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Just look at all those sweaty balls and stinking trade show feet!

The SIA Snow Show kicked off in Denver, Colorado yesterday with snowy streets, a warm convention center, and the omnipresent smells of weed (Okay, we’re guessing on that last part. We thought we’d be able to smell it from here, but we can’t.) The Western states may not know it, but according to the SIA’s RetailTrak report for the August through December 2013 period, the industry set a new sales record of $2.2 billion at retail. So we’ve got that going for us. We’re also guessing that local marijuana merchants will experience similar sales spikes this weekend. What other news did you miss if you weren’t there? A little Olympic fever, it seems:

The Show kicked off with a special “Sendoff to Sochi” Opening Ceremony led by Doug Lewis, 1984 &1988 Olympian and Alpine Analyst for Universal Sports. Lewis named team members and revealed the official uniforms for the U.S. Alpine, Freestyle, Freeski and Snowboarding teams developed by Spyder, Columbia, The North Face and Burton. . . “The relationship between SIA and USSA is really pivotal to the success of our athletes,” said Tom Kelly, Vice President Communications, USSA. “USSA athletes could not accomplishment their goals without the support we get from the industry and the companies that supply us with ski, snowboards, outerwear and uniforms,” . . The Opening Ceremony also included video messages from athletes to the industry, thanking them for their support and encouragement. Officials from the city of Denver, U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association (USSA), SIA Board Members and industry leaders took to the stage to officially ring in the Snow Show with cowbells. To wrap things up, Klaus Obermeyer added his signature yodel, which he’s done at the end of the Snow Show for over 30 years.

Sounds to inviting. Doesn’t it? While we continue to man the controls, click the links below for up-to-the minute coverage from all the poor saps who had to make the dreary trudge to Denver from one more year from the SIA fun zone:

Yobeat’s Justin Leveille Buys Weed And Hits The Show
Snowboard Magazine’s Day 1
Transworld Snowboarding’s Day 1
Snowboarder’s Day 1
Transworld Business’s Day 1

And, you’re correct. GrindMedia is paying not one, not two, but three separate editorial crews to follow each other around talking to the same people, shooting the same photos, and drinking the same beer in Denver. Occasionally we do pine for the days of big media redundancy! For the official word from the SIA, follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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Salomon Snowboards is staying true to their Euro roots with the hiring of David Pitschi as Global Brand Manager. Before making the jump to Salomon Pitschi served as European Team Manager and Marketing Manager for Billabong.

“The Salomon snowboards family is very pleased to welcome David Pitschi back to the team! He was really appreciated as a rider on our pro team back in the day and I’m sure he will be even more valuable to us as brand manager,” says Salomon Business Unit Manager Jeremy Joire. “His various experiences within the snowboard industry will bring a fresh perspective and a great deal of expertise to Salomon Snowboards. Our brand is in a really good place right now thanks to the combined strengths of our pro team, product development, and marketing efforts. David will for sure contribute to its further deployment. Attracting new snowboarders, growing the different sides of our sport while respecting the core, and pushing the tech envelop will remain at the heart of what we do. David will be a huge help to keep challenging ourselves and having fun.”

Pitschi will be based in Annecy, France at Salomon world headquarters. For the official word from Salomon, follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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K2’s historic old factory/headquarters on Vashon Island, Washington is in the process of being sold by the Jarden Corporation to a commercial marijuana grower, according to a story in the Vashon Beach Comber.

Last month Bakkhos Holding applied with the state to both grow and process marijuana at the 180,000-square-foot K2 building. Should the sale go through and should Bakkhos be granted a state license as well as King County permits, the company would grow marijuana and manufacture Edipure-brand edible marijuana products at the building. The products would be sold to off-island distributors.

Sounds like a mellow deal. Oh, and could you please pass the Cheetos, please.

[Link: Vashon Beach Comber]

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