Industry mixes up work and pleasure at 2013 SIA Snow Show

As the weekend hit the 2013 SIA Snow Show (Jan. 31-Feb. 3), attendees were ready to mix, mingle and let loose with industry friends. As always, there were plenty of happy hours, parties, special events and concerts to choose from on the Show floor and venues across Denver.

“One of the best things about the Snow Show is at 4:30 each day everybody kind of moves around and feels really comfortable going from booth-to-booth to get ideas and socialize,” commented Hestra’s Erin Tulley.

“Spyder’s parking lot party was unbelievable. I wasn’t planning to go, but when I passed by I saw the organic food truck plus the music was great, so I just had to stop by. Who has healthy food at an industry party? The whole thing was really well done,” commented Lisa Hollenbeck, Alpine Shop based in St. Louis, MO.

Friday night’s hot ticket was the sold out 2nd annual Icelantic Winter on the Rocks concert hosted by Icelantic Skis at one of the world’s most iconic outdoor venues-Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Thousands gathered to see the Seattle-based duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis perform along with Neelais, Major Lazer and the Grouch & Eligh.

Early this morning, Icelantic Skis own remarkably cheery Annelise Loevlie received the First Ascent Award from Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) along with Pioneering Woman Award Winner Sandy La Rowe, Vice President Apparel/Global Product Creation for Amersports. Donna Carpenter, President/Co-Owner of Burton was the keynote presenter at the well-attended morning OIWC event sponsored by SIA.

“Last night’s Winter on the Rocks concert was great, really the best concert I’ve ever been to – the energy was amazing, people were stoked. This was definitely an early start to my day, after last night, but I’m truly honored by the OIWC award,” commented Loevlie, who also sits on SIA’s Board of Directors.

Also last night, the snowboard industry headed to Denver’s Fillmore Auditorium to see the year’s standout riders recognized for their efforts. Hosted by Greg “GT” Tomlinson and John Jackson, the 14th annual TransWorld SNOWboarding Riders’ Poll Awards gathered some of the biggest names in snowboarding under one roof. Together, they celebrated the individual progression and style in both riding and filmmaking. After the awards were handed out, DJ Unite and DJ Peril from Tribe of the Kings Sound System entertained the crowd.

Earlier in the week, 686 Lights Out, a charity boxing event where professional snowboarders and industry insiders step into the ring in the name of charity, returned for its second year. Eddie Wall was named the victor in his match-up with Kyle Clancy at this year’s event, presented by Electric. And the real winner was the youth outdoor adventure nonprofit SOS Outreach, which received the money raised during the event.

“SIA is a party. It’s fun once you’ve been in the industry a while to catch up with friends you only see once a year. We are here to do what we love and there is a good energy and vibe to that,” said Homeschool Snowboarding’s Product Development Manager, Margaret Eder.

As Day 3 of the Snow Show wrapped-up, the winner was announced for the RECLAIM Project hosted by 686, SIA and Malakye.com. The RECLAIM Design Project challenged three talented designers to create an original outerwear garment utilizing reclaimed materials, fabrics, trims and supplies from the 686 production facility – on-site during the Snow Show. The winning designer, Blair Farrington from Victoria, British Columbia who studied at Pacific Design Academy, was awarded the grand prize of a coveted internship at 686 headquarters for his waterproof hoody. The two other talented contestants were Becky Donaghy, trained at the Art Institute of Portland, Ore., and Benjamin Landry, trained in industrial design at University of Wisconsin at Stout.

“My main inspiration was just from me snowboarding and knowing what I want as a snowboarder,” said Farrington. “I am super hyped and stoked about the internship and I met so many cool people during the competition.”

Member-owned, industry-inspired and dedicated exclusively to snow sports, the SIA Snow Show is the industry’s largest annual global gathering. It’s where the most influential and visionary brands connect with leading retailers, resorts and media to unveil innovations, exchange ideas and build solid relationships that shape the industry.

Stay connected to 2013 SIA Snow Show news with the SIA Social Dashboard, with feeds from the SIA Facebook page, SIA’s Latest and @siasnowsports on Twitter. Use #SIA13 to join the Twitter and Instagram dialogues with thousands of snow sports industry professionals at the SIA Snow Show in Denver and On-Snow Demo at Winter Park and Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Colo. through February 5.

– SIA –

SnowSports Industries America (SIA) is the national not-for-profit, North American member-owned, trade association representing suppliers and service providers of snow sports products with constituents in the retailer, rep and resort communities. Annually producing the SIA Snow Show, the largest snow sports industry trade show, on-snow demo and networking environment globally, SIA delivers invaluable data/research reports including the Snow Sports Market Intelligence Reports, SnowSports RetailTRAK™ and Executive Market Summary. SIA also produces the Supplier Show, Sourcing Snow, at the SIA Snow Show; learn more at siasnowshow.com/sourcing. SIA is dedicated to growing the industry through consumer initiatives and websites, snowlink.com and wintertrails.org, marketing resources, services and collaborative programs to increase participation and move product. Ford is the official partner of the 2013 SIA Snow Show. For more information, visit snowsports.org. SnowSports Industries America, 8377-B Greensboro Drive, McLean, VA 22102-3587 (Washington, DC Area). Phone: 703-556-9020, Fax: 703-821-8276, Email: SIAmail@snowsports.org.