BY MARIEL FALK AND SONYA LEVINE

Bill Homer hopped on his very first skateboard when he was eight years old. In middle school, he crafted his own skim-board, and by the time he was 14, Homer had begun surfing, his true passion, on the shores of his Virginia Beach home. After a career in corporate America, Homer has finally pursued his lifelong dream of opening a skate, surf and snow shop in our very own village of Larchmont.

At East Coast Surf Skate and Snow, located around the corner from Auray on the eastern side of town, one can find a variety of commodities. The shop is jam-packed with clothing, shoes, surfboards, snowboards and all of the materials that go into a making a one-of-a-kind skateboard.

“We’re selling a lifestyle, not just merchandise,” Homer said, while busily carrying boxes around in preparation for the store’s Grand Opening.

The store has been open for weeks, but its official kick-off was on Dec. 5. The Grand Opening consisted of programs including a surfboard shaping demo and a speech by a spokesman from Hyperflex wetsuits. East Coast also hosted a live radio broadcast, on station 107.1, or The Peak. The day proved to be a great success.

Since word got out that a new skate, surf and snow shop was opening in Larchmont, the excitement has circulated throughout town. The town has been deprived of a shop of this nature since Reef Road went out of business. Many members of the town are crossing their fingers for Homer’s success.

Students at Hommocks Middle School and MHS especially anticipate upgrading their boards. When seventh graders Asher Collins and Will Sach were questioned about their favorite part of the store, they both said, “The trucks are awesome!” 

MHS freshman, Trey Herlitz-Ferguson, shared the boys’ view. “ I really like the clothes, and they have a great variety of trucks,” he said.

Bill Homer’s so-called trucks are pieces, decorated in different colors and designs, that can be attached to the deck of a skateboard. From neon zebra stripes to simple black in color, the trucks at East Coast seem to cater to every skater’s taste. The trucks are located in the back, right area of the store, on an extensive display.

However, the shop is not limited to boards, trucks and wheels. It also carries clothes and shoes as well. No doubt, many people in the neighborhood will find plenty to look at in Larchmont’s newest edition.

Bill Homer has pursued his own dream while mixing both pleasure and work. He adores his new store and lives his dream there each day. Homer is an enthusiastic, service-conscious storeowner, thus serving as an inspiration to us all. Students will now be able to buy the “lifestyle” that Homer sells with pride.