Once we actually got out of our hotel and inside the Denver Convention Center it was all good. The isles were full of smiling faces, booths full of people checking out product, and it didn’t really matter where we all were, because we were together.
Click the links for some photos: People : Booths : Product : Parties
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Our first night in Denver we heard reports that our hotel had been the site of a near shootout with cops the previous night. Then, when we tried to drop by the 686 party at the Tarantula Billards & Bar it had already had shut down by a reportedly drugged up civilian who tried to run out on his bar tab. Six Denver cops later and the guy was handcuffed and in the back of the car. One visitor from the Northwest said it was the gnarliest thing he had ever seen. “The cops did everything they could to get the guy to cooperate, but he just kept going at them.”
All this and we haven’t been inside the Denver Convention Center. But we’re going in today and we’ll keep you posted. Follow us on Twitter if you want the latest updates.
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The Snowsports Industries of America announced today (September 8, 2021) that they officially “postponed” the 2021 Snowbound Festivals in Denver and Boston until 2022 due to COVID-19. Obviously, this means the events have been cancelled, but cancel is such a loaded term these days.
Over the last year, the Snowbound team has been working to run the festivals as planned and we all believed that we were nearing the end of the pandemic. In reviewing the latest public health guidelines and the most recent health and safety protocols, we felt that even with mask mandates and proof of vaccine or a negative COVID test requirement, we could not guarantee a completely risk-free environment for winter enthusiasts of all ages.
One more bummer to throw on the pandemic dumpster fire. For the official word from SIA, please follow the jump.
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On May 25, 2017 Snow Industries of America sold the annual SIA trade show to Outdoor Retailer, Interbike, and Surf Expo owner Emerald Expositions for a reported $16.7 million. SGB Media has a great overview of the details along with a full rationalization by SIA President Nick Sargent. Here’s how he spins it:
“The sale of the SIA Snow Show to Emerald ensures the best path forward for a vibrant and successful trade show and it expands SIA’s ability to help support our members and drive the winter sporting industry forward,” Sargent says. “That’s been the goal for me in this organization from day one and I’m proud to report that we’ve accomplished that goal and are setting ourselves up forward on a new mission.”
It’s a nice way to explain it, but in reality this is simply consolidation in a down market for trade shows. The name of the new show says it best: Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show. It’s a rough time for trade shows and for SIA to get any cash out of the show is nice work by the team, but don’t be surprised if “snow show” is dropped from the official name of the show in 2019 and everyone goes back to calling it OR Summer and OR Winter.
The biggest question for us is what is SIA without a trade show? Well, according to Sargent it’s SIA 2.0. He says the organization will now have more time, resources, and funding to focus on things like retail support, education, participation, industry gatherings (but not trade shows), research, and consumer outreach. In other words, all that stuff that we get press releases for, but never pay much attention to.
The best news for us, however, is that Emerald is still hunting for a new show location after pulling out of Salt Lake City and currently Denver, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Chicago, Indianapolis and Portland are in the mix. The possibility that the show could end up back in Las Vegas (where it should be) as soon as 2019 is filling us with joy. If Las Vegas is all we get out of this deal, we’ll be happy.
[Link: SGB Media]
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We have nothing but good things to say about Snow Industries of America President David Ingemie. In the 39 years that he has been working with SIA he’s had to put up with hot dogging, mono-skiing, the dawn, domination, and decline of snowboarding, renaming the organization because not everyone liked the “ski” word, and hundreds of other seemingly pointless hassles that would have had most of us flipping the double birds and running in the opposite direction.
Yet, Dave somehow rolled through it all with a kind, warm, thoughtful smile on his face. We don’t know how he did it, but we’re glad he did, and it makes us all the more bummed to see that he has announced that he will be stepping down following the 2016 SIA Snow Show.
“I feel so fortunate to have been a part of an industry that represents one of my life’s greatest passions – snow sports. It has been a great run, working under twenty-one different Board chairmen/women and seeing so many changes within the industry; equipment, resorts, retailers, reps, and even ways to get down the hill,” said David Ingemie.
We’re not going to the Denver this year, but hopefully, Mr. Ingemie will stop by the SIA show when it returns to Las Vegas in 2020, otherwise, we may never get to see him on the show floor again. And that would be sad. For the official word from the SIA, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
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It appears we’re not the only ones who have grown tired of the SIA Trade Show in Denver. Burton Snowboards announced today that, aside from a booth for Anon accessories and two others for Riglet Parks and the Chill Program they will not be showing any product inside the 2015 SIA Show at the Denver Convention Center this January. Rather than sit in with the rest of the snowboard companies and be under the thumb of the convention center and SIA, Burton has opted to do their own fully immersive, 24-hour-a-day brand “activation” at Denver’s huge night club City Hall.
From January 28th-31st, Burton will transform City Hall into an authentic brand experience where retailers can enjoy three days of winter 2016 collection showings, around-the-clock hospitality, entertainment and more. . . “At Burton, we’re always challenging ourselves to look at things differently, to take a new approach, to innovate – whether it’s with our products, marketing or activations,” said Sasha Dietschi-Cooper, SVP of North American Sales. “So this year at SIA, we’re going to service our retail partners in a whole new way with an elevated presence in Denver. From ramping up the scope of product and brand stories we can show to increasing the flexibility of when dealers can view the line, our intention is to better service and inspire our retailers.”
For the official (slightly less direct, more positive) word from Burton, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
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Each year the Snow Industries of America (SIA) gives out awards to the raddest retailers and reps in the snow business. No, they don’t call it that. They call them Retailers and Reps of the year. Either way, these are the good people who keep this industry rolling. For real. Follow the jump to see if your favorite shop or rep made the list. Our’s did. Hint: It’s in Seattle, Washington. . . [click to continue…]
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Spy is rolling out their reportedly “mood altering” lens technology in goggle form at the SIA Show in Denver, Colorado today (January 30, 2014).
“Happy Lens™ shook the sunglass market last year with its ingenuity, proving to be the biggest breakthrough in eyewear since polarized lenses,” says Travis Tomczak, SPY goggle line manager. “The addition of Happy Lens™ into our snow goggle line—as well as the recent acknowledgement from Wired.com for our Lock Steady™ lens change system—reaffirms that we’re a brand creating innovative products that are both stylish and have purpose.”
For the official word from Spy, follow the jump
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MTNApproach that company that makes packable skis for getting into the backcountry without a split board has teamed up with Travis Rice and Mike Parillo’s Asymbol on some art graphics by Adam Haynes.
This new release from MTNApproach features graphics by Asymbol contributor Adam Haynes. The system showcases his painting Silverton—which embodies the vivid and genius imagery Adam is known for. This piece is also specifically relevant because it illustrates the hometown of Cory Smith (MTNApproach founder). In addition to the Asymbol graphics, this model has been drastically improved in both construction and materials, reducing the total weight to 3.2 pounds underfoot.
For the official word from MTNApproach, follow the jump
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686 is bringing the blood, sweat, and beers to the 2014 SIA Show with another savage round of industry showdowns with 686 Lights Out amateur boxing charity event benefitting S.O.S. Outreach on January 30, 2014.
Come watch professional snowboarders and industry insiders step up for three rounds of hard hitting action to separate the men (or women) from the boys, all in the name of charity. . . Guest hosts Danny Kass and Dingo, will be on hand making sure things stay on the border of under control and insanely fun, while a panel of pro shreds will sit as guest judges throughout the night. “I’m excited to see all of our industry coming back together like this,” said Dingo. “Last year rocked and everyone is looking forward to what this year has in store!”
For the official word from 686 follow the jump.
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