February 01, 2013 (Washington, DC) – The 2013 SIA Snow Show (Jan. 31-Feb. 3) features 476 exhibitors including 106 new exhibitors representing 1,084 snow sports brands. An estimated 18,000+ attendees from across the globe will attend this year’s Snow Show including manufacturers, retailers, reps, athletes, media and personalities from the snow sports industry.

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2013 SIA Snow Show Day 1 Report
Day One began with SIA’s traditional Opening Ceremony where Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, VISIT Denver and Colorado Ski Country USA representatives rang cowbells to signal the start of the 2013 Snow Show. During the ceremony, the National Ski Patrol was also recognized for the organization’s 75th Anniversary being celebrated during the Show.

Within an hour of the Show’s opening, POC Sports was honored by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USAA) and SnowSports Industries America (SIA) with the Doc DesRoches Award. The award is presented annually by SIA and the USSA to recognize a national team supplier for innovation in marketing the team’s brands and athletes. Since 2004, the award has been presented annually to recognize a U.S. Ski Team supplier for its work in marketing the Team and its athletes.

“In addition to its strong support of elite athletes such as Olympic champions Bode Miller and Julia Mancuso, POC is known for its innovative educational and support programs targeting local U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association clubs,” commented Bill Marolt, President and CEO, U. S. Ski and Snowboard Association.

“This is extremely rewarding. Back when we started the company we had no idea we would be here today and getting an award like this. We try to develop relevant products for athletes to get the most adequate stuff they need to perform without compromising our mission to do the best we can to save lives and reduce consequences of accidents,” commented Stefan Ytterborn, CEO/Founder of POC Sports.

“You need to be here to show that you’re a player in the industry and that you’re not going anywhere. The Snow Show is the one place where you’ve got all of your main retailers and you can get valuable feedback from everybody. It’s all the feedback and just being able to connect with every different type of buyer from different territories,” Mike Nick, Orage’s Global Marketing Director.

Day One buzz in the aisles focused on the optimism that prevails despite the challenges the United States has faced in recent months with varying weather conditions, a struggling economy, the East Coast’s recovery from Hurricane Sandy and “fiscal cliff” concerns.

“In spite of a challenging retail climate, we’ve felt a lot of really good energy,” said Blair Clark of Smith Optics.

Homestead Snowboards had a productive first day at the Snow Show. “I went to the Sourcing Snow and got quite a bit done there,” said Daniel Clancey, founder/creative director of Homeschool  Snowboards. “We’re here to open up some new doors and turn people on to our product. We’re here and we’re making progress and stoked for that.”

Confirming the industry is holding steady, SIA released fresh data indicating December started slow, but when winter conditions gained momentum, sales of equipment, apparel and accessories accelerated. Consumers spent more than $1B in the snow sports market in December alone and sales for the season have reached $2.B. With snow continuing to fall, all eyes are on recovery from last season’s difficulties brought on by lack of snow.

“Snow in late December across much of the country definitely put sales in high gear,” commented Kelly Davis, SIA’s Director of Research.

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.

2013 SIA Sourcing Snow Kick-Off

SIA Sourcing Snow a new member-owned trade show dedicated to the supply side of the snow sports industry, began Wednesday at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colo. and will continue until 3 p.m. on Friday, February 1. Sourcing Snow is held concurrently with the 2013 SIA Snow Show (Jan. 31-Feb. 3).

The day started with a luncheon for exhibiting brands, their clients and partner companies and excitement for the three days of business ahead. Sourcing Snow also hosted a group of top journalists for a party before the SIA Pre-Show Snow Fashion & Trends Show held next door.

I do think the mechanics and set up of the room and the booth are very good≠≠. It is a great location,  said David Parkes, CEO and president of Concept III.  This is an important way for us to get closer to these people in a different environment than their own showroom and a great opportunity to meet people we may not already know.

The cost-effective structure of the show and simple set up was a draw for exhibiting suppliers.

SIA made it easy for us,  said Mary Smith, Duraflex account manager for the eastern United States.  We left the last show we were at and came here, literally bringing our backpack and roller boards- that was it. 

Duraflex wanted to participate in the first year of Sourcing Snow because of the access to manufacturers exhibiting at the 2013 SIA Snow Show.

Smith said,  We wanted to have access to all the companies, especially the new and upcoming companies that we don t see at the other shows that may only be here. We have had about five different companies that have stopped in to talk and are looking for specific things. 

Conversations about creating a dedicated SIA textile and sourcing show, that is exhibitor owned and operated, began in June of 2012 with the SIA Supplier Task Force.

Since the beginning, we have been focused on developing a sustainable model for a show that makes sense for sourcing companies and their customers, especially since it is such a busy show season,  said David Ingemie, SIA president.  I think that Sourcing Snow’s first day indicates that we have a successful model with a lot of opportunities for expansion. 

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 industry professionals preparing to converge on Denver, Winter Park Resort and Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Colo., January 31 – February 5 for the Snow Show and On-Snow Demo.