Industry Talks Issues, Major Trends and Influences on Day Two of 2014 SIA Snow Show

Day Two of the 2014 SIA Snow Show (Jan. 30 – Feb. 2) was filled morning ‘til night with opportunities for the snow sports industry to connect on issues, trends and influences that impact the future of the business and the sport.

The day began with a breakfast co-hosted by Protect Our Winters (POW), SIA and Aspen Skiing Company’s Environment Foundation where Rolling Stone contributing editor Jeff Goodell spoke about Field Notes From The Climate Wars, was packed with industry attendees.

“We’ve hit several milestones in the last six months for Protect Our Winters and today is one of them, where we officially have this climate discussion at the SIA Snow Show,” said Jeremy Jones, founder and CEO of Protect Our Winters. “We as an industry can be hugely effective on this issue. SIA has been a great partner from the get-go, we’re very grateful of the support since day one.”

Jeremy Jones will also screen the trailers for his newest movie “Higher” at 5PM in the Backcountry Experience, an exhibit that has drawn backcountry enthusiasts across the industry to its many safety seminars, expert appearances, panel discussions and happy hours. Featuring backcountry products from over 50 brands, Backcountry Experience connects suppliers, retailers, reps and the media invested in strategically cultivating the backcountry category.

“We’re trying to affect human behavior and some basic understanding in newcomers to the backcountry – trying to make people aware – and consistency is very important, Kim Miller of SCARPA.

Check out video highlights from the Snow Show here: http://vimeo.com/85554004

Rental World/Backshop and Uniform Gallery, presented by SAM Magazine, gives buyers a focused look at the specialty backshop and rental shop with 50+ brands on display. Day Two engaged attendees with the “Kid’s Play: Making Rental Fun” seminar, the SAM Magazine Rental Roundtable – Putting Performance Into Rental and the annual Rental World reception sponsored by SAM, SIA and Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month.

“The main reason I wanted to come to the SIA Snow Show was to visit Rental World,” said Adrian Spiker of Deep Creek Marina in McHenry, MD. “I’ve sent other people to check out the Show in other years, but Rental World is what pushed me over the edge to come this year.”

Sponsored by TransWorld Business, the BlueBird Social Zone at #SIA14 has hosted some of the best seminars to help retailers in their day-to-day social marketing efforts. The BlueBird Social Zone will continue covering social media brand building, digital story telling and more through Saturday.

“Every year I’m psyched to check out the seminars and panel discussions during the Show. I’m a day late, thanks to recent snow, but it’s definitely on my list,” said Jake Martenson, buyer for Aspen/Snowmass.

Stylesight expanded on key silhouettes, design details, prints and graphics in F/W 15 Color and Megatrends presented on Thursday and Friday. The trend forecasters predicted that fashion is finally settling down with hues and patterns inspired by arctic landscapes and academia.

Industry recognitions that happen throughout the Show began on Day One with the SIA member-supplied Olympic uniforms in the Sendoff to Sochi and the annual Doc DesRoches Award to The North Face for its integration of the U.S. Freeskiing brand and the sport’s top athletes into its marketing campaigns, and for support of the sport at the grassroots level.

“The North Face has done a phenomenal job of working with our team, designing and developing the uniforms so that the athletes look good, they feel good, and they’re functional,” Bill Marolt, president of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association(USSA) that presents the award along with SIA. “And we’re proud we’re outfitting our athletes in products made in America.”

Day Two culminated with recognition of specialty retailers and reps from the United States and Canada who received 2013 SnowSports Rep and Retailer of the Year awards. Shops from seven regions in the United States and six regions in Canada were honored and nine U.S. reps and six Canadian reps were also honored. More information on the 2013 retailer and rep winners is available at Snowsports.org/awards.

The spirit of the SIA Snow Show reaches beyond the Show Floor with meetings and celebrations like this morning’s The Assembly, a convention where snow sports stakeholders presented on the importance of year-round mountain tourism, tonight’s Icelantic Skis’ Winter on the Rocks featuring the Jurassic 5 and Ghostland Observatory, and the 15th annual TransWorld SNOWboarding Riders’ Poll Awards also tonight where the best riders, video parts and performances of the year are voted on and honored by over 100 snowboarding’s biggest pro riders. 

Tomorrow OIWC will kick off Day Three by announcing the winners of the 2014 Pioneering Woman and First Ascent Awards and a panel discussion on the economic future of the snow (7-9AM, Mile High Ballroom). Social Impact Awards will be presented to Chaos Hats and Nicky DeFord of the Vail Echo program at the 5th Annual Youth Summit (8:30AM, CCC Lobby) with remarks from SOS Outreach, SIA President David Ingemie and Kevin Pearce former pro-snowboarder and founder of Love Your Brain. Malakye.com and SIA are anticipating another great “Shmooz” snow sports job fair (10AM-4PM, Grand Concourse).

Member-owned, industry-inspired and dedicated exclusively to snow sports, the 2014 SIA Snow Show is scheduled for January 30-February 2, 2014 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver followed by the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest at Colorado’s Copper Mountain Resort from February 3-4, 2014. For more information, updates, registration for the 2014 SIA Snow Show, visit SIAsnowshow.com. Exhibiting companies’ top 14/15 products are available to review in the Sneak Peak + New Product Directory at SIAsnowshow.com/sneakpeak.

For 24/7 updates on all things 2014 Snow Show, check back on SIAsnowshow.comandSIA’s Latestandfollow SIA on Twitterand Facebook.We’ll be sending highlights before and during the Show to keep you in the know. Use #SIA14 and #SIA14Demo to join the conversation. See all of the SIA Snow Show conversations at SIAsnowshow.com/hashtags.

– SIA –

Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2014, SnowSports Industries America (SIA) is a non-profit member-owned trade association with a long history of working to support the snow sports industry. SIA works year-round with North American snow sports suppliers, retailers, reports, reps and service providers to develop products and programs for their individual and collective business needs. With member support and industry participation, SIA annually hosts the industry’s largest core winter sports trade show, the SIA Snow Show, along with the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest and the Sourcing Snow supplier show. SIA also helps retailers and resorts connect with snow sports participants around the country through Snowlink.com.