nanaimo Skate, Surf & Snowboard Shop
Mellow Monday? no way! check out a bunch of AG team members (Jayden, Kaden, Chase, Douma and Free Jarred) and a ton of our homies in this hella hyphy park edit by Daniel Gardiner!
As Nanaimo’s only legitimate Surf Shop and being centrally located on Vancouver Island, it’s pivotal that we at Alternative Groove carry a wide verity of surfboards for various conditions and seasons. Surfing is like drinking, you always get wet and it’s okay to pee your pants. So whether you’re casually surfing with friends, binging on weekends, or have a chemical dependence upon on it; we’ve got the right board for you! (If you’ve resorted to using a funnel in order to get in more surfing then we need to a talk!) Recently we increased our surfboard arsenal with Channel Island’s: The Rookie, Gravy, and THE Wizard Sleeve. Check out Channel Island’s descriptions below and follow the links for more details.
THE ROOKIE
Like the Proton for Dane, the Rookie is designed around state-of the- art surfing by a powerful surfer and has a full rail with a curvy outline. All three Gudauskas brothers, not small in stature, have found this board suits the varying conditions and waves on the WQS. Lower entry rocker and more tail flip out the back than the MBM+ and Proton, the Rookie is powered by single concave throughout.
Key note: remember this board hides a lot of volume so order 1/8” thinner and 1” possibly shorter.
Gravy
When Al and Rob get together, the possibilities are endless. Al steering Rob to a more conventional board, and Rob taking Al back in time, a direction he doesn’t always want to go. Reminiscent of Rob’s Biscuit model, The Gravy is shorter and wider than a normal shortboard, but with the addition of a few more performance characteristics. A more foiled and slightly narrower outline with a touch more rocker and fresh new look. With the nose width matching the tail width, not only are small waves fun again, but you can also still tear into them.
This board should be ridden approximately 4″ to 6″ shorter, / 8″ thicker, and about an inch wider than your normal shortboard.
Available in 5′3″, 5′5″, 5′7″, 5′9″, 5′11″, and 6′1″.
Machado’s dimensions are 5′3 1/2″ x 19 1/4″ x 2 1/4″.
THE Wizard Sleeve
Imagine riding a wave without a surfboard under your feet, exploring parts of the wave that the length of a normal surfboard usually prohibits… For this, Kelly created the wizard sleeve, possibly the closest thing to surfing without a board. If you are ready for the volume of your standard short board hidden in a board that is 6-8 inches shorter, then maybe you are ready for this board. The vee bottom on the Wizard Sleeve allows for smooth rail to rail transitions while the wider nose area in the entry of the board definitely helps increase planing speed over flat sections .As well its narrow tail defines it from a fishy board and gives it more control.
This board is offered in the following sizes: 5‘4, 5‘6 5‘8 and 5’10, and comes standard with a bump round pin tail, which not only smoothes out your style but suits quick direction changes perfectly.
This board is standard with 5 sets of FCS plugs which provides versatility and can be ridden as either a tri or quad-fin. Included in the price are Kelly’s signature performance core fins, an $85 value.
FEEDBACK
“Keep and open mind and try this” – Kelly Slater
DESIGNED FOR
Chest-high to overhead. Intermediate to expert surfers.
As always we rent surfboards, wetsuits, and roof-racks if you’re looking to just try on surfing.
If you’re illiterate or need further information give us a shout at the Alternative Groove head office!
Hey Friends! This father’s day weekend we’re hosting a massive Tent Sale. Everything beneath the canvas (tents) is 50% off! Despite our laziness, we’ve even pulled out our winter outerwear, snowboards, boots, bindings and goggles! Plus, all wetsuits, Hoodies, jeans, shirts, and blah blah blah that are under the tent are Half Price! Summer’s around the corner and before you knows it….BOOM winter again! So come out and save a buck!
We’re also going to light up the BBQ and roast some wieners, frankfurters and hotdogs!
Alternative’s more than a local business—although we do enjoy loonies—we’re also a community of friends, homies and bromies that often collaborate on projects. It’s this mentality that motivates us to capture mysterious snowboard thieves, support local companies, and get involved with charity events. Recently, we teamed up the local Fire Departments and numerous local companies to host a charity fashion-show for Burn Fund. Also, our friends from Three-o-Nine Graphic Design—who designed our shop decks—just finished working on a project with Jeremy Roger’s new skate company, Selfish; their boards are just getting pulled out of the oven and should be in shops soon. Speaking of skateboarding, it’s rumored that we’ve got some events marinating for this summer.
Also, we just got Kayotic skimboards in-stock! If you’re a terrible swimmer and hate grip-tape swing by and pick one up. Before you know it, you could be robbing your Dad’s took shed for scraps of PVC and 2×4’s.
Oh and just to combat the previous post about the swagger wagon….Valient Thorr.
I know its not the ‘rap music’ that the kids are listening to, its old school progressive retro thrash.
PS of note, Valient truly has one of the greatest beards currently being grown in rock music.
Thanks for checking us out! Alternative Groove, or AG as we are known by our friends, is a Vancouver Island shred shop located in Nanaimo, BC. We've been around for over a decade stoking people out on surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding at a grass roots level.
We love the fact that we get to support the best brands on earth, including local and up incoming brands! We're also not limited to so-called board sports, we have a rad selection of casual shoes, clothes and sunglasses as well.
Hours
Mon - Wed 10 am - 6 pm
Thurs - Fri 10 am - 8 pm
Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Sun 11 am - 5 pm
201-6750 Island Hwy North
Nanaimo, BC Canada V9V 1S3
