(Photo courtesy of Obsidian Boardshop)
Obsidian Boardshop will celebrate its soft opening November 14, 2026 at 12pm at 345 SW Century Dr, Ste. 100, Bend, OR 97702.
“We had to do it” said Marcel Dolak, one of the shop’s two owners, regarding the announcement of the new boardshop opening in Bend, OR. “We heard the news of Tactics closing, and just couldn’t imagine our community not having a combined snowboard, skate, and surf shop. It’s a way of life here, and our community needs it.” said Dolak. The writing was on the wall, and they knew they had to do something.
Marcel was having a beer with his neighbor and fellow snowboarder Andrew Kimmell, discussing how disappointed they were about the closing of Tactics and the effect on the community.
During the conversation, Andrew and Marcel said: “We should open a snowboard shop.” They both agreed they couldn’t imagine Bend not having a board shop and instantly decided that night to jump in. They’ve each been snowboarding for 30+ years, and boardsports have been a passion of both Obsidian founders since a young age.
They went to work getting the shop from an idea to reality. Step one was finding a location.
”We’re honored to be in the old Skjersaas location and to give Bend the shred hub it deserves.“ said Andrew.
Marcel and Andrew chose the Skjersaas space on the west side of Century Dr with its historic location as a snowsports shop, and because it’s a last stop on your way to the mountain for something you need, such as clothing, boards, goggles, rentals, service, a coffee (we will proudly be serving Thump Coffee at our coffee bar and cafe, and eventually beer/wine), etc.
The name comes from the local volcanic obsidian rock, which can be found throughout Central Oregon. They’ve painted the building black to represent the Obsidian brand, and are currently putting the finishing touches on cosmetic upgrades inside to focus on building a shop that can provide for the strong demand of men’s, women’s, and kids’ board sports and related winter and summer outdoor sports in Bend.
Obsidian will focus on snowboarding and outerwear, sales, premium snowboard rentals, powder board demos, and full tune services in the winter. The summer will include surfing, skateboarding, clothing, and shoes. Including a wide array of products from the top brands, and are looking to feature products of some of the local board builders in the area as well.
The owners are excited to invite the community in when they open in November with 15 dedicated parking spots, making visiting Obsidian Boardshop an easy destination. “ We are thrilled to invite our community into our doors, and hope that they will love what we are creating here. It’s been a very heartwarming experience, and we appreciate the open arms we’ve received so far. We look forward to seeing you this weekend!”-said Marcel.
Marcel grew up in Washington State. As a former pro snowboarder in the PNW, he traveled to Mt Bachelor often for events. He’s always loved Bend, and dreamed of being able to someday live here. After a visit to Bend with his wife shortly after their first daughter was born, they knew Bend would someday be home and a great place to raise a family. They have now enjoyed living in Bend for multiple years. Marcel is also one of the two owners of Engel & Volkers Real Estate on Wall St in Bend, which he has been an owner of since 2022. Marcel has hosted the PacWest Banked Slalom at Snoqualmie Pass for the last four years, where he started riding. He believes in giving back to the snowboard community he grew up with and has also placed as a competitor in the Dirksen Derby and the Snake Run Rally, locally.
Andrew is a Colorado native. He’s worked in the snowboard industry as a designer, shop employee, and snowboard coach, and has always had a strong passion for skating and snowboarding. This led Andrew and his family to Bend 5 years ago, and now they can’t see themselves anywhere else. You can find him at the mountain almost every day, where he’s averaged 150 days a year snowboarding since moving to Bend. Andrew has a strong design and tech background, and will ensure the shop has a brand Bend can be proud of.
Obsidian Boardshop is sure to be an instant hit amongst locals and visitors alike. Marcel and Andrew’s passion for the sports they both enjoy can be felt when having a conversation with them about the concept and the opportunity. Stop by on or after November 14 to check it out!
obsidianboardshop.com
