Winter Market 04 Update — Ski discounts and dollars for miles

Ski for half price after the show, thanks to OIA

OIA has worked out a deal for OR attendees with Snowbird and Alta — half-price tickets on Feb. 3-4 following the show. Normally $64/day, badge holders can get the coveted Alta-Bird pass for half-off. Now connected by their lift system, the pass is good at both mountains. To get the pass, you need to show your OR badge and a photo ID at the ticket booth at either resort. Boarders, keep in mind that Alta is a skiers-only resort so you’ll want to hit Snowbird. What better way to wrap up your visit to Utah? See you on the slopes!

SLC is offering discounted culture to Winter Market attendees

Thanks to the efforts of the OR trade show team, a Winter Market badge will garner substantial discounts to cultural events in Salt Lake City during the trade show. Stop snickering — yes, there is culture in SLC, we’ve experienced it personally. We’d recommend the Odyssey Dance Theater and the “Let It Be — a Full Length Beatles Anthology” at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 28-31 at Kingsbury Hall on the University of Utah campus. A badge gets you 20 percent off a ticket ranging from $20 to $35. Or, if laughing is more your thing, and after a trade show day, laughter can be the best medicine, hit the Laughing Stock Improv Troup at 272 South Main for two shows — 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. — Jan. 30-31. A badge earns you two for one pricing on tickets.

Do you have a trade show event you think is worth noting?

If you have a trade show event that’s scheduled, confirmed, and more than just an introduction of a new product (as in, entertaining and educational), fire an email to the SNEWS team at orevents@snewsnet.com.

The SNEWS® team is continually weeding through all the press release fluffery and mounds of show announcements to bring you only events we believe are really worth the time. To that end, mark your calendars for the following:

>>New exhibitor and new company, Braeval Sporting Apparel, will host Utah falconer and naturalist Steve Chindgren and his two lanner falcons, Tiger and Jess, at the company’s booth 4107 for several hours each day during the show. Chindgren will be available to answer any questions about his falcons, discuss the remarkable recovery of peregrine falcons from near-extinction in the United States, and talk about the falcons’ grace, speed and power. If you’ve never seen falcons, it is worth the time spent for a visit.

>> Sherpa’s are finally getting their due, it seems, as the incredible athletes they are and not just carriers of loads for rich western climbers. World record holders Apa Sherpa, who has climbed Mount Everest an amazing 13 times and Ihakpa Gelu, the world’s fastest climber of Everest in 10 hours and 55 minutes will be at the Sherpa Adventure Gear booth 1537 each day signing autographs. The first 100 buyers to the booth on Friday will receive a special hat presented by the Sherpas.

>> Expect to see one Kris Holm weaving his way through the aisles of the Salt Palace on, yes, a unicyle. Holm is attending the show as part of the Horny Toad Toad Team, and will doubtlessly be turning heads while preaching the gospel in support of his sport of choice — MUNI (mountain unicycling). Holm’s skill and bold style have placed him as a willing icon to adventure athletes and unicycle riders around the world. Lest you begin to think he’s a bit strange, consider that Holm is also a geography professor at the University of British Columbia, an avid climber, violinist and kayaker — kind of a Renaissance MUNI rider if you will. Holm is on hand to demonstrate his skills on Saturday, Jan. 31, 5 p.m. at the Horny Toad booth 3322. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Holms will also conduct demonstrations at the climbing wall on Friday at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

>> Thorlos will be handing out pedometers all three mornings at the Salt Palace entrance so you can actually count your steps while at the show. Before you scoff at such a silly notion, consider this — if you walk more recorded distance than anyone else with a pedometer, you will be awarded $500 along with 12 pair of Thorlo socks. The contest ends at 3 p.m. on Sunday and pedometers must be turned in at the Thorlo booth 810. Second prize earns $250 plus 12 pairs of Thorlos with third prize netting a respectable $100 plus 12 pairs of Thorlos.

>> Super Bowl mania is likely to strike OR yet again. If you’re a football fan, and even if you’re not, if you’re from New England or North Carolina, then at 4:25 p.m. MST in Salt Lake City, your thoughts might drift from working the trade show to working an angle for Super Bowl viewing. If ducking out of the show early or as soon as it ends to catch as much of the game as you can is on your mind, here is where Outdoor Retailer recommends you go for the best Super Bowl seats in Salt Lake City:

Port O’Call — Over 40 TVs and seating on all four floors. Special menu.

Hard Rock Café — Super Bowl will be playing in the Brickhouse Club.

Iggy’s Sports Grill — Super Bowl party with tons of raffle giveaways.

Squatter’s Pub Brewery — 801-363-2739, six TVs to watch the game.

Red Rock Brewing Co. — 801-521-7446, five TVs to watch the game.